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Rich17's avatar
Rich17
Aspirant
Dec 24, 2020
Solved

ReadyNAS NV - Can't connect

Bought in 2006 as Infrant ReadyNAS NV, and it worked well until now. I replaced a couple failed disks over the years with no problem. Last week my ATT fiber gateway was replaced last week and now the ReadyNAS will no longer connect to the network. It was set to DHCP before the change, but rebooting the ReadyNAS did not resolve the problem. I set my laptop IP to the old subnet 192.168.100.x and connected direct to ReadyNAS but no response in Raidar. I have blinking green link lights on the ReadyNAS ethernet port and on the gateway. I moved the NAS next to the gateway and used a different, known good ethernet cable, no response to Raidar. I am using Raidar 4.3.8. I don't remember what version software is on the ReadyNAS. I did update it a few times in the distant past. 

As recommended in the online help when Raidar will not connect, I reinstalled the ReadyNAS OS by holding in the reset button while starting, then releasing the reset button when disk lights appear. It took some time to finish the installation then booted up like normal. The front lights are all solid green, power button solid blue like before the reinstall. After reinstalling the OS I still could not connect to it with Raidar through network or by direct connection, even after another boot to make sure it had chance to get a DHCP address. 

I'm planning to replace the NAS, so saving the stored data is my only goal now.

 

I tried to create a support ticket with Netgear, but I cannot register the product as required because there is no serial number printed on the serial number sticker! Custumer Support is helping me to register the product.

 

My questions:

1. Is there any way to get the data off the ReadyNAS without using the network ethernet port? Like maybe through the USB port? My ReadyNAS is not setup for automatic USB backup.

 

2. Can I buy an identical (used) ReadyNAS NV, install my three HDDs and access the data? 

 

Thanks for any help!

Rich

  • Rich17's avatar
    Rich17
    Jan 21, 2021

    The ReadyNAS NV started up fine and is running on it's original RAID disks, and thankfully, I was able to get all the data copied off of the NAS!  Thanks to everyone on the thread for your assistance!   :smileyvery-happy:

     

    One weird thing:

    With the test disk installed, Raidar showed the NAS was running on lastest firmware.

    But with the old RAID array disks installed the firmware version shown in Raidar now says it's still running firmware "4.01c1-p1"    The NAS has not updated the old disks to the newer software. I will retire it now anyway so doesn't matter. 

     

    I would like to make a donation in thanks for your assistance StephenB. Can you PM your paypal addy?

    Thanks

    Rich

17 Replies

  • Sandshark's avatar
    Sandshark
    Sensei
    Dec 24, 2020

    When connected to the router, does the NAS show up as a connected device in the router's interface?

     

    Does it show up on RAIDar with the drives removed?

     

    If the unit is set to DHCP and there is no DHCP server available, then it will default to 192.168.168.168, not the address to which it was previously assigned.  So set your laptop to 192.168.168.xxx and try again.  If it is set to a static IP, then you used the right process.

     

    If that works, then we can move forward and try to figure out why it doesn't appear on your network when connected to the router.

     

    If something has happened to your NAS hardware and the array is intact, then an NV or NV+ will work to access the data.  But you are buying something that's quite old.  Frankly, I think the going price on eBay is a bit steep, too.

     

    There are other ways to recover the data, too.  But let's try and get your NAS working first.

    • Rich17's avatar
      Rich17
      Aspirant
      Dec 24, 2020

      Thanks for your reply Sandshark

       

      ReadyNAS doen't appear in router list of connected devices

       

      With drives removed there is no change, other than 4 disk lights blinking green instead of 3 lights solid with 3 disks installed.

       

      I rebooted the ReadyNas with no ethernet connected to force it to 192.168.168.168, then direct connected to PC set to IP 192.168.168.200 with mask 255.255.255.0. Raidar could not see it. Raidar was working 2 weeks ago over the LAN.

      Thanks

      • Rich17's avatar
        Rich17
        Aspirant
        Dec 24, 2020

        Netgear Customer Support can't help me since my Infrant ReadyNAS did not come with a serial number! I bought it from Amazon in 2006, but the serial plate is blank. So I'm very appreciative of the support here on the forum.

         

        I just purchased a used Infrant ReadyNAS NV from ebay seller, he said it works and ebay gives money back guarantee, so hopefully that will work out.

         

        Is there anything I should do to the "new" unit before I install my drives and power it up?

        Should I do a factory reset on it first?

        Should I install a single scratch drive to see if it works?

        Thanks for any ideas

        Rich

  • StephenB's avatar
    StephenB
    Guru
    Dec 24, 2020

    Is the NIC led lit on the router and the NAS?  It's possible that ethernet isn't being negotiated correctly.  We've seen a couple of cases where "green" ethernet features in new routers/switches don't play well with the NAS.

     

    You could try a direct connect between the NAS and your PC.  If the NIC leds are lit, then see if RAIDar detects it.  

     

    If you can log in, remember that the OS reinstall will reset the admin password back to either netgear1 or infrant1 (depending on exactly how old it is).

     

    Rich17 wrote:
     

     

    1. Is there any way to get the data off the ReadyNAS without using the network ethernet port?

    No - the USB port won't work because the NAS is a USB master (like your PC) and not a USB peripheral.

     

    If you can connect the drives to a PC (using either SATA or USB adapter/docks) then you can use RAID recovery software to offload the data.  R-Linux is an inexpensive package that will work for this.  

     

    If you were to purchase a new OS-6 ReadyNAS, then you could also engage Netgear Support to temporarily mount the array (read-only) on a new NAS.  I believe they will charge for that. https://kb.netgear.com/29875/ReadyNAS-Migrating-disks-from-RAIDiator-to-OS-6

     

    If you have a linux system, you can also mount the array on it with standard linux tools (assuming you can connect the disks).

     

    Rich17 wrote:
     

    2. Can I buy an identical (used) ReadyNAS NV, install my three HDDs and access the data? 

     

    You can migrate to any 4-bay sparc-based ReadyNAS - it doesn't need to be a strictly identical model. This would include the NV, an NV+, and the ReadyNAS 1100 (RNR4000).

     

    There are some challenges here though.  All the compatible NAS are very old (Netgear stopped selling sparc-based NAS in 2011).  Also there is an NV+ v2 model out there which is an arm platform.  That isn't compatible, and it isn't that easy to tell the difference - and often the sellers get it wrong.

     

     

    • Rich17's avatar
      Rich17
      Aspirant
      Dec 24, 2020

      Thanks for your reply StephenB

      There is link light on ReadyNAS and on router when connected with home LAN cable and with 12 foot patch cable. There is link lights on both ReadyNAS and PC when direct connected but Raidar doesn't see the ReadyNAS.

       

      Buying an old NV would probably be the easiest path, but I will explore R-Linux, it's good to know I can use RAID recovery software if the NAS refuses to communicate.

      Thanks!

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