I got this NAS used and so am unsure as to how it works. The model is Readynas rnd-6a. When I power it on the fans spin up and "ReadyNAS" displays on the LCD but that is all. I assume it doesn't boot although I don't know how to check if it's online, I have plugged in an Ethernet cable and it doesn't show up on my router. So far I have tried:Removing all the disksExternal power supplyChanging the memory There is no data it, I just want to resurrect the machine. Any info or solutions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,Connor

StephenB wrote:Did you use the modified pinout when you tried the external power supply? There is no pin-out modification needed to the legacy 6-bay NAS.

Connor158910 wrote:is there a way to upgrade the firmware bypassing the boot menu Yes: RAIDiator-4-2-USB-Recovery-Tool. While it may not work, it shouldn't hurt. If this fails, the next step would be to install a VGA port (there is a header on the motherboard for that) and see what's happening during boot. But at some point, you want to decide just how much effort and cost it's worth to you. But did you try RAIDar? It may behave like that if you have a corrupted VPD file. RAIDar will find it, and display garbage for the part and/or serial number when that's the case.

Thanks for letting me know! It is a blue PCB :)

Connor158910 wrote:Ah yeah I had actually already bought that one. He cancelled the order because, when tested, it wasn't working anymore. Not sure why the listing is still up He just made me an offer, and it shows he has two, so something else is up. Do you have any bad reviews on eBay? Or maybe just no previous purchases? Connor158910 wrote:Any other solutions possible from here? Or is it destined to be e-waste :( Since you are seeing nothing on the VGA, it's not getting into POST. The only replaceable items short of a complete motherboard that can cause that are the PSU and RAM. Note that while the Pro6 and Ultra6Pro units look the same as yours on the outside, the motherboards are not interchangeable (not that I've seen one of those for sale). Connor158910 wrote:I don't mind spending time and money to try and fix the device, I don't really have to funds to buy a new one outright. I don't recommend you spend any more time and money on that one. ReadyNAS are not available new, anyway -- they are all EOL. You can keep an eye on eBay for people who are reasonable about their price. If you are sure your PSU works, you can look for an Ultra6 or Pro6 that needs one and maybe get it cheap. Since you have the caddies (I assume), you can save by buying one that has none. Many companies ridding themselves of them foolishly just pull the drives and caddies together, not realizing how hard the caddies are to find, and thus how much they cost. You could just sell the caddies yourself, too. They used to command about $45 each. I suspect you'd have no trouble selling them at $25 plus shipping today. Finally, are you already a ReadyNAS user? If not, I'm not sure you really want to jump on this sinking ship. For those invested in ReadyNAS like myself, they're still viable. But if you are starting fresh with a NAS, I suggest going with a company still in the NAS business, even if it's an older, used model.

"RND-6A" is not a ReadyNAS model number. I have no idea why Netgear put those useless numbers on them. What is the model number of the NAS (example: RNDP6000-100)?

Readynas RND-6a doesn't boot | NETGEAR Communities

26 Replies

StephenB
Guru
Jun 11, 2025
Connor158910 wrote:
Hmmm odd it just says "ReadyNAS" and it doesn't show up on my router either. Do you think it's failing to boot?

Yes, it sounds like it is failing to boot.

Can you get to the boot menu? Instructions are on pages 28-29 here:

https://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/RNDU2000/ReadyNAS_Ultra_UltraPlus_NVX_Pro_HW_en_8July11.pdf

Connor158910 wrote:
I purchased it from a closing business that was recycling their old tech.

It is old tech - Netgear discontinued this NAS back in 2013. That said, they are well built, and I am still using a Pro-6 of similar age as a backup.

If you do get it working, get back to us. It is possible to convert it to run newer firmware, and we can give instructions on that.
- Connor158910
  Tutor
  Jun 11, 2025
  No luck getting to the boot menu either unfortunately… is there a way to upgrade the firmware bypassing the boot menu I wonder?
  - StephenB
    Guru
    Jun 11, 2025
    Connor158910 wrote:
    No luck getting to the boot menu either unfortunately
    
    That suggests a hardware failure. Often it is a PSU, Sandshark might have some other troubleshooting suggestions.
    
    You said you tried an external PSU?
StephenB
Guru
Jun 10, 2025
Connor158910 wrote:
There is no data it, I just want to resurrect the machine.

Do you currently have disks in the NAS?

Did you use the modified pinout when you tried the external power supply?
- Connor158910
  Tutor
  Jun 11, 2025
  Thanks for the reply. I have no disks in the NAS at all.
  - StephenB
    Guru
    Jun 11, 2025
    
    Connor158910 wrote:
    I have no disks in the NAS at all.
    
    Then it should say "No disks" on the LCD panel, and should get an IP address from your router.
    
    Is this a used NAS you just purchased, or did it work for you at some point in the past?
- Sandshark
  Sensei
  Jun 10, 2025
  StephenB wrote:
  Did you use the modified pinout when you tried the external power supply?
  
  There is no pin-out modification needed to the legacy 6-bay NAS.
Sandshark
Sensei
Jun 10, 2025
I believe you have an Ultra-6 (RNDU6000). A Pro model should say ReadyNAS Pro on the front. Can you get to the reset button menu? (How-do-I-access-the-boot-menu-on-my-ReadyNAS-Ultra-6-Ultra-6-Plus-Pro-6-Pro-Pioneer-or-Pro-Business-Edition).

The default ReadyNAS display only takes 5V power, and not even well-regulated 5V. So, there are a lot of possibilities as to what can be wrong. If you can at least get to the reset button menu, that limits what it might be.
- Rottenweiler
  Tutor
  Jun 15, 2025
  Most of the Ultra 6 models I have worked on have a blue colored main PCB. (Versus the RN Pro 6's which have all been standard green color) You can "see" the blue PCB thru the fan vent on the side. Might help you? (NOT sure that is 100% rule, just my experience)
  - Sandshark
    Sensei
    Jun 16, 2025
    If you see a motherboard through the vent holes that are in the shape of a fan, it's an Ultra6. The Ultra6Pro and all 6-bay Pro models have a fan there.
- Sandshark
  Sensei
  Jun 10, 2025
  Also, have you tried to see if RAIDar can see it? If it can, what does it report?
  - Connor158910
    Tutor
    Jun 11, 2025
    Unfortunately nothing happens when I try and access the boot menu. "ReadyNAS" just stays on the screen and the fans stay running no matter how many times I've tried.
    
    RAIDar just says it can't find any devices on the network. I have only tried using RAIDar 4 as that was the version that it came with I believe. Are newer versions backwards compatible? I can try and see what the latest version says too?
Sandshark
Sensei
Jun 09, 2025
"RND-6A" is not a ReadyNAS model number. I have no idea why Netgear put those useless numbers on them. What is the model number of the NAS (example: RNDP6000-100)?
- Connor158910
  Tutor
  Jun 10, 2025
  I'm not 100% sure on how to check the model number. The only model listed on the bottom of the device was the "RND-6A" as it seems the model name sticker is missing.
  
  Photo attatched below.
  
  Are there any other ways to check? It looks most similar to https://www.netgear.com/support/product/rndp6000-200_readynas_pro_6/
  
  Although the bottom right on the front only says "ReadyNAS" not "ReadyNAS Pro"
  
  Thanks!