ReadyNAS OS 6.10.10 released

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Astra03 wrote:

 

Is there any way to install an app designed to run on the RN214 from a .DEB file that bypasses the ReadyNAS' GUI installer?

I'm OK with SSH, and I use Linux (Mint) on my desktop PC, so the ReadyNAS OS file structure is familiar to me.

 

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You should be able to use apt from ssh.

StephenB 

Thanks for the reply. Can you explain in more detail the command to use please?

Let's say that I have transferred a file called TVH.deb to the Software shared folder on my RN214.

I'm guessing that I sudo SSH in to the ReadyNAS and then cd to the /data/Software folder, they enter ls and I can see the TVH.deb file.

What exactly is the command that I would then type to install it?

I tried installing another app just now using apt filename.deb as root, but got an error "Invalid operation".

This other app has also previously been installed and run on my ReadyNAS in the past.

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Astra03 wrote:

StephenB 

Thanks for the reply. Can you explain in more detail the command to use please?

 

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First, there are changes you need to make to the default apt configuration files.  See post 1 and post 37 here:

• https://community.netgear.com/t5/Using-your-ReadyNAS-in-Business/How-I-got-apt-update-and-install-to-work-with-Debian-Jessie/td-p/2306772

Then log with ssh as root using the NAS admin password.  Then there is no need for sudo.

The normal method is to navigate to the folder where the deb file is saved, and then enter 

apt install ./filename.deb

You do need the ./ before the file name.

Often this will end up installed on the OS partition (depending on the package install script).  That can be an issue, since the OS partition is only 4 GB in size.  You can move the main folder used by the package to the .apps folder on the data volume, and then substitute a soft link to the new location for the installed folder. 

StephenB 

Thanks for that - I have now managed to reinstall the app that I wanted, it is showing on the ReadyNAS GUI's Apps page and I can control it via the apps web GUI interface. 😀

"Often this will end up installed on the OS partition (depending on the package install script)."

How can I tell if this has happened?

I have linux-dash installed, I think that this is the relevant part (?):

"That can be an issue, since the OS partition is only 4 GB in size."

This screenshot was after I installed and ran the new app, so I don't think that I have a problem with that - or am I looking at the wrong thing? (I am not intending to install any more apps in the future).

"You can move the main folder used by the package to the .apps folder on the data volume, and then substitute a soft link to the new location for the installed folder."

Out of interest, how would I "substitute a soft link to the new location for the installed folder"?

Many thanks for your help so far. 👍

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Astra03 wrote:

StephenB 

Thanks for that - I have now managed to reinstall the app that I wanted, it is showing on the ReadyNAS GUI's Apps page and I can control it via the apps web GUI interface. 😀

 

"Often this will end up installed on the OS partition (depending on the package install script)."

How can I tell if this has happened?

 

 

"That can be an issue, since the OS partition is only 4 GB in size."

This screenshot was after I installed and ran the new app, so I don't think that I have a problem with that - or am I looking at the wrong thing? (I am not intending to install any more apps in the future).

 

 

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/dev/md0 is the OS partition.  Normally it is ~20% full.  35% is a bit higher than usual, but is safe. I'd suggest keeping it below 50% full.

If it does get full, then the NAS configuration files can get corrupted (since there is no room to rewrite them).  

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Astra03 wrote:

 

"You can move the main folder used by the package to the .apps folder on the data volume, and then substitute a soft link to the new location for the installed folder."

Out of interest, how would I "substitute a soft link to the new location for the installed folder"?

 

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1. Navigate to the folder X is in.
2. Move X to the data volume (/data/.apps is a good place, as it is where ReadyNAS apps are installed).
3. Delete X
4. Enter ln -s /data/.apps/X X 

StephenB 

Thanks for the reply.

"/dev/md0 is the OS partition. Normally it is ~20% full. 35% is a bit higher than usual, but is safe. I'd suggest keeping it below 50% full."

I now have four apps installed: linux-dash, Transmission, TVHeadend and TVMosaic, (the latter being the one that I was now able to re-install).

All of these apps have a folder under /data/.apps and I have so far not been able to find anything else in the ReadyNAS' file system under "/" relating to any of them.

Other than removing the apps one at a time, which I am reluctant to do, how can I find out which of them also have a presence in /dev/md0 (and, I assume, causing the greater than expected usage of that partition), and where in the file structure within it?

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Astra03 wrote:

 

I now have four apps installed: linux-dash, Transmission, TVHeadend and TVMosaic, (the latter being the one that I was now able to re-install).

 

All of these apps have a folder under /data/.apps and I have so far not been able to find anything else in the ReadyNAS' file system under "/" relating to any of them.

 

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First of all, I don't see any reason for you do to anything right now with the OS folder. The apps you installed are all for ReadyNAS, and their install scripts already are installing to /data/.apps

Apps often do require new libraries to be installed, and generally it is fine to leave them in the OS partition.  That probably accounts for your modest increase in OS space.

There are apps that store a lot of data, and if you aren't installing the ReadyNAS app packages, you should consider moving folders manually (with the soft links).  These generally are in subfolders (often are in /var, /usr, or /lib). 

This update has really hurt. I just use my Netgear ReadyNAS for Plex (mostly) and use it mainly for a music library and Sonos - I installed the OS 6.10.10 update when prompted and then found I then could not update to the latest release of Plex server.🤔

As a novice to all this, I’m stuck, as I’m not familiar with ssh commands and whilst I can probably login with ssh and putty, I’m not sure how to copy the latest plexserver.deb file to /apps/plexmediaserver folder, nor know the command to then execute/install it over the existing installation.

I have the latest plex update in a folder called ‘Backup’ on the NAS, which I found out is in the /data directory. I can cd to that directory, but I’m a little stuck after that. 

I found and tried the command from the Backup folder…

scp plexmediaserver.deb admin@(ipaddress): /apps/plexmediaserver/ but that failed and in the end I gave up.

i think it’s quite bad what Netgear have done here, as all I needed in the NAS interface was the option to browse and install the Plex server update.

If there is an easy way to do this, I would appreciate a helping hand just to install the latest Plex update and then I will happily ride off into the sunset and be happy.

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Ken_Griffiths wrote:

I installed the OS 6.10.10 update when prompted and then found I could cannot update to the latest release of Plex server - 

 

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Start by downgrading to 6.10.9.  Download the zip, and extract the image file from here:

• https://kb.netgear.com/000065653/ReadyNAS-OS-Software-Version-6-10-9

Then manually install from system->settings->update.  While you are at it, uncheck "notifications for updates".

There might be more you need to fix up with ssh, but start here.

I’m not sure it will downgrade StephenB as I did try that and it showed an error, but gave me back the option to install but Plex, but sadly that install just fails too. That said, I did not unzip the 6.10.9 installer to begin with, so I may give that another go as I later went back to installing 6.10.10.

Is it perhaps easier (less risky) to somehow copy the Plex.deb installer to the /apps/plexmediaserver directory and install it? … that’s all I’m hoping to achieve here. If I can get Plex up-to date I will just leave it there, as that’s all I use the NAS for anyway. I have the Plex.deb file in /data/Backup but didn’t want to try installing it from there.

Am I right in thinking too that the ssh command to install the Plex upgrade (having renamed the update installer file to ‘plexmediaserver’ is… 

apt install ./plexmediaserver.deb 

That’s once I can find the ssh command to copy it to the /apps/plexmediaserver directory.

… or will this not work, thanks to this Netgear OS 6.10.10 update? 

I’m a bit ‘miffed’ that Netgear have done this. I did not personally receive any warning that this would happen. However I guess I have to accept it and move on.All I want to do is to get the Plex update to keep things going for as long as I can, until I can replace the NAS, which I realise I’m going to have to do at some point, but can’t really afford to at this moment in time.

Ken_Griffiths 

"Am I right in thinking too that the ssh command to install the Plex upgrade (having renamed the update installer file to ‘plexmediaserver’ is… 

apt install ./plexmediaserver.deb "

You said earlier in your post that the installation file is called Plex.deb ?

If that is the case then won't the installation command be:

apt install ./Plex.deb

?

Ah sorry🙏 Astra03 that’s my mistake, I renamed the latest Plex update file to plexmediaserver.deb, but moreso I was looking for the ssh instruction that I need to copy that file from /data/Backup to the /apps/plexmediaserver directory/folder?

…and then was just asking if the ssh instruction apt install ./plexmediaserver.deb would then possibly work and install the Plex update? I can navigate to the various folders to carry out the ssh instructions. (I know that much ssh, at least, to move around).

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Ken_Griffiths wrote:

I’m not sure it will downgrade StephenB as I did try that and it showed an error, but gave me back the option to install but Plex, but sadly that install just fails too.

 

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Did you also re-apply the mods here?:

• https://community.netgear.com/t5/Using-your-ReadyNAS-in-Business/How-I-got-apt-update-and-install-to-work-with-Debian-Jessie/m-p/2309160

Ken_Griffiths 

"I renamed the latest Plex update file to plexmediaserver.deb, but moreso I was looking for the ssh instruction that I need to copy that file from /data/Backup to the /apps/plexmediaserver directory/folder?"

To copy the file, (ie leaving a version in the source directory):

cd to the source directory:   cd /data/Backup   then: cp plexmediaserver.deb /apps/plexmediaserver

OR

To move the file, (ie without leaving a copy in the source directory):

cd to the source directory:   cd /data/Backup   then: mv plexmediaserver.deb /apps/plexmediaserver

In both cases, note the space between plexmediaserver.deb and /apps/....

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Astra03 wrote:

Ken_Griffiths 

"I renamed the latest Plex update file to plexmediaserver.deb, but moreso I was looking for the ssh instruction that I need to copy that file from /data/Backup to the /apps/plexmediaserver directory/folder?"

 

To copy the file, (ie leaving a version in the source directory):

cd to the source directory:   cd /data/Backup   then: cp plexmediaserver.deb /apps/plexmediaserver

 

OR

 

To move the file, (ie without leaving a copy in the source directory):

cd to the source directory:   cd /data/Backup   then: mv plexmediaserver.deb /apps/plexmediaserver

 

In both cases, note the space between plexmediaserver.deb and /apps/....

 

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To be clear, there is no need to move the deb file into the /apps folder.  That doesn't upgrade plex, you need to use apt to do that from ssh.  For example apt install /data/backup/plexmediaserver.deb  

If you try this, make sure you log into ssh as root, using the NAS admin password.  Note that if you haven't manually modified the apt configuration, the install will likely fail.

StephenB & Astra03 
Sorry for not getting back to you sooner, just had a busy day, or two. Just also want to say thank-you 🙏 for your very kind help and replies here.

I think the ssh copy and apt (to install) is the way I prefer to go with this, rather than a downgrade back to 6.10.9  as (I think) I may (hopefully) now know enough ssh to login as root and do the steps mentioned, but ‘no’ I haven’t yet modified the apt configuration. I’m not quite sure what that involves.

Is there one post here in the community that explains the apt modification and gives the ssh commands that I need for that and I will then give everything a try tomorrow (Saturday) as I can then at least spend some time to carefully step through it and get the instructions correct with the spaces. 

I guess this is probably easy for many folks here, but I just want to get the instructions together first and then I will happily give it a try… 🤞

I’m definitely okay at enabling ssh on the NAS and the admin user …and logging in as root. I can navigate/move about the directories too, so hopefully it won’t be too difficult once I’ve sorted how to modify the apt configuration. 

Ken_Griffiths 

I have a little bit of experience with making changes to Linux configuration files, but I am always wary of making a mistake that breaks something I can't recover from though.

To minimise the chances of this happening, this is how I did these changes on my ReadyNAS:

1.) Log in as root to the ReadyNAS via ssh

2.) Change directory to /etc/apt using the command cd /etc/apt

3.) Copy sources.list to a directory that you can access via a file manager on the PC. In my case I have one called "software":  cp sources.list /data/software

4.) Rename the original version of sources.list to sources.list.old using the command mv sources.list sources.list.old  This will now become your backup copy in case something goes wrong.

5.) Using a file manager on your PC, open the version of sources.list that you copied to your /data/ directory using a text editor, make the changes as stated in the page linked to, then save the file - keeping the same sources.list name.

6.) Copy this modified file back to the folder it came from. In my case the command was cp /data/software/sources.list /etc/apt

7.) If you list the files in /etc/apt using the command ls you should now have sources.list (the new modified version) and sources.list.old which is the original unmodified version.

For the second part of the instructions, I did it like this:

1.) Using the file manager on my PC, I created a new "Empty Document" in my /data/software folder, and named it apt.conf

2.) Copy and paste the two lines from that page in to this document and save it.

3.) Back in the ssh command prompt, I enter cp /data/software/apt.conf /etc/apt/ to copy this new file across.

Obviously, if you use a folder called something other than "software", then you will have to modify these commands.

Once you are happy that everything is working as it should, you can remove the redundant files - if you want to, (I didn't bother). The command to remove a file is rm - so to remove sources.list.old you would cd in to /etc/apt if you are not already in that directory and type ls to list all the files, Then type rm sources.list.old and enter. Then if you ls again it should be gone.

***I have no doubt that there are quicker ways to do all this!!!

Thank-you 🙏 Astra03 - I think that’s everything I need to give this a go tomorrow.

I really appreciate the time you’ve taken to write out those instructions for the apt modification. I will post back to let you know how I got on.

I really hope the information here in this thread will go onto help other folk too.

Thanks again…👍

Hi StephenB & Astra03 

Complete success - I got up early this morning and followed all instructions to the letter and have got my Plex server fully updated and working with the latest update, all thanks to the great advice here. Thanks also to @Sandshark in the other thread.

I only had the one issue having changed sources.list (backing up the original) and added apt.conf text file, when I went to install the plexmediaserver.deb update I was prompted to also enter this ssh command… ‘apt-get -f install’ (I’m not too sure what that command was for, but ran it anyway)… and then when I tried the install a second time with… ‘apt install ./plexmediaserver.deb’ the Plex server update installed without a problem. So all’s good.👍

I’m just going to tidy up a few things and see how it goes. Anyhow I’ve learnt a lot here in the last couple of days, so thank-you all again. I can at least now ride off into the sunset and remain happy with my OS 6.10.10 NAS/Plex server.

Quick Question Ken_Griffiths ,

It seems most of us who patched/modified our ReadyNAS systems [to reacquire the capabilities lost via the 6.10.10 update] started by reinstalling 6.10.9. I'm getting the impression you didn't go that route, and instead opted to patch/mod the updated 6.10.10 system directly.

1. Am I understanding this correctly?
2. If 'yes', are you able to update apps via the 'Frontview' web interface [or can you only update via SSH]?

Thanks in advance for any reply you're able to give. 🙂👍

Langzik_NAS 

I did not downgrade to OS 6.10.9 as you gathered and so I update via SSH, logged in as root. 

I currently now have to copy the .deb upgrade file to the Apps respective folder in /Apps/ and simply run the command apt install ./(filename.deb) to perform the upgrade.

The upgrade via the 'Frontview' web interface is not available in my case - I don’t  really need it for the occasional upgrade to the Plex server software, which is all I really need to do with my NAS so I’ve not bothered to downgrade.

Thanks for the clarity Ken_Griffiths ; I'm in a similar boat as you in regard to mostly using my ReadyNAS system(s) for Plex, but I prefer a redundancy of options (just in case one option suddenly & unexpectedly craps out, like SMB did for one of my NAS devices). In any case, I wasn't sure if you even bothered trying to update Plex via Frontview after applying the patch, so I thought I'd ask. In any case, thanks again for the insight. 🙂