ReadyNAS Device Compatibility List

StephenB wrote:

The WD4001FFSX (red pro) was just added to the HCL for the RN316, so Netgear support should be fine with it. I haven't needed to tweak any settings on the Reds, out of the box worked just fine. The NAS doesn't provide any direct hooks to the drive firmware, so you'd need to remove them, install them in a PC, and then fiddle with settings. Or install the linux package and use ssh - I haven't attempted it, so I have no idea how tricky that is. USB 3.0 can be used in a pinch, but performance is not nearly as good and USB support in linux is not as good as OSX and Windows - particularly for unclean shutdowns and ejections. There are some practical issues in volume naming and in maintaining permissions that still need some attention from Netgear. eSata is faster, but Netgear seems to be taking the position that it is for the EDA500 expansion module. That module is pretty expensive, I'd just get a second NAS if I reached the point where I needed it. Initially eSata seemed to be a general thing, but at least some posters here are getting different messages from Netgear support. Personally I think eSata should just work, I don't get the limitation myself. If you are still considering the RN104 you should be aware that the volume limit is 16 TiB (though with jbod you can get 24 TB total with 6 TB drives - but those drives are not on the HCL). The RN200 series (just announced, but not shipping) should be somewhere between the RN100 and the RN300. But details aren't available yet. (It does support 6 TB drives though - see here: http://www.netgear.com/home/products/connected-storage/RN20200.aspx#tab-techspecs)

Thanks Stephen for all the info! I just ordered a 316 and 4- 4TB WD40EFRX drives to start. It will all be here Tuesday :woot:

My recent experience with the 104 is that it is below entry level from a support point of view with casual support reps who are under-trained and less than interested. Quite seriously, after a very disappointing online chat, email ticket attempts, I called and it sounded and acted like I was transferred to someone's cellphone while they were at the kitchen table in India :(

That's not to knock foreign-based support, though I know a lot of people complain about it. I usually get really decent support and am comfortable with broken English, yet these folks had serious comprehension and knowledge problems.

The 104 was really just a starting system anyways, so I asked about the 316 support. The (good) tech said this is more business class support.

From searching this board, I also saw the lower specs of the 104 seem to perform poorly with AV enabled- another reason to go with 316.

I had been hoping for maybe a pair of 104's, but will have to settle for one 316. Not as "safe" but it is what it is.

Again, I want to thank you and all the contributors to this forum. Both the questions and the responses have been quite helpful in making my decisions. It is reassuring to have a site that "fills in the gaps"

In return I'd be happy to share any other experiences or tips I might have for others.