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Forum Discussion
Can I populate a ReadyNAS Ultra 4 with 10 TB HDDs?
RNDU4000 - ReadyNAS Ultra 4, 4 x 3TB WD Reds, firmware 4.2.31. OK, so I’m looking into the possibility of replacing 4 x 3TB WD Reds in my ReadyNAS RNDU4000 Ultra 4 with 4 x 10TB WD Reds. I’d back...
Hi StephenB,
Thank you for the very helpful advice. I will make changes in a step wise fashion.
I’ll initially purchase two 10 TB WD Reds to verify there are no problems. This arrangement will provide slightly more capacity than I currently have. Once data is backed up I’ll stay with 4.2.31 to begin with. If all is OK I’ll start afresh and try upgrading to OS-6 for its more up-to-date security features.
If I’m starting with unpopulated, unformatted disks do I access the NAS in the usual way via RAIDar/Frontview ‘Setup’ - then ‘System/Update/Local’ and navigate to the 6.9.1 image then ‘Upload and verify’? Are there any other steps which need to be taken prior to attempting this?
I’ll try out the version of Logitech Media Server NT from the Get Apps page.
Another thought occurs to me. If OS-6 is more resource intensive would doubling the RAM in the Ultra 4 to 2 GB be possible or of benefit?
I finances allow I’d eventually like to change to a RN424. If the Ultra 4 had been upgraded to OS-6 would I be able to simply transfer, in order, the HDDs from the Ultra 4 to the RN424 or would backing up and starting from scratch again be necessary?
Thanking you in anticipation.
rmgalley wrote:
I’ll initially purchase two 10 TB WD Reds to verify there are no problems. This arrangement will provide slightly more capacity than I currently have. Once data is backed up I’ll stay with 4.2.31 to begin with. If all is OK I’ll start afresh and try upgrading to OS-6 for its more up-to-date security features.
That makes sense, though it might go a bit quicker if you start with 1x10TB installed (it eliminates waiting for the first sync). Note that the conversion will require a factory reset (the details are in a link below).
It does make sense to keep your old disks intact (and labeled by slot). It is possible to revert back to 4.2.31, and boot with the old disks installed. So it gives you another safety net on top of the backup. If you want to do this, just power down the NAS and remove all disks at once (which you are planning to do anyway to check out the 10 TB drives).
rmgalley wrote:
If I’m starting with unpopulated, unformatted disks do I access the NAS in the usual way via RAIDar/Frontview ‘Setup’ - then ‘System/Update/Local’ and navigate to the 6.9.1 image then ‘Upload and verify’? Are there any other steps which need to be taken prior to attempting this?
You can't upgrade directly to OS-6. You can find the steps for OS-6 conversion here: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Using-your-ReadyNAS/Ultra-6-OS-Upgrade-from-4-2-30-to-OS-6/m-p/1181060/highlight/true#M120724
rmgalley wrote:
Another thought occurs to me. If OS-6 is more resource intensive would doubling the RAM in the Ultra 4 to 2 GB be possible or of benefit?
1 GB seems to be adequate at present, but currently shipping OS-6 platforms have at least 2 GB of RAM. So it is reasonable to upgrade the memory as part of the conversion.
rmgalley wrote:
If finances allow I’d eventually like to change to a RN424. If the Ultra 4 had been upgraded to OS-6 would I be able to simply transfer, in order, the HDDs from the Ultra 4 to the RN424 or would backing up and starting from scratch again be necessary?
You'll be able to migrate the disks as you describe - you won't need to start over.
Hi Stephen,
Thank you. This is all looking very promising.
I’d like to verify as ‘proof of concept’, in particular, the Logitech Media Server version for OS-6. I’ll report the outcome back here. I’d like to check it out, but be able to revert back to 4.2.31 if problems arise.
I see, looking at the Release Notes for the normal version of v6.9.1, there are procedures to be taken note of such as:
‘ReadyNAS 202, 204, 212 and 212 must not be updated directly to 6.9.x from 6.3.x. They must first be updated to 6.3.5 then 6.5.2 and then onto 6.9.x’
‘Devices updated with 6.9.1 firmware should not be downgraded to firmware versions before 6.9.0’.
Also, given the ‘preparation’ files needed to convert from 4.2.31 to OS-6, presumable something similar would be necessary going back to 4.2.31? So what I am seeking here is an answer to the question ‘Is changing from OS-4 to OS-6 a one way journey?’
If I can fall back to 4.2.31 I’d start by removing all four 3 TB drives and install a single spare 1TB drive, start from scratch with 4.2.31 and the normal Logitech Media Server add-on. The advantage to me is this would require no additional expenditure for now. After verifying that the 4.2.31 is OK I’ll follow the procedure you outlined for upgrading to OS-6. I’ll install the OS-6 compatible version of LMS to verify it functions as intended.
I think some of my confusion is because 4.2.31 is described as firmware rather than software or an OS. As such does 4.2.31 (or 6.9.1) reside on the HDDs or in the NAS hardware?
Thanks again.
rmgalley wrote:
Also, given the ‘preparation’ files needed to convert from 4.2.31 to OS-6, presumable something similar would be necessary going back to 4.2.31? So what I am seeking here is an answer to the question ‘Is changing from OS-4 to OS-6 a one way journey?’
There is a downgrade image here: https://www.readynas.com/contributed/mdgm/r4tor6/
I haven't used it, but others here have, and can help you through it if necessary. Like the upgrade, it requires a factory reset/reformatting of the disks.
rmgalley wrote:
I think some of my confusion is because 4.2.31 is described as firmware rather than software or an OS. As such does 4.2.31 (or 6.9.1) reside on the HDDs or in the NAS hardware?
The installation image is saved in the NAS flash memory, but the OS itself resides on the disks. The bootloader, etc do need to be consistent with the OS, so you can't simply put OS6 disks into an OS4.2 system and expect it to boot.
You can put OS4.2 disks into an x86 OS6 system - the system will boot, and give you read-only access to the volume. That is intended to help folks migrate to a new NAS when their old one has failed.
Thanks Stephen,
That gives me much more confidence.
With regard to the downgrade image, I note it is named as ‘RAIDiator-x86-4.2.31-downgrade’, without any extension. Is that correct and it will be recognised as valid or should I rename the file as ‘RAIDiator-x86-4.2.31-downgrade.bin’?
Also is it necessary to run ‘PREP4TOR6_0.1-x86.bin’ again?
I’ve been trying to source a 2GB ASint DDR2 PC2-6400 667MHz (or higher) SO DIMM 200-pin memory module. As I've read on this forum ReadyNAS's seem to be quite choosy about memory it makes sense to try this out with a memory check while I’ve got the temporary single 1TB HDD installed.
There’s plenty for me to getting along with. Thanks again.
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