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Forum Discussion
dekkit
Nov 10, 2009Aspirant
ReadyNAS Data Recovery - VMware recovery tool
Description
This topic contains links to linux VMware images (Debian / Ubuntu) that have been modified to enable you to access your ReadyNAS duo HDDs from any machine with a USB plug and a SATA to USB cable.
Advantages:
* VMware player be downloaded freely
* Can run in both existing linux / MS Windows (XP,Vista etc) operating system without any further modification
Disadvantages:
* Requires a SATA to USB cable
* Mac users will need to find another program to run the VMware files
Background
At some point your ReadyNAS Duo unit is going to stop working (which hopefully will be long and far into in the future) and there may be a point where you'll need to rely on your external backups.
While it's a good strategy to ensure you (and your family / clients) have a good disaster recovery process (having external off-site backups, checking the backups, knowing how to restore from backups etc), in some cases the backups might not work or the backups aren't available to you.
Due to the architecture of the ReadyNAS Duo (more specifically the 16KB blocksize of the partitions), you cannot simply pull out the hard disks, place them into a standard windows / linux pc, then copy all your files across to another computer or storage device.
Unfortunately there are no windows drivers that can properly access the drives and the process to configure a linux pc is complex (see viewtopic.php?f=25&t=24861&hilit=16+blocksize for further background on this)
The following VMware images contain all required patches to read your HDDs in linux just by entering a few terminal commands.
VMplayer Link
To get started, you will need to download a version of VMplayer for your operating system Win/Linux (Mac not directly supported yet), this can be found
http://www.vmware.com/products/player/
VMware Linux Image with Ext2Fuse
acmtn Debian release - tested ok, reports are that it works fine except for files greater than 4GB)
http://www.readynas.com/contributed/dek ... ebian5.zip
acmtn VM login info (username/password): root/rootadmin, vmuser/vmuser1
(please read the forums for more details on how to use this vmware )
_vito Ubuntu release - currently being tested, enables you to use the HDDs directly plugged into your pc without the need for a SATA to usb cable.
http://www.readynas.com/contributed/dek ... buntu9.rar
Details on this alternative vmware can be found on this post (you'll need to review the instructions carefully):
viewtopic.php?p=203653#p203653
dekkit Debian release - tested, a number of issues.
my initial attempt that helped start this thread has been found to have quite a few issues and may not work for you, but can be found here if you would like to try:
http://www.readynas.com/contributed/dekkit/VMwareDebian5.0%20-%20ext2Fuse.rar
dekkit VM login info: User: vmplanet pass: vmplanet.net
the acmtn version at this stage appears to be getting more reliable results for users. Unfortunately, I have not had time improve on my original dekkit release due to time constraints but if you would like to try please post your results.
Dekkit release Notes:
* You will need 8GB of free disk space once you have uncompressed the image
* You will still need to execute some of the terminal commands to mount the drive (take precaution so you don't accidently blow away your data)
* This VMware can access other windows file shares and can also be configured to host windows shares (see the docs for debian for more info on this)
* To uncompress the file use WinRar: http://download.cnet.com/WinRAR-32-bit/ ... 07677.html or for non-windows platforms try: http://www.rarlab.com/download.htm
* This image is a work in progress (WIP) so please post all errrors !!!!!.
Dekkit release Usage- this may apply to the other versions (eg acmtn
Login to the OS
Access the terminal and enter the following once the HDD has been attached (take note that your /dev/c may differ):
modprobe fuse
vgscan
vgchange -ay c
mkdir /mnt/lvm
ext2fuse /dev/c/c /mnt/lvm
there is a delay in output but then ..
"/dev/c/c is to be mounted at /mnt/lvm
fuse-ext2 initialized for device: /dev/c/c
block size is 16384"
Dekkit Release Acknowledgements
The original VMware image was found http://www.vmplanet.net/node/85 (before the various patches were applied - so feel free to drop them a donation), if you can improve this image by way of a script to make it even easier to use for us 'non-linux users' then please do so and share it back with the rest of us
This topic contains links to linux VMware images (Debian / Ubuntu) that have been modified to enable you to access your ReadyNAS duo HDDs from any machine with a USB plug and a SATA to USB cable.
Advantages:
* VMware player be downloaded freely
* Can run in both existing linux / MS Windows (XP,Vista etc) operating system without any further modification
Disadvantages:
* Requires a SATA to USB cable
* Mac users will need to find another program to run the VMware files
Background
At some point your ReadyNAS Duo unit is going to stop working (which hopefully will be long and far into in the future) and there may be a point where you'll need to rely on your external backups.
While it's a good strategy to ensure you (and your family / clients) have a good disaster recovery process (having external off-site backups, checking the backups, knowing how to restore from backups etc), in some cases the backups might not work or the backups aren't available to you.
Due to the architecture of the ReadyNAS Duo (more specifically the 16KB blocksize of the partitions), you cannot simply pull out the hard disks, place them into a standard windows / linux pc, then copy all your files across to another computer or storage device.
Unfortunately there are no windows drivers that can properly access the drives and the process to configure a linux pc is complex (see viewtopic.php?f=25&t=24861&hilit=16+blocksize for further background on this)
The following VMware images contain all required patches to read your HDDs in linux just by entering a few terminal commands.
VMplayer Link
To get started, you will need to download a version of VMplayer for your operating system Win/Linux (Mac not directly supported yet), this can be found
http://www.vmware.com/products/player/
VMware Linux Image with Ext2Fuse
acmtn Debian release - tested ok, reports are that it works fine except for files greater than 4GB)
http://www.readynas.com/contributed/dek ... ebian5.zip
acmtn VM login info (username/password): root/rootadmin, vmuser/vmuser1
(please read the forums for more details on how to use this vmware )
_vito Ubuntu release - currently being tested, enables you to use the HDDs directly plugged into your pc without the need for a SATA to usb cable.
http://www.readynas.com/contributed/dek ... buntu9.rar
Details on this alternative vmware can be found on this post (you'll need to review the instructions carefully):
viewtopic.php?p=203653#p203653
dekkit Debian release - tested, a number of issues.
my initial attempt that helped start this thread has been found to have quite a few issues and may not work for you, but can be found here if you would like to try:
http://www.readynas.com/contributed/dekkit/VMwareDebian5.0%20-%20ext2Fuse.rar
dekkit VM login info: User: vmplanet pass: vmplanet.net
the acmtn version at this stage appears to be getting more reliable results for users. Unfortunately, I have not had time improve on my original dekkit release due to time constraints but if you would like to try please post your results.
Dekkit release Notes:
* You will need 8GB of free disk space once you have uncompressed the image
* You will still need to execute some of the terminal commands to mount the drive (take precaution so you don't accidently blow away your data)
* This VMware can access other windows file shares and can also be configured to host windows shares (see the docs for debian for more info on this)
* To uncompress the file use WinRar: http://download.cnet.com/WinRAR-32-bit/ ... 07677.html or for non-windows platforms try: http://www.rarlab.com/download.htm
* This image is a work in progress (WIP) so please post all errrors !!!!!.
Dekkit release Usage- this may apply to the other versions (eg acmtn
Login to the OS
Access the terminal and enter the following once the HDD has been attached (take note that your /dev/c may differ):
modprobe fuse
vgscan
vgchange -ay c
mkdir /mnt/lvm
ext2fuse /dev/c/c /mnt/lvm
there is a delay in output but then ..
"/dev/c/c is to be mounted at /mnt/lvm
fuse-ext2 initialized for device: /dev/c/c
block size is 16384"
Dekkit Release Acknowledgements
The original VMware image was found http://www.vmplanet.net/node/85 (before the various patches were applied - so feel free to drop them a donation), if you can improve this image by way of a script to make it even easier to use for us 'non-linux users' then please do so and share it back with the rest of us
187 Replies
Replies have been turned off for this discussion
- manoj1AspirantHi All,
I just found out my READYNAS, having an issue, is the one from Infrant (no support from NETGEAR now). It suddenly wouldn't boot. I tried doing a memory test using available documentation from the NETGEAR support documents for newer products and my disk lights for #2 and #4 are solid green, while lights #1 and #3 do not light up. Any work arounds or means to get my data out.
Thanks. - mdgm-ntgrNETGEAR Employee RetiredWhat Infrant model do you have manoj?
What is the LED on the power button doing? - manoj1AspirantThe problem is I cannot figure out what the model is. It just says READYNAS/ INSTANT STORAGE on the front panel. Netgear just said that it was an Infrant product and have no idea about the model etc. I inherited this so I have no clue.
When I try to reboot by skipping the disk check, the power button blinks continuously while the 4 disk LEDs flash intermittently and never light up solid even after 3-4 days.
Manoj - StephenBGuru - Experienced UserDoes it look like this?

- manoj1AspirantLooks like the black one, but I have green lights and the "Ready" is in grey, not red. Link to picture of my device below:
This picture was taken after the memory test. - StephenBGuru - Experienced UserThe one on the top is a ReadyNAS 600.
I don't know the significance of the LED colors and the READY in grey. - mdgm-ntgrNETGEAR Employee Retired
manoj wrote:
This picture was taken after the memory test.
So the power LED was on solid?
Do you remember what version of RAIDiator was on this 600?
Did you follow the procedure described here?: http://www.readynas.com/kb/faq/boot/how_do_i_use_the_boot_menu#duonvnvx6600
Turn the NAS on, pressing and holding the POWER button for about 25 seconds (5 blinks of the disk LEDs) then release the power button. Do NOT press the RESET button.
Note that the boot menu did change in RAIDiator 4.x, so if running older firmware you might need to hold the power button for a blink or two less of the disk LEDs to trigger the memory test.
In RAIDiator 4.x Frontview (web-admin interface of the ReadyNAS) was changed to have NETGEAR colours and branding. - manoj1AspirantI did the following:
1. Held the power button for 5 LED blinks. The first 4 blinks were at a certain frequency and the 5th one took longer to come on. I released the power button at this point and disk LEDs #2 and #4 light up solid green. The power LED was rapidly blinking green. Disk LEDs #1 and #3 are off.
2. Held the power button for 4 LED blinks. I released the power button at this point and disk LED #4 lights up solid green. The power LED was rapidly blinking green. Disk LEDs #1, #2 and #3 are off.
I don't remeber the RAIDiator version this was on. - manoj1AspirantFrom the online link, I see that this implies I do a tftp boot. Does anyone have instructions on how to do this for this device?
Thanks. - mdgm-ntgrNETGEAR Employee Retiredmanoj is this a 600 rev A or rev B?
If it's a Rev A you could remove the CF card and rawrite the firmware onto the CF card
Do you use Windows or Mac?
Do you remember what firmware you were running on the 600? Did the colours look something like this?: http://www.readynas.com/simulators/frontview/home.htm
Or were you running an older version that was Infrant branded?
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