ST2000DL003 Compatibility?

Try transferring a large file from your computer to the NAS over ethernet. If the speeds are pathetic compared to what they were before then you know there's a problem.

If I was to get two of these for my Duo, do I remove one and let it sync and then remove the other and let that sync too? Or is there something I need to do with this 4k thing? NAS is on 4.1.7.

While that Seagate drive uses the 4K sectors, it also includes "SmartAlign" which is designed to not require special alignment procedures (Seagates words). However, it would certainly not hurt to to a complete backup of your system (you have not talked about what size your current disks are so I have no idea how extensive your backup would need to be. But you could certainly use one of the new Seagates as a backup target, then shut down the Duo, remove both current drives, install the second new drive and then do a factory default. Once the Duo is back up and config is set, restore your data and then hot add the first new 2TB drive used as a backup target.

This would also allow you to maintain the current drives as an emergency backup for a while. But, this would not be possible if you replace them one at a time.

Thanks papabear - I'm going from 2 x 1TB drives (came with it - think WD) to the 2 x 2TB drives mentioned above.
Do I also need to back up the config of the box separately - and is that then EVERYTHING - inc. network settings, share access, type (ftp, nfs etc) and ID's and passwords?
Would I need to format the new disk as NTFS (I'm using W7) and simply copy the contents to it (USB or across the network to it slaved to a PC?) or use the NAS backup option?
I assume I then remove both of the drives and put in the unused new one and do the factory reset - then copy the contents back to it from the first new drive and then put that drive in the NAS - to have its data overwritten - albeit with the same data - but the NAS will re-format it automatically (EXT(3?)?)?
Assuming I do back up the config separately, when do I restore it? After I have done the factory reset and before I start copying data back to the NAS?

Given that 4.1.7 supports 4k and my NAS is on 4.1.7, why does it need a factory reset? (I'm not questioning whether it does or doesn't - simply why it does need it..)
Many thanks,
Steve

You could either connect the disk to your PC (formatting it to use NTFS would be fine) and backup to it across your network, or put the disk in a USB enclosure and backup to the disk while it is connected to the NAS (for this you'd format the disk to use EXT3 under Volumes > USB Storage in Frontview and enable fast USB writes: http://www.readynas.com/forum/faq.php#How_do_I_improve_write_speeds_of_USB_External_Drive_attached_to_ReadyNAS%3F)

Before putting the disk you backed up to back in the NAS ideally you'd delete the partitions on it using a PC or at least ensure that it only has a single partition. Yes the NAS will automatically

You would need to backup the config separately. It'll backup your entire NAS config (not addons configuration though).

You would restore the config before restoring the data.

In the notes for 4.1.7 (http://www.readynas.com/RAIDiator_4_1_7_Notes) it says that a factory reset on 4.1.7 (or later once newer firmware is released) is required to setup the 4k sector alignment.

Thanks - not quite sure about this bit - "Before putting the disk you backed up to back in the NAS ideally you'd delete the partitions on it using a PC or at least ensure that it only has a single partition.". Why would there be any partitions on the drive?
Is there a performance benefit backing up to an EXT formatted drive over USB than over the network to an NTFS drive (only 100mbps router).

Process I will follow:

Attach 1st new HDD.
Backup to 1st new HDD.
Backup config to USB stick.
Remove both 1TB disks.
Put in 2nd new HDD.
Perform Factory Reset.
Restore config from USB stick.
Restore data from 1st new HDD.
(at this stage I may do a backup of the restored data from the NAS to one of the old 1TB drives - before adding the 1st HDD to the system)
Hot add 1st new HDD.
Pray.

EDIT: and is it the config backup that restores all of the user ID's passwords, share permissions etc?

:)

sjw wrote:
Thanks - not quite sure about this bit - "Before putting the disk you backed up to back in the NAS ideally you'd delete the partitions on it using a PC or at least ensure that it only has a single partition.". Why would there be any partitions on the drive?

When you format a drive it has partition on it. If you don't divide it into multiple partitions it would have a single partition.

sjw wrote:
Is there a performance benefit backing up to an EXT formatted drive over USB than over the network to an NTFS drive (only 100mbps router).

Backing up to an EXT formatted drive would be quicker. If you want to backup over the network you could get a gigabit switch and hook the NAS and a PC with a gigabit ethernet port up to that (use Cat5e or newer ethernet cabling) and then connect an ethernet cable from the switch to the router. Or you could use a direct-connection: http://sphardy.com/web/readynas/how-to-direct-connect-to-your-readynas/

sjw wrote:
Process I will follow: Attach 1st new HDD. Backup to 1st new HDD. Backup config to USB stick. Remove both 1TB disks. Put in 2nd new HDD. Perform Factory Reset. Restore config from USB stick. Restore data from 1st new HDD. (at this stage I may do a backup of the restored data from the NAS to one of the old 1TB drives - before adding the 1st HDD to the system) Hot add 1st new HDD. Pray.

That would work fine.

The Config Backup is a zip file. You can just download it onto your PC if you prefer (unless your planning on replicating the config onto multiple ReadyNAS this would probably be the way to go). No need to back it up to a USB stick. However if you want to backup to a USB stick and restore from it, here's some advice: http://www.readynas.com/?p=276

Note that the option to backup your data volume will only backup your data if it is no more than 50MB of data. So the config backup is certainly not a replacement for backing up your data separately.

sjw wrote:
EDIT: and is it the config backup that restores all of the user ID's passwords, share permissions etc?

Yes. In fact if you unzip it, you can look and see the config and explore it. If you're familiar with Linux you should find lots of familiar configuration files.

Keep the zip file that is downloaded from Frontview as this is what needs to be restored.

Thanks again! :)
When I asked about partitions, I meant to say "Why would it have more than one partition on?'

I don't have a problem with connecting the NAS directly to a PC or via a gig switch (I have one). However, although gigabit is theoretically faster than usb2, I assume you would still recommend the EXT formatted disk directly attached to the NAS usb port?
Actually my desktop is out of action anyway so the disk would be attached to the other PC (a high-spec CAD laptop) by usb anyway so it would effectively be usb - so I guess it's a moot point anyway..
900 or so GB's of data.... This is gonna take while isn't it...??..... :|

It will take a while, but it's worth it.

If you format the disk to use EXT2 (you can't do this via Frontview) it will be a bit quicker than using EXT3.

USB backups are CPU intensive and Sparc ReadyNAS have a slow CPU. If you format the disk to use NTFS definitely hook it up to a PC. If you're willing to format the disk to use EXT2/3 and enable fast USB writes then hook it up to the ReadyNAS.

If connecting the USB disk to the ReadyNAS, I recommend changing the backup job properties to use Rsync after doing the full backup to verify that the backup completed successfully. See Rsync backup to USB disk

A couple of points. The suggestion of mdgm to verify the backup using Rsync is a good one. This process will synchronize the files on the two devices (Duo and external disk). It is also relatively quick. I use Rsync for my regular nightly backup from one NAS to a second. If the two backups match, it will only take a few minutes to verify this and close.

I notice you are using Win 7 and if you are using Firefox as I am, the config zip file will probably be copied to your download folder on your desktop (mine is) and the file name will be "_READYNAS_CONFIG.zip". From here you can copy it to a flash drive. I have an older 512MB flash drive that is almost useless now in the days of large files except for this. I delete all other files (not really necessary, but I do) and then copy the config file over onto it. It won't take long as it is only about 200KB.

You might want to consider inserting your gigabit switch in your network. It will effectively double the file transfer speed between your Duo and your PC's that are connected via ethernet. Using the 100 Megabit ports on the router (mine is the same way) your file transfer speeds are limited to a max of 12.5 Megabytes/sec (100Mb/s / 8). It was a hint given to me by a IT friend to connect my NV+ (same speed as your Duo) to a gigabit switch as well as all the ethernet connected PC's. My file transfer speed was now up to 20-22 MB/s on most files (sparc based units such as the Duo and NV+ will max out around 25 MB/s). The switch is then connected to the router. I have all my fast devices (PC's and NAS) connected to the switch and my slow devices such as the printers connected to the router. After all, if you have it just sitting around, it won't take but a few minutes to reconfig.

I would make the change and test the connections with a test file (any large file). I had no problems with a third part switch with my NV+, but when I upgraded to an NVX, it gave me fits until I found the problem. Once I switched to a Netgear GS series the NVX performed as designed (50-70MB/s depending on the files).

I know the process seems complex, but one step at a time. The first time is the most difficult. In the future you will be an old had at this.