NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
drive testing with new diskless RN204
I'm about to set up a new diskless RN204 with two new 6TB Seagate Capacity V4 drives in Raid 1 mode. I'm totally new to the NAS world. I've read a lot of the forum posts and done some searching but am still not sure how to approach testing my new drives. I'm planning to use Sea Tools to check out the drives and probably GSmartControl to review the Smart data. Does that sound like a decent approach?
Up to now, the new NAS has not even been plugged in.
So here's what I'm a bit confused about. (for now!) Do I test the drives before I install them to the NAS or after?
If I test after I put them into the NAS how do I specify which drive I'm testing if they are set up as Raid1? Will I still be able to access the drives individually?
If I install them before can I just use my eSata USB dock to mount them with? Should I format them before testing them or just drop them in and start testing?
TIA! Jim
10 Replies
Replies have been turned off for this discussion
Hello JimJ,
Welcome to the community!
You can test the disk with Sea Tools before installing them with the ReadyNAS, that's okay. There is no need to format them just make sure there is no partition as the ReadyNAS will format the disks to ReadyNAS file system format.
When the disks are inserted to the NAS, you will see the disks' images on the admin page of the NAS, their status and activity. Setting it up with RAID1 means there will be just one 1 volume so you will not be able to access the disks individually if you referring to volume. If you want 1 volume for each disk, you need JBOD and not RAID1.
This link might help.
Regards,
It would be nice to be able to test a specific drive (instead of testing all drives in the volume). Perhaps post that idea in the "ideas for storage" forum.
Though on initial install, its fine just to use the default XRAID (which would be RAID-1 with two disks installed), and just let the disk test check them both. If there is a problem, the email alerts and log messages should tell you which disk. RAIDar also can give you the disk status.
Thank you for the tips. I'm testing both drives now with Seatools. So far the Smart checks and short generic tests look good. The long generic tests are running now and will continue for about 12 hours.
If I get through that ok do you think I'm good to go or should I try to run some of the things on the advanced menu?
Hi JiimJ,
If ever both drives have passed the long generic tests then you can now proceed on inserting both drives on your RN204 for it to be initially setup.
Regards,
DaneA
NETGEAR Community Team
FWIW, both disks passed the long generic test and just to be extra-safe I went ahead and performed the write/erase test in the advanced menu. One drive passed after about 12 hours and the other drive failed about 12 hours into the test. That was a surprise. I've already returned it and am waiting for the replacement.
Hi JiimJ,
Thanks for keeping us in the loop. Once the replacement drive arrives, run the same diagnostic test before you install it on your NAS.
Kind regards,
BrianL
NETGEAR Community Team
as an FYI, I still had some trouble testing the replacement drive. I am just about to decide there is something wrong with my test setup. I have been testing wuth a drop-in dock connected via eSata. the first drive tested ok, the 2nd drive failed and I returned it, and then the replacement drive failed. At that point I went back and retested the first drive and - surprise! - it failed. I suspect a bad eSata cable or something along those lines.
I then switched to a USB3 docking station. The testing was a little hit-and-miss. It seemed better but I still got a couple of odd failures. Eventually it stabilized and the testing is going much better. I may not have been seating the drives peoperly in the docking station. I've used both docks many times in the past with no issues. I may have returned a drive that didn't really need to be returned.
In any case I am about to move forward with putting the new drives into the NAS.
Hi JiimJ,
Thanks for updating the thread. I hope the goes well with the replacement drive.
Kind regards,
BrianL
NETGEAR Community Team
I finally gave up on the replacement drive. The testing was just too flakey. Someitmes it would pass other times it would fail. I was being extra persistent because it was the 2nd bad drive and I was trying to eliminate any possbility that I was testing it incorrectly. In any case, I returned it and finally got a good one that passed all tests without a glitch - YAY!
I'm up and running on the RN204 now. I just updated firmware, reset factory defaults, and it is resyncing again.
I'll post a separate review of the drive purchasing experience in case anyone is interested.
HI JiimJ,
That seems very unlikely to happen. But we're glad that you're able to get a perfectly working drive to install in your system. I would suggest that you close this thread and post a new one about the performance and experience of the said drive model on this particular mode.
Kind regards,
BrianL
NETGEAR Community Team
NETGEAR Academy
Boost your skills with the Netgear Academy - Get trained, certified and stay ahead with the latest Netgear technology!
Join Us!
