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Forum Discussion
Corrupt root with new disk - case ref. no. 166 876 51
I had an error message from my ReadyNAS Duo saying that a bad disk was detected. I was still able to access all of my files - I have two disks in there in a RAID setup.
Luckily, I had just bought a new hard disk following another post on here about backups, and had initialised this disk so I could use it with a USB HD docking station I had borrowed from work - apart from being initialised using my laptop, the disk was unused and empty (NTFS, not that I know much about these things, but mentioning it in case it's relevant).
I thought it best to use this disk in the Duo which was reporting an error (Disk 1) and get another one later for backup purposes.
Using Frontview, I powered down my Duo, took the old Disk 1 out, inserted the new disk then powered it back up again. I started RAIDar to see when the Duo would be ready, and was expecting it to start synchronising the new disk. Instead, RAIDar showed my Duo with the two disks but the 'Info' column now shows the message "Corrupt root" and I cannot access the device using Frontview - the IP address shown in RAIDar is the same as the previous IP address. I was briefly able to connect to Frontview but, although the blue and yellow graphics were displayed, there was no text except the big blue title saying "ReadyNAS Null".
I then powered it down again using the Power button, removed the new disk and restarted the device. However, RAIDar still shows a green light for both Volume 1 and 2, despite there being no disk in bay 1, and the "Corrupt root" message is still displayed. The Duo is also very noisy with the fan running at 4166rpm constantly. The host name I had given the device has also been replaced by what looks like the serial number of the device.
Searching the forums, I came across a thread (viewtopic.php?f=64&t=45178&p=256614&hilit=corrupt+root+no+internet#p256614) which suggested a firmware reinstall. I followed the instructions in the FAQ and pressed the reset buttton while the device was switched off and continued pressing it for 5 seconds after the device was powered on. Rather than getting 1 LED blink as described, the blue LED blinked rapidly during this process.
The 4 green lights are now continuously blinking in a sequence of 3 rapid blinks then 3 slow blinks, and the blue LED continuously blinks rapidly.
Am I trying the firmware reinstall procedure correctly (device off, press and hold reset, power on and continue holding reset for 5 seconds)?
Also, is the firmware reinstall the correct solution to this issue?
Finally, is the data on Disk 2 safe? I'm too scared to touch that disk, so it has remained in position throughout. I also have a recent zip file of the configuration.
:(
Luckily, I had just bought a new hard disk following another post on here about backups, and had initialised this disk so I could use it with a USB HD docking station I had borrowed from work - apart from being initialised using my laptop, the disk was unused and empty (NTFS, not that I know much about these things, but mentioning it in case it's relevant).
I thought it best to use this disk in the Duo which was reporting an error (Disk 1) and get another one later for backup purposes.
Using Frontview, I powered down my Duo, took the old Disk 1 out, inserted the new disk then powered it back up again. I started RAIDar to see when the Duo would be ready, and was expecting it to start synchronising the new disk. Instead, RAIDar showed my Duo with the two disks but the 'Info' column now shows the message "Corrupt root" and I cannot access the device using Frontview - the IP address shown in RAIDar is the same as the previous IP address. I was briefly able to connect to Frontview but, although the blue and yellow graphics were displayed, there was no text except the big blue title saying "ReadyNAS Null".
I then powered it down again using the Power button, removed the new disk and restarted the device. However, RAIDar still shows a green light for both Volume 1 and 2, despite there being no disk in bay 1, and the "Corrupt root" message is still displayed. The Duo is also very noisy with the fan running at 4166rpm constantly. The host name I had given the device has also been replaced by what looks like the serial number of the device.
Searching the forums, I came across a thread (viewtopic.php?f=64&t=45178&p=256614&hilit=corrupt+root+no+internet#p256614) which suggested a firmware reinstall. I followed the instructions in the FAQ and pressed the reset buttton while the device was switched off and continued pressing it for 5 seconds after the device was powered on. Rather than getting 1 LED blink as described, the blue LED blinked rapidly during this process.
The 4 green lights are now continuously blinking in a sequence of 3 rapid blinks then 3 slow blinks, and the blue LED continuously blinks rapidly.
Am I trying the firmware reinstall procedure correctly (device off, press and hold reset, power on and continue holding reset for 5 seconds)?
Also, is the firmware reinstall the correct solution to this issue?
Finally, is the data on Disk 2 safe? I'm too scared to touch that disk, so it has remained in position throughout. I also have a recent zip file of the configuration.
:(
3 Replies
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- The 3 rapid blinks then 3 slow blinks indicates corrupt root: ReadyNAS Duo – LED Patterns
You followed the correct procedure for a firmware re-install. Just to clarify the last point: after about 5 seconds the LEDs should blink once and that's when you release the reset button.
I don't think a firmware re-install is likely to solve a corrupt root issue like this.
You are best to open a tech support case (http://www.readynas.com/support). Please edit the thread title (i.e. subject of first post in this thread) to include your case number.
Tech support will likely need to remotely login to your NAS to diagnose the issue. - Thanks mdgm.
I contacted support and must say that the support experience was (eventually) great despite my software support having expired months ago.
Initially, I was told that I would have to do a factory reset because I had used a HDD not on the compatibility list.
Not happy with that, I then called back to see if it was safe to try to reinstall that disk i.e. go back to the same disks in the same channels as before, and was told that should work. However, with both disks in, I still had the same problem.
Eventually, I got through to someone who was very helpful, and the steps which resolved this are:
1. With ReadyNAS switched off, pull out the second disk, so it only had the disk which I pulled out.
2. Switch ReadyNAS on to see if it started correctly - it did.
3. Hot-add the disk 2
4. Resync
If anyone does try this in the future, it is a good idea to take an image of the disk which was pulled and which you know has no data integrity, in case adding the second disk causes a malfunction.
Gotta say, I am one relieved man...!
:D
As a final test, once the resync has completed (it still has over an hour to go), I will power the device down, and try to start it with just Disk 2 inserted - if the resync has been successful and it is a perfect mirror of disk 1, it should start up as normal...I'll let you know how it goes. - :(
Disk 2 eventually finished syncing, and frontview shows the system as being fully redundant, but when I tried the test I mentioned (i.e. trying to boot just off Disk 2), I had the same problem. Booting with just Disk 1 worked fine. I left it in channel 2 rather than moving it to channel 1.
What I need to know is:
1. Should I be able to boot off either disk?
2. Does it matter whether the disk I am booting off is in channel 1 or 2?
Thanks.
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