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Forum Discussion
Readynas 214
I have a ReadyNAS 214. It worked for years. It got damaged. I can not purchase it any longer. What product could I purchase that would allow me to plug the drives in as they are and they would work. It was setup for RAID 5. The drives are not damaged. The nas box is. I read that if I get a compatible product the drives should work.
3 Replies
Since your ReadyNAS 214 is damaged but the drives are intact and set up in RAID 5, you will need to find a NAS device that is compatible with the ReadyNAS's RAID configuration to allow for a seamless transition. ReadyNAS devices use a proprietary RAID format called X-RAID, which limits compatibility with non-Netgear products. Here's what you can do:
1. Stick with Netgear ReadyNAS Line
The safest option is to get another Netgear ReadyNAS device. Newer ReadyNAS models should support the same RAID format (X-RAID) used by your ReadyNAS 214, allowing you to move the drives without losing data. Some models to consider:
- Netgear ReadyNAS RN424 (4-bay, similar to your 214 but newer)
- Netgear ReadyNAS RN426 (6-bay, if you need more expansion)
These should allow you to insert the drives in the same order, and they should recognize the existing RAID 5 array without the need for reconfiguration.
2. Check RAID Compatibility with Other NAS Brands
If you're open to considering other NAS brands (such as Synology or QNAP), you'll need to:
- Confirm if they support importing RAID arrays from a ReadyNAS.
- Consider using a software RAID recovery tool or manual recovery to access your RAID 5 data if the new NAS doesn't natively support ReadyNAS RAID configurations.
Alternatives:
- Synology DiskStation (with RAID 5 support) – Popular, but manual RAID migration may be necessary.
- QNAP NAS – Also supports RAID 5 but may require migration/rebuild steps.
3. Use a RAID Recovery Software Option
If you go with a non-ReadyNAS device and it doesn't recognize the RAID configuration, you can:
- Use a RAID recovery software tool like RAID Reconstructor or R-Studio to access and recover data from your RAID 5 drives.
- After recovery, you can set up the new NAS and copy the data over manually.
Would you prefer to stick with Netgear for an easier transition, or are you interested in exploring other NAS brands?
bonnie5689 is clearly unfamiliar with the file system on a ReadyNAS and may be trying to sell you something.
I know of no other brand of NAS that supports BTRFS on MDADM RAID as is used by OS6.
Neither of the recovery products mentioned do either.
If you want to put your drives in another NAS and just "keep on trucking", then a used ReadyNAS running OS6 is what you need. Any model with at least 4 bays (unless you've only used 2) will do, including a legacy unit converted to OS6. Which you chose depends a lot on whether you want to continue using it as a primary NAS, a backup to another brand, or not at all. Unless it's "not at all", I recommend you avoid the 104, as it is quite limited. Note that if you do go with a legacy unit, you'll need the caddies -- yours will not fit the older units. Many are sold without them, unfortunately.
Recovery with a generic LINUX system with both MDADM and BTRFS installed is possible, if you have the skills, as long as what happened to your NAS didn't damage the volume in the process. The only recovery software I know of that supports the OS6 file format is ReclaiMe, which is somewhat expensive but does have a free mode that can tell you whether or not it will work before you purchase. But it will often also recover most files from a damaged volume. In both cases, you'll need a way to mount at least 3 of the drives (all 4 is best) simultaneously to a PC.
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