ReadyNAS Device Compatibility List

albertoita wrote:
Ops, I'm sorry, I left to specify that my purpose is to obtain the maximum space I'm able to have. I don't care the data security/redundancy.

On any NAS expansion of an existing volume requires redundancy. So getting maximum space requires giving up on xraid, and using either jbod or spanning RAID-0. Spanning RAID-0 is fragile, since if any disk fails you lost the entire volume. With jbod, every disk is its own volume, and if it fails you need to insert a new disk, create a new volume and then restore the data from a backup.

albertoita wrote:
I asked it because on the NETGEAR Support / Hardware Compatibility List Hard Disks I don't find drive greater that 4 GBytes. So I would like to know, if they are not present because they don't be recognized by the hardware, or because they are not supported on a RAID configuration.

I think you mean TBs. But that question we've already answered. The technical limit is the 16 TiB volume size, which is not really about RAID or low level formatting. As far as I'm concerned they should be putting the larger disks on the HCL for the 100 series, and just be clear on the volume limit.

albertoita wrote:
I don't find any shop that sell the new RN200 devices in Italy. Maybe they are too new! :D

It was announced at CES earlier this month. I don't recall seeing an availability date, but usually it happens within 3 months of announcement.

Ops, I'm sorry, I left to specify that my purpose is to obtain the maximum space I'm able to have. I don't care the data security/redundancy. I asked it because on the NETGEAR Support / Hardware Compatibility List Hard Disks I don't find drive greater that 4 GBytes. So I would like to know, if they are not present because they don't be recognized by the hardware, or because they are not supported on a RAID configuration.

I bought my 104 more than one year ago. It was my first NAS so I searched for a low price (less than 180 euro) device.

I don't find any shop that sell the new RN200 devices in Italy. Maybe they are too new! :D

Only the RN100 series has this 16 TiB volume limit. The new RN200 series doesn't (and of course RN300, RN500, RN700 don't either).

StephenB wrote:

albertoita wrote: [so, if I create multiple volume manually (disabling X-RAID), I could install 4x6 TB HDD? And also 4x8 TB HDD? Technically that should work, but AFAIK no one has posted any anything with 8 TB drives. The new seagate coming out is designed for archival (e.g., cold storage), so its performance in a NAS is unknown. Generally most people would want go to jbod in these cases - 2 RAID-1 volumes with 4z6TB drives would give you 12 TB of storage. You can get the same amount with 4x4TB xraid. btw 4x5TB ought to work with xraid, the volume size would be 15 TB. albertoita wrote: And which services/expansions I loose if I disable X-RAID? You lose automatic expansion (and RAID protection/bit-rot recovery if you choose jbod).

Albertoita- are you looking for RAID and the data security it provides, or just a large and non-redundant volume for storage? NG has a 314 and 316 that support larger volumes in RAID configurations.

The 316 I just purchased was about $200-$250 more than the 104 I returned. With the size/expense of the drives you mention wanting, it doesn't sound like too much for you.

Is the 104 new? Can it be returned for the upgraded version?

Just thought this might be an option for you?

albertoita wrote:
[so, if I create multiple volume manually (disabling X-RAID), I could install 4x6 TB HDD? And also 4x8 TB HDD?

Technically that should work, but AFAIK no one has posted any anything with 8 TB drives. The new seagate coming out is designed for archival (e.g., cold storage), so its performance in a NAS is unknown.

Generally most people would want go to jbod in these cases - 2 RAID-1 volumes with 4z6TB drives would give you 12 TB of storage. You can get the same amount with 4x4TB xraid.

btw 4x5TB ought to work with xraid, the volume size would be 15 TB.

albertoita wrote:
And which services/expansions I loose if I disable X-RAID?

You lose automatic expansion (and RAID protection/bit-rot recovery if you choose jbod).

StephenB wrote:

albertoita wrote: I have a ReadyNAS 104 with firmware 6.2.2. On the hardware compatibility list I don't find any hdd with more than 4 GB capacity. What this means? That if I install 2 hdd of 6 TB they are not recognized? Or it's just a question of official support? for 2x6TB it is official support. Netgear can/will deny you support if you use disks that aren't on the HCL. 4x6TB XRAID will actually fail, because there is a maximum volume size of 16 TiB on the RN100 series, and 4x6TB would have an 18 TB volume size.

Thank you Stephen,
so, if I create multiple volume manually (disabling X-RAID), I could install 4x6 TB HDD? And also 4x8 TB HDD?

And which services/expansions I loose if I disable X-RAID?

Thanks
Alberto

albertoita wrote:
I have a ReadyNAS 104 with firmware 6.2.2. On the hardware compatibility list I don't find any hdd with more than 4 GB capacity. What this means? That if I install 2 hdd of 6 TB they are not recognized? Or it's just a question of official support?

for 2x6TB it is official support. Netgear can/will deny you support if you use disks that aren't on the HCL.

4x6TB XRAID will actually fail, because there is a maximum volume size of 16 TiB on the RN100 series, and 4x6TB would have an 18 TB volume size.

Hello,
I have a ReadyNAS 104 with firmware 6.2.2. On the hardware compatibility list I don't find any hdd with more than 4 GB capacity.
What this means? That if I install 2 hdd of 6 TB they are not recognized? Or it's just a question of official support?

Thanks
Alberto

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.

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/co ... -techspecs)