ReadyNAS Device Compatibility List

StephenB wrote:

I like the WDC Reds (I am using 9 WD30EFRX in various ReadyNAS at the moment, plus 1 WD20EFRX and 1 WD60EFRX). I've heard good things about the WDC Red Pro line, but they aren't on the NAS HCL yet, and I'm not sure I need the higher performance anyway. Seagate VN might be just as good, though I had a run of bad seagates several years ago (multiple models) and decided to switch to WDC at that point. My general advice is that over the long term you are usually better off going with fewer/larger drives, and leaving slots open for future expansion. Replacing a working drive with a larger one is expensive when you figure the cost per TB gained. A corollary is that when you do replace a drive with a larger one, you generally want to get the biggest new drive you can afford (taking compatibility into account of course). For instance, going from 3 TB to 4 TB would requires replacing 2 drives at $160 each - costing you $320 per TB gained with RAID. Going from 3 TB to 6 TB would require replacing two drives at $260 each, costing about $170 per TB gained. If you have an open slot, then inserting a new 4 TB drive would only cost you $160 - $40 per TB gained (assuming 3x4TB to start with). Of course if you have a use for the drives you are replacing, then the economics changes.

I'm coming to a similar conclusion about size. Been looking at WD3001FFSX and WD40EFRX (and WD30EFRX). I was trying to discern if NASWare 2.0 vs 3.0 was any benefit, and if NASWare is any benefit in the ReadyNAS at all? I have not worked with NASWare. Mostly PERC based RAID. My first NAS coming ;)

I am leaning towards 4x 3TB to meet current needs and first 6-12 months, then add 1 or 2 4TB drives when needed. You're right about replacing, better to add. Then there is the option for USB30 and eSATA adds, right? Or do they not perform as well as the internal bays as part of the RAID volume? (I can move that Q to another thread if the discussion is too involved?)

I really appreciate your time. I'd much rather ask up front from experienced experts than try to solve problems after :)

I'm expecting to order my system later today, just waiting to select the drives.

I like the WDC Reds (I am using 9 WD30EFRX in various ReadyNAS at the moment, plus 1 WD20EFRX and 1 WD60EFRX). I've heard good things about the WDC Red Pro line, but they aren't on the NAS HCL yet, and I'm not sure I need the higher performance anyway.

Seagate VN might be just as good, though I had a run of bad seagates several years ago (multiple models) and decided to switch to WDC at that point.

My general advice is that over the long term you are usually better off going with fewer/larger drives, and leaving slots open for future expansion. Replacing a working drive with a larger one is expensive when you figure the cost per TB gained. A corollary is that when you do replace a drive with a larger one, you generally want to get the biggest new drive you can afford (taking compatibility into account of course).

For instance, going from 3 TB to 4 TB would requires replacing 4 drives at $160 each - costing you $213 per TB gained with RAID (with a 3 TB gain).
Going from 3 TB to 6 TB would require replacing four drives at $260 each, costing about $115 per TB gained (with a 9 TB gain).
If you have an open slot, then inserting a new 4 TB drive would only cost you $160 - $40 per TB gained (a 4 TB gain, assuming at least 2x4TB to start with).

Of course if you have a use for the drives you are replacing, then the economics changes.

StephenB wrote:

NetworkedinPA wrote: Is the 316 compatible with ST4000VN000-1H4168 drives? How about ST4000VN003? Seems to be some confusion on the former on tech line, though ST4000VN000 IS on the compatibility website. The HCL says "NAS HDD ST4000VN000", so I don't know why they are confused. No "-xxxxx" implies all variants. I suspect the 003 will work fine, but the real question is whether Netgear will deny support. They might.

Thanks for the reply. Looking to put together 316 with likely 6 4TB NAS drives. I see many are liking WDC now. Used to be a time when they had the highest failure, but now Seagate seems to have that honor. I could be easily convinced to go with WDCs.

Maybe start with 3 or 4 3TB drives, then expand as needed (and as the 4TB becomes less expensive). XRAID2 is supposed to do that effortlessly, right?

I sent back a 104 recently because support was so bad. Told SOHO/business support is better with 300 series, so looking at the 316.

Got a favorite drive in the 3-4TB range?

NetworkedinPA wrote:
Is the 316 compatible with ST4000VN000-1H4168 drives? How about ST4000VN003? Seems to be some confusion on the former on tech line, though ST4000VN000 IS on the compatibility website.

The HCL says "NAS HDD ST4000VN000", so I don't know why they are confused. No "-xxxxx" implies all variants.

I suspect the 003 will work fine, but the real question is whether Netgear will deny support. They might.

Is the 316 compatible with ST4000VN000-1H4168 drives? How about ST4000VN003?

Seems to be some confusion on the former on tech line, though ST4000VN000 IS on the compatibility website.

They possibly could work, but whichever disks you use having a backup is important. Especially considering the support implications of using disks outside the compatibility list.

Old NAS died and I want to buy a new one, thinking about the RN104 as I can buy one for about £110 (just domestic use and data not that important).

However, my four 1TB existing RE4 WD1003FBYX drives are not on the supported list :(

Can anybody confirm whether they might work OK? I know officially not, but even as JBOD? I do not mind taking a bit of a gamble :)

Any other ideas?

Thank you, in advance, for your help.

Frank

There is a thread here, perhaps not conclusive: viewtopic.php?f=24&t=77722

Based on this, I'd say that the drive works, but you might want to compare the power specs and the acoustic noise specs with the WD2002FAEX. WD20EFRX is another option (also not on the HCL, but which certainly works with the NV+). It is quieter and cooler than the FZEX drives (and of course slower, though the NV+ performance is limited mostly by the sparc CPU).

mdgm wrote:
oldtimer67 wrote: I have a readynas nv+ .... I would like to know if I can use the 2TB Western Digital WD2003FZEX which replaced the WD2002FAEX that is on the hardware compatibility list. Thanks so much. Can you email me your logs (see link in my sig)?

I'm not having any trouble with my readnas nv+. Just wanted to know if the WD2003FZEX would work instead of the WD2002FAEX so I could expand it. The latter is discontinued. If the logs would help determine that I would be happy to send. Just want to be sure you need them to answer this. It looks like I should just make a copy of what's on there now and try it and see what happens. I just thought perhaps someone might already know. Thanks...

You can use 5TB disks on either OS4 or OS6.

But on OS4 you would have to do a factory default with all the 5TB drives in place. If you need a higher volume capacity again with OS4 you would need to do another factory default with the higher capacity disks in place.

We have a long thread on this here: http://www.readynas.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=160&t=70133