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Forum Discussion
What can I do Readynas 2304
Hi, I am stuck with this device and readycloud no longer works. I did pay a lot for this though... I hate this brand. Tried to install openmediavault on an external usb, but the device always...
While your NAS can still run its native OS and there are alternatives to ReadyCloud, I do find it hard to recommend users not already "in bed" with a ReadyNAS start now with no support and an outdated version of Linux.
I've never had a 2304. Is it one that has a DOM for the flash? If it is, remove it and try again with the alternate OS. Or put in a bigger one and put the alternate OS on it.
BTW, if you decide to simply trash the NAS, PM me. I'd love to get a look at the inside of one so I can better support others with one.
I own the 2304 and have been successful w/ installing Fedora 41 on the device w/ (4) 2tb drives (MDADM Raid 5). The issue you are having may be more related to understanding the bios setup rather than anything else. I had to work my way through it also. On the save / exit area in the bios, near the bottom, you will be able to see your USB device. You simply have to select it, and it should immediately boot from your USB. I know it is weird to even think of the option being in that area of the bios. Let us all know if you were successful. (Just FYI, it is just a dual core system with only 2gb of onboard memory. I see areas in which one can attempt to solder in more memory but, I have not tried ...Yet. That stated, you would have to decide if it is worth your time.) If need be, I can possibly add a short video / screen shot.
MlSTRDC , do you know if the 2304 has a DOM for the flash memory? lazerprovo's problem doesn't seem to be that he can't boot an alternate OS manually, but that he can't set the BIOS to stay such that it will automatically boot from that OS.
From what I've read, you simply need to remove that DOM on units that have one, and then the BIOS change will "stick" (or maybe it doesn't, but with the DOM missing, it skips to the second boot device). Some units without a DOM have a separate BIOS setting for disabling the flash, which has the same result. But having never seen a 2304 in the wild and not finding any photos of it's innards online, I can't say if either of these apply here.
Sorry for the late response. I had scanned the motherboard (a while back) and do not recall seeing any actual modules (DOM). Unfortunately, I am not at home for the next couple of days to take a few photos but can do so when I return. I was able to remote in and take a look at the SMART results from the PMAP 3.0 drive:
j*******@NAS-247:~$ sudo smartctl /dev/sde1 --all
smartctl 7.4 2023-08-01 r5530 [x86_64-linux-6.13.11-200.fc41.x86_64] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-23, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org
=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Vendor:
Product: USB DISK 3.0
Revision: PMAP
Compliance: SPC-4
User Capacity: 255,852,544 bytes [255 MB]
Logical block size: 512 bytes
scsiModePageOffset: response length too short, resp_len=4 offset=12 bd_len=8
Logical Unit id: 0x8765432ab567abcd0x2000acde48234567
Serial number: 6B54070480A0
Device type: disk
scsiModePageOffset: response length too short, resp_len=4 offset=12 bd_len=8
Local Time is: Sun Apr 20 04:06:01 2025 EDT
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled
Temperature Warning: Disabled or Not Supported
query_cmd_support response too short
=== START OF READ SMART DATA SECTION ===
SMART Health Status: OK
Current Drive Temperature: 0 C
Drive Trip Temperature: 0 C
Error Counter logging not supported
scsiModePageOffset: response length too short, resp_len=4 offset=12 bd_len=8
Device does not support Self Test logging
Noted, the drive / chip may be Western Digital possibly, by the scheme of the serial number.
That said, persistent booting from the USBdrive I am not too sure about. I would have to revisit or attempt the process again. As stated, I install Fedora Server in a Raid 5 configuration (OS on the actual drive(s). I am not good a explaining how I did it but, a helpful link is available here. The installation process should be similar across distros. I mentioned it as, there is still some use for the ‘old girl’. Easily runs as a NAS and can even run a few containers. If you are not a command-line person, Fedora Server runs the cockpit web admin tool out-of-the-box for easy management.
As stated, I will dig a bit further into the USB persistent booting dilemma.I suppose Netgear could have soldered in a USB device for the flash, but I rather doubt it. So, I think that is a DOM.
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