Netgear Duo storage capacity

It is automatically by default configured so that if either disk fails your data remains intact.

You do still need to backup your important data though e.g. to a USB disk, another NAS or some place else.

So you want it configured differently?

Do you have a v1 or a v2?: http://www.rnasguide.com/2012/01/09/how-to-tell-whether-i-have-a-duo-v1-or-duo-v2-or-nv-v1-or-nv-v2/

The ReadyNAS mirrors on a block level, the disks are mirrored, so only 1TB of usable space in that setup. It's not like a Drobo or Windows Home Server, where it keeps duplicates of files themselves, so the free space is much greater.

If you want 2TB of space, that would be RAID0/JBOD, with no data redundancy, if a disk were to fail, everything is lost.

mdgm wrote:
It is automatically by default configured so that if either disk fails your data remains intact. You do still need to backup your important data though e.g. to a USB disk, another NAS or some place else. So you want it configured differently? Do you have a v1 or a v2?]

Hi. It looks like I have a V1 according to that link (I was wondering as I bought it off Ebay and the seller wasn't sure which it was).

I just assumed (it appears wrongly) that the backup feature was user selectable so that you told the drives which data to back up from where or you could ask a PC to backup data to the nas for safekeeping.

I did not realise the drives mirrored themselves so you only have half the storage space but the safety net if one fails.

I have never had a NAS drive setup before and this is why I got a 2TB one thinking that it would give me that much space, or I could configure the drives to say 1/5tb storage 1/2tb to backup specific data.

A lot of my vital data I do have stored elsewhere (photos etc) and most stuff on the NAS while not stuff I want to loose, would not be classed as the end of the world if I did. So in fairness if there was a way of changing the redundancy settings only to back up a specific folder or set of folders rather than mirroring the complete drives that would be better to me.

If this is possible can someone tell me how.

Thank you both for your help.

Max

RAID redundancy works below the file system, so it is all or nothing. It isn't really backup (generally it is a mistake to think of it that way).

You can set it up so that the two disks are independent volumes, though that will require you to start over (wiping all the data on the drives). What you would do is remove both drives, and delete the partitions (easiest to do that on a PC). Install RAIDar on a PC, then put the first drive in the NAS, and power it on. You have 10 minutes to then choose "flexraid" via RAIDar. You will want RAID-0. After the install is 100% done, you can put in a second disk and add a second volume. You should read the section in the manual on flexraid (pg 17-21) http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/ ... 6Dec11.pdf

You can also use RAID-0 to create a single 2 TB volume (spanning both your disks) instead of 2 1TB volumes, but as Chirpa said, that is NOT what you want. The problem with that mode is that if either drive fails you lose everything. That is why I suggest installing the disks one at a time - it is the easiest way to avoid ending up in that mode by mistake.

Once done, you can then use Frontview backup to schedule regular backups on specific folders. You can backup to the other NAS volume, USB drive, or a PC. I suggest backing it up on a different device if you can, as then it is easier to get your data back if the NAS chassis fails.

StephenB wrote:

RAID redundancy works below the file system, so it is all or nothing. It isn't really backup (generally it is a mistake to think of it that way). You can set it up so that the two disks are independent volumes, though that will require you to start over (wiping all the data on the drives). What you would do is remove both drives, and delete the partitions (easiest to do that on a PC). Install RAIDar on a PC, then put the first drive in the NAS, and power it on. You have 10 minutes to then choose "flexraid" via RAIDar. You will want RAID-0. After the install is 100% done, you can put in a second disk and add a second volume. You should read the section in the manual on flexraid (pg 17-21) http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/RAIDiator4-1_SW_en_06Dec11.pdf You can also use RAID-0 to create a single 2 TB volume (spanning both your disks) instead of 2 1TB volumes, but as Chirpa said, that is NOT what you want. The problem with that mode is that if either drive fails you lose everything. That is why I suggest installing the disks one at a time - it is the easiest way to avoid ending up in that mode by mistake. Once done, you can then use Frontview backup to schedule regular backups on specific folders. You can backup to the other NAS volume, USB drive, or a PC. I suggest backing it up on a different device if you can, as then it is easier to get your data back if the NAS chassis fails.

I cannot see how to do this.

I have re-set the box to apparent factory defaults by holding the reset button as I turn it on with only one disk in it. (Which is what a google search said to do to reset the box)

The instructions for Raidr state:

2. Launch RAIDar.
You will use it later to change between the two modes.
3. Perform a factory reset reboot.
For more information about how to perform a factory reset reboot, see the hardware
manual for your system.
4. In RAIDar, watch for Setup to display in your ReadyNAS system’s Info column.
It might take a few minutes for Setup to display in RAIDar.Manage Storage Space
20
ReadyNAS Duo, NV+, and 1100
5. Highlight your system and click the Setup button.
The ReadyNAS Volume Setup screen displays.
6. Select the Flex-RAID radio button.
If you do not pick a format within 10 minutes, your system reboots in the same mode that
it was previously using.

Problem is "Setup" never appears in the info column. It goes from "Booting", To Filesystem check 100% to "4.1.10" which I assume is the firmware version for the Nas Duo.

I assume I am missing something here, The info page for the hub says:


Hostname: nas-0A-71-46
Model: ReadyNAS Duo [X-RAID]
Serial: 24M3017K00E31
Firmware: RAIDiator 4.1.10 [1.00a043]
Memory: 256 MB [2.5-3-3-7]
IPv4 address:: 192.168.0.7
Volume C: Online, X-RAID, 2 disks, 0% of 921 GB used

I am obviously doing something wrong here. But I do not know what. Can someone help me a little further?

Thanks
Max

You aren't doing the factory reset. Check page 16 of your hardware manual - here: http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/ ... 6Dec11.pdf If that doesn't work, put the disk in a PC and delete the partitions there.

Again, you want to do that with one disk installed.

Thank you for this. It appears to be working now and installing the first drive as a flexi-raid sysem.

Sorry if I was dumb with my questions but this is all new to me.

Max

StephenB wrote:
You aren't doing the factory reset. Check page 16 of your hardware manual - here: http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/Duov1_NV%2Bv1_HW_en_06Dec11.pdf If that doesn't work, put the disk in a PC and delete the partitions there. Again, you want to do that with one disk installed.

Okay got a problem again, sorry.

I installed one drive and it said it created a partition which was fine and all seemed. Okay. After it had finished and I had left it another 5 mins, I turned it off and put in the other drive.

Now I get the following told that I only have a single drive. I cannot use the URL tag here for some reason but if you want to see pics of what the NAS is saying copy and paste the image links below:

http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz281/Yoshi15782/NAS/Untitled.jpg
http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz281/Yoshi15782/NAS/Untitled2.jpg
http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz281/Yoshi15782/NAS/Untitled3.jpg

These also show what Raidr is reporting.

Does this mean i need to take the drives out (again) but this time wipe them using my PC or is this a sign of another issue I am having?

Sorry for so many questions but this is all over my head and I am struggling here sadly.

Thanks
Max

Oh on the second drive. If I ask the NAS to locate it, it does blink the correct light so it must be there and seen yes?

Did you create a volume using the second disk drive? See page 20 of your software manual: http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/ ... 6Dec11.pdf

If the disk isn't shown, remove it and re-insert it with the NAS running (e.g., don't power down).