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NETGEAR ReadyNAS Ultra 4 Disks Replacement
Hello, I currently have an ReadyNAS Ultra 4 with four 4TB disks in a X-RAID2 configuration. The NAS is serving primarily as a media server and for backup of some files. I want to replace two of t...
JohnnyR2D2 wrote:
So what you're saying here is that after backup everything I can still try to resync the disks although your suggestion is to destroy all the data volume not only because it will be faster but also probably it will be a more clean installation right?
It is faster because each resync requires every sector on all disks to be either read or written. It's more efficient to build the volume once.
You'd have a clean installation either way - identical RAID layers, etc.
JohnnyR2D2 wrote:
So what I'm going to install first isn't an actual firmware correct? it's a kind of upgrade from 4.2 to OS 6 meaning that after all the above I will have to install the new firmware which if I'm not mistaken is the ReadyNASOS-6.4.2-x86_64.img (got if from NTGR support download site).
Actually the module I linked will install 6.5 beta directly, so you won't need the .img that you downloaded. That makes the overall process simpler.
JohnnyR2D2 wrote:
Last but not least...just in case I run into problems which I hope I'm not which ReadyNas new model you recommend for me to buy and use with four 8TB disks remembering that I use only for media share and backup some stuff in there. I need to USB minimum.
The RN314 is the closest model to what you have now. It includes a 5 year hardware warranty and free lifetime chat software support.
The RN214 is worth considering if you are interested in streaming. It uses a quadcore arm processor, which is capable of real-time 1080 transcoding with the plex streaming app. That is particularly useful if you are streaming over the internet. However, warranty is only 3 years, and free software support is limited to 90 days.
The RN204 gives good filesharing performance, but can't do real-time transcoding. The warranty and software support is the same as the RN214.
I think I will go for it and install the new OS 6.4.2. Just need to install it on top of the 4.2 right?
My only problem now is to find space among all my computers to do a backup. Will see.
Any last recommendation besides the backup, backup, backup?
My starting configuration was four 2TB disks which I replaced by the current four 4TB disks. Based on what you said I'm on the limit already with four 4TB disks that gives a total of 16TB right?
I was just reading about the the 6.1 here https://community.netgear.com/t5/Using-your-ReadyNAS/OS6-now-works-on-x86-Legacy-WARNING-NO-NTGR-SUPPORT/td-p/897021 and I get it that this procedure will void my warranty which I think it's expired already anyways. I didn't understand this thou: "Optional (do before step 2 below): R4toR6_Prep_Addon.bin (26 KB) (upload before modified IMG, don't reboot, avoids the need for manual factory default in between)"
Regardless I've just downloaded the ReadyNAS OS Version 6.4.2 from NTGR but my system isn't listed there. Below are the ones listed and mine is the RNDU4000.
arm (RN102 / RN104 / RN202 / RN204 / RN212 / RN214 / RN2120)
x86 (RN312 / RN314 / RN316 / RN516 / RN716x / RN3130 / RN3138 / RN3220 / RN4220)
After backup, install the new OS and everything is this new OS able to use X-RAID2 as well?
Tks,
Johnny
JohnnyR2D2 wrote:
My starting configuration was four 2TB disks which I replaced by the current four 4TB disks. Based on what you said I'm on the limit already with four 4TB disks that gives a total of 16TB right?
You seem determined to confuse raw disk capacity (16 TB at the moment) with the volume size (12 TB at the moment).
You started with 4x2TB - which is a 6 TB volume size. Your expansion ceiling is therefore about 14 TB (a bit more, since the units are actually TiB), So the expansion to 2x4TB+2x8TB will fail.
JohnnyR2D2 wrote:
I was just reading about the the 6.1 here https://community.netgear.com/t5/Using-your-ReadyNAS/OS6-now-works-on-x86-Legacy-WARNING-NO-NTGR-SUPPORT/td-p/897021 and I get it that this procedure will void my warranty which I think it's expired already anyways. I didn't understand this thou: "Optional (do before step 2 below): R4toR6_Prep_Addon.bin (26 KB) (upload before modified IMG, don't reboot, avoids the need for manual factory default in between)"
The process you should follow is:
1. Download R4toR6_6.9.5.bin
2. Upgrade firmware in Frontview 4.2 (with above file)
3. Reboot & factory default via boot menuThis will install 6.5.0 beta on the ultra. Then
4. Insert your two new disks. The fastest way is to destroy the data volume, hot insert the two disks, and then create a new one. Alternatively,
(a) wait for the initial volume to resync,
(b) hotswap the first disk, wait for resync
(c) hotswap the second disk, wait for resync.
Once you've switched to OS 6, you install firmware in the usual way (choosing x86 binaries).
JohnnyR2D2 wrote:
is this new OS able to use X-RAID2 as well?
Yes. The default RAID setting is X-RAID2.
The Web UI is very different, you might want to read the software manual here: https://www.netgear.com/support/product/ReadyNAS_OS_6.aspx#Software Manual
Ok...I think I got it but just to confirm one last time and I'm sorry in advance for the hassle.
"This will install 6.5.0 beta on the ultra. Then
4. Insert your two new disks. The fastest way is to destroy the data volume, hot insert the two disks, and then create a new one. Alternatively,
(a) wait for the initial volume to resync,
(b) hotswap the first disk, wait for resync
(c) hotswap the second disk, wait for resync."
So what you're saying here is that after backup everything I can still try to resync the disks although your suggestion is to destroy all the data volume not only because it will be faster but also probably it will be a more clean installation right?
"Once you've switched to OS 6, you install firmware in the usual way (choosing x86 binaries)."
So what I'm going to install first isn't an actual firmware correct? it's a kind of upgrade from 4.2 to OS 6 meaning that after all the above I will have to install the new firmware which if I'm not mistaken is the ReadyNASOS-6.4.2-x86_64.img (got if from NTGR support download site).
Last but not least...just in case I run into problems which I hope I'm not which ReadyNas new model you recommend for me to buy and use with four 8TB disks remembering that I use only for media share and backup some stuff in there. I need to USB minimum.
Well, after you answered this last ones I will accept the answer as a solution so I want to THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the help and patience you had :-)
Tks again,
Joao
JohnnyR2D2 wrote:
So what you're saying here is that after backup everything I can still try to resync the disks although your suggestion is to destroy all the data volume not only because it will be faster but also probably it will be a more clean installation right?
It is faster because each resync requires every sector on all disks to be either read or written. It's more efficient to build the volume once.
You'd have a clean installation either way - identical RAID layers, etc.
JohnnyR2D2 wrote:
So what I'm going to install first isn't an actual firmware correct? it's a kind of upgrade from 4.2 to OS 6 meaning that after all the above I will have to install the new firmware which if I'm not mistaken is the ReadyNASOS-6.4.2-x86_64.img (got if from NTGR support download site).
Actually the module I linked will install 6.5 beta directly, so you won't need the .img that you downloaded. That makes the overall process simpler.
JohnnyR2D2 wrote:
Last but not least...just in case I run into problems which I hope I'm not which ReadyNas new model you recommend for me to buy and use with four 8TB disks remembering that I use only for media share and backup some stuff in there. I need to USB minimum.
The RN314 is the closest model to what you have now. It includes a 5 year hardware warranty and free lifetime chat software support.
The RN214 is worth considering if you are interested in streaming. It uses a quadcore arm processor, which is capable of real-time 1080 transcoding with the plex streaming app. That is particularly useful if you are streaming over the internet. However, warranty is only 3 years, and free software support is limited to 90 days.
The RN204 gives good filesharing performance, but can't do real-time transcoding. The warranty and software support is the same as the RN214.
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