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Forum Discussion
Firmware Downloads
FYI here's a little script that downloads all available firmware versions starting with v6.0.0. It'll be good to keep them on hand for the day that they go away online. Unfortunately, however, so...
Since it is not necessary to upgrade through the entire sequence of updates, downgrading to anything prior to the one running that's a major downgrade (e.g. 6.10.x to 6.9.x) can cause real problems (especially on ARM systems), and it's also not recommended to run really ancient OS versions at all, I don't see the point here of keeping them all. But go ahead if you want.
I don't know where you got that statement of the necessary incremental upgrades, but it's incomplete. The complete statement, assuming one is moving to 6.10.x, is "ReadyNAS 102, 104, and 2120 systems must not be updated directly to 6.10.x from 6.3.x or older firmware. They must first be updated to either 6.2.5 or 6.3.5 then to 6.5.2 and then to 6.10.x. ReadyNAS 202, 204, 212 and 212 systems must not be updated directly to 6.10.x from 6.3.x. They must first be updated to 6.3.5 then 6.5.2 and then to 6.10.x."
But with 6.3.5 being only for the 200 series, I believe a more accurate statement would be ReadyNAS 102, 104, and 2120 systems must not be updated directly to 6.10.x from 6.2.4 or older firmware. They must first be updated to 6.2.5 then to 6.5.2 and then to 6.10.x. ReadyNAS 202, 204, 212 and 212 systems must not be updated directly to 6.10.x from 6.3.4 or older firmware. They must first be updated to 6.3.5 then 6.5.2 and then to 6.10.x. Hopefully, it's obvious from that that a unit between 6.2.5/6.3.4 (as appropriate) and 6.5.2 still needs to go through 6.5.2.
FYI, the reason for the mandated sequence has to do with changes made to U-Boot. I don't know the details, but I know you can brick a unit by not following the sequence.
While I don't know why anyone would need to, on Intel-based units, it is actually safe to downgrade to a much earlier version via USB recovery and starting fresh with blank(ed) drives. USB recovery fully overwrites the flash, and there is no U-Boot involved.
I believe a more accurate statement would be ReadyNAS 102, 104, and 2120 systems must not be updated directly to 6.10.x from 6.2.4 or older firmware. They must first be updated to 6.2.5 then to 6.5.2 and then to 6.10.x. ReadyNAS 202, 204, 212 and 214 systems must not be updated directly to 6.10.x from 6.3.4 or older firmware. They must first be updated to 6.3.5 then 6.5.2 and then to 6.10.x.
The RN200 series was released before 6.3.x firmware, and many RN200 systems never got that firmware.
If someone still has an RN200 system running 6.2.x (or older), then they don't need to install 6.3.5. They can instead use 6.2.5->6.5.2->6.10.x
As far as firmware archival goes, I think it is enough to save 6.2.5, 6.3.5, 6.5.2, 6.10.9, and 6.10.10. I don't see any reason to run anything older than 6.10.9, and the earlier versions in my list allow ARM units to migrate to that.
I don't know where you got that statement of the necessary incremental upgrades,
It's taken from the readme in the firmware zip files.
The RN200 series was released before 6.3.x firmware, and many RN200 systems never got that firmware.
If someone still has an RN200 system running 6.2.x (or older), then they don't need to install 6.3.5. They can instead use 6.2.5->6.5.2->6.10.x
As far as firmware archival goes, I think it is enough to save 6.2.5, 6.3.5, 6.5.2, 6.10.9, and 6.10.10. I don't see any reason to run anything older than 6.10.9, and the earlier versions in my list allow ARM units to migrate to that.How on earth do you manage to remember all that?
I don't see the point here of keeping them all
The concern arose when I went shopping on eBay for a used ReadyNAS. It occurred to me that, should I purchase one, its patch level upon arrival would be unknown.
Also, having the collection on hand will be useful in the event of a necessary system reset.
I don't know where you got that statement of the necessary incremental upgrades, but it's incomplete
It is complete. As noted in my original post, it's found in the Release Notes for v6.5.2. You can find that download here:
https://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/READYNAS-100/ReadyNASOS-6.5.2-arm.zip
the reason for the mandated sequence has to do with changes made to U-Boot. I don't know the details, but I know you can brick a unit by not following the sequence
Frankly, I think they could have done a better job with this. Satisfaction of the incremental requirements could have been easily automated, relieving the user of this tedious and error-prone burden.
But that's just me.
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