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Forum Discussion
forumshandle65
Feb 13, 2025Follower
RN31200/RND2000
Hi all,
I have been using a RND/2C for the last 8 years with two drives in it. We had a thunderstorm the other night and the ReadyNAS has stopped turning on. I have pulled the drives out and I can view the drives using R-Linux for Windows, but I do not know what to do from here to recover all my archived documents, as they are in a form I do not understand.
I have also purchased a Used RND2000 Ver2
Any tips on how to get my files back would be appreciated!
Thanks
4 Replies
- michaelmykAspirant
Sorry to hear about your ReadyNAS – it's always stressful when hardware fails, especially after a trusted 8-year run. The good news is that your situation is very recoverable! The fact that R-Linux can see the drives is an excellent sign; it strongly suggests that the drives themselves are healthy and it was the RND/2C unit that was fried by the power surge.
Since you already have a replacement RND2000 v2, you have a perfect path to get your data back. Let's walk through your options, from the simplest to the more advanced.
Option 1: The Simple Swap (Most Likely to Work)
Your new (to you) RND2000 v2 should be able to import the existing disk array from your old unit and bring it online seamlessly. This is the standard procedure for migrating disks between compatible ReadyNAS systems.
- Power down your new RND2000 v2 completely.
- Insert both drives from your old RND/2C into the RND2000 v2. It's crucial to note the original drive order (Drive 1, Drive 2) if you can, but the OS is often resilient enough to figure it out.
- Power on the RND2000 v2.
- The system should detect that the disks have data from another ReadyNAS. It will likely go through an automatic process of importing the volume. This may take some time, but it should not erase any of your data.
- Once complete, you should be able to access all your files through the network shares as usual.
This is your best and first course of action. The ReadyNAS OS (NAS OS 6 or earlier) is designed to handle this exact scenario.
Option 2: Direct Drive Access via the New NAS
If for some reason the automatic import fails, you can still access the data directly through the new ReadyNAS.
- Set up the RND2000 v2 with a fresh volume. You might need to use a single spare drive (if you have one) to get the OS initialized, or you can let it create a new volume with your two original drives (WARNING: This will erase data, so only do this if you have a backup or as a last resort). The safer path is to use a temporary third drive for setup.
- Once the new NAS is operational on the network, you can connect one of your old drives to it via a USB-to-SATA adapter or install it in an empty bay (if you have more than two).
- The ReadyNAS OS should mount the XFS-formatted disk, and you can then simply copy the files from the old drive to the new volume through the web admin interface or a network share.
Option 3: Continuing with R-Linux (The "Last Resort" Software Method)
Since R-Linux for Windows can see the drives, you are already on the right track. The reason the file structure looks strange is that the ReadyNAS uses the XFS file system (and potentially LVM for volume management) in a specialized RAID configuration (likely X-RAID). You're not seeing a simple C drive with folders; you're seeing the raw Linux-based structure.
Here’s how to proceed with R-Linux:
- Scan the Drive: In R-Linux, select the correct physical drive and start a full scan. It needs to reconstruct the file system metadata.
- Look for the Data Pool: After the scan, instead of looking for a familiar drive, look for a recognized file system. It will likely be labeled as XFS. Drill down, and you should eventually find a folder structure that includes home and your share names.
- Recover to Another Drive: Once you find your files, you can use R-Linux's recovery function to copy them to another large external hard drive connected to your Windows PC. This is a file-by-file recovery, so it can be slow, but it's very effective.
Summary and Recommendation
Your action plan should be:
- Try Option 1 first. This is the intended, hassle-free method and has a very high success rate.
- If Option 1 fails, proceed to Option 2. Using the new NAS as a host to read the old drives directly is the next safest bet.
- Keep Option 3 in your back pocket. R-Linux is a powerful tool if the hardware-based methods hit a snag.
For more detailed, step-by-step guides on data recovery and getting the most out of your legacy Netgear ReadyNAS system, I've compiled a number of resources on my website that you might find useful. You can find these guides at: https://michigancountymap.com/
Good luck, and please report back on which option worked for you! It's always helpful for the next person who finds themselves in this situation.
- michaelmykAspirant
Sorry to hear about your ReadyNAS – it's always stressful when hardware fails, especially after a trusted 8-year run. The good news is that your situation is very recoverable! The fact that R-Linux can see the drives is an excellent sign; it strongly suggests that the drives themselves are healthy and it was the RND/2C unit that was fried by the power surge.
Since you already have a replacement RND2000 v2, you have a perfect path to get your data back. Let's walk through your options, from the simplest to the more advanced.
Option 1: The Simple Swap (Most Likely to Work)
Your new (to you) RND2000 v2 should be able to import the existing disk array from your old unit and bring it online seamlessly. This is the standard procedure for migrating disks between compatible ReadyNAS systems.
- Power down your new RND2000 v2 completely.
- Insert both drives from your old RND/2C into the RND2000 v2. It's crucial to note the original drive order (Drive 1, Drive 2) if you can, but the OS is often resilient enough to figure it out.
- Power on the RND2000 v2.
- The system should detect that the disks have data from another ReadyNAS. It will likely go through an automatic process of importing the volume. This may take some time, but it should not erase any of your data.
- Once complete, you should be able to access all your files through the network shares as usual.
This is your best and first course of action. The ReadyNAS OS (NAS OS 6 or earlier) is designed to handle this exact scenario.
Option 2: Direct Drive Access via the New NAS
If for some reason the automatic import fails, you can still access the data directly through the new ReadyNAS.
- Set up the RND2000 v2 with a fresh volume. You might need to use a single spare drive (if you have one) to get the OS initialized, or you can let it create a new volume with your two original drives (WARNING: This will erase data, so only do this if you have a backup or as a last resort). The safer path is to use a temporary third drive for setup.
- Once the new NAS is operational on the network, you can connect one of your old drives to it via a USB-to-SATA adapter or install it in an empty bay (if you have more than two).
- The ReadyNAS OS should mount the XFS-formatted disk, and you can then simply copy the files from the old drive to the new volume through the web admin interface or a network share.
Option 3: Continuing with R-Linux (The "Last Resort" Software Method)
Since R-Linux for Windows can see the drives, you are already on the right track. The reason the file structure looks strange is that the ReadyNAS uses the XFS file system (and potentially LVM for volume management) in a specialized RAID configuration (likely X-RAID). You're not seeing a simple C:\ drive with folders; you're seeing the raw Linux-based structure.
Here’s how to proceed with R-Linux:
- Scan the Drive: In R-Linux, select the correct physical drive and start a full scan. It needs to reconstruct the file system metadata.
- Look for the Data Pool: After the scan, instead of looking for a familiar "C:" drive, look for a recognized file system. It will likely be labeled as XFS. Drill down, and you should eventually find a folder structure that includes home and your share names.
- Recover to Another Drive: Once you find your files, you can use R-Linux's recovery function to copy them to another large external hard drive connected to your Windows PC. This is a file-by-file recovery, so it can be slow, but it's very effective.
Summary and Recommendation
Your action plan should be:
- Try Option 1 first. This is the intended, hassle-free method and has a very high success rate.
- If Option 1 fails, proceed to Option 2. Using the new NAS as a host to read the old drives directly is the next safest bet.
- Keep Option 3 in your back pocket. R-Linux is a powerful tool if the hardware-based methods hit a snag.
For more detailed, step-by-step guides on data recovery and getting the most out of your legacy Netgear ReadyNAS system, I've compiled a number of resources on my website that you might find useful:
Good luck, and please report back on which option worked for you! It's always helpful for the next person who finds themselves in this situation.
- StephenBGuru - Experienced User
forumshandle65 wrote:
- RN31200/RND2000
- I have been using a RND/2C
- I have also purchased a Used RND2000 Ver2
We need to get the models right. The RN31200 is very different from the RND2000 models. Plus the labeling on the RND2000s wasn't well thought out, and many people with the original Duo mistakenly think they have the v2.
What does it say on the front panel?
- ReadyNAS Duo
- ReadyNAS Duo v2
- Netgear and ReadyNAS
- Just Netgear
Does the ReadyNAS have an LCD panel?
- SandsharkSensei - Experienced User
An RND-2C is an RN312, aka ReadyNAS 312. An RND2000 (aka Duo, any version) cannot be used to recover files from your volume. I don't know why Netgear includes those RND-XX "model numbers" on the label, as they have never been used by Netgear or here in the forum.
Have you tried a replacement power supply? If the Duo came with one, you can use it with the 312. Alternately, see if the 2000 powers up with the 312's supply. Replacement supplies are cheap.
You will need a ReadyNAS that runs OS6 with any number of drive bays to mount your volume. That can be a native OS6 unit (any model, though a 312 or better is best if you plan to keep using it) or a legacy Ultra or Pro model that has been converted to OS6. Then you will also have to hope the volume wasn't damaged when the NAS went down (if it was running at the time).
The volume is an MDADM RAID with a BTRFS file system on top of that. R-Linux cannot access that, but a properly configured full Linux system can. ReclaiMe can as well, but it's not cheap.
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