NV+ RAID Questions

You can have disks on bay1 and 2 then have factory default, choose flex raid 1. After it's done, add disk3 and disk4, you can select the setting you want from frontview--volume.

How do I get to RAID1 however..?

Here is a post I drafted which is redundant, but it will repost and hope someone replies:

I have poured over docs and posts but I just want to be double triple sure before embarking so am asking a redundant question I know... apologizies.

I have an NV+. 2 drives running in bays 1 and 2, X-RAID. Everything working A-ok.

However, I would like to reconfigure the device to do the following:

Would like bays 1 and 2 to be RAIDed, mirrored. Would like to know that if one drive fails, the other will maintain file integrity, meaning it will keep going until the failed drive is replaced.

Would like to run bays 3 and 4 independently, meaning 1+2 tied together, and 3 and 4 operating independently which essentially makes for 3 drives. (looking to have 1 and 2 as 1TB drive, and the other two drives being either 750s or 2TBs, not sure yet).

This possible with I believe is RAID1 for 1 and 2? Or, not? If not, would I need to bind 1+2, then 3+4?

Or, can someone steer me right?

Note: I know I have to pull off all current data and install the NV+ from factory reset to change from X-RAID to Flex.

tx

Hopefully you understand that your desired configuration will not give you any more space that simply growing your existing XRAID volume to 4 disks.

Are you running a v2 (5.3.x firmware) or a v1 (4.1.x firmware)?

For the v1, flexraid is discussed starting on page 19 of the manual (http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/ ... 6Dec11.pdf)
For the v2, it starts on page 21 (http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/ ... 5Sep12.pdf)

Either way, start with 2 disks installed, choose flex-raid, and then raid-1. That is volume C.

After that is finished up, add one disk, and create a new volume D. This will be RAID-0.

When that completes, add one more disk, and create a new volume E. That will also be raid-0.
BTW, if you had wanted to protect Volume D instead (2 RAID-1 mirrors) you would have added the disk to Volume D, instead of creating a new volume.

You create the shares on the desired volume, which gives you control over which are redundant.

Thank you for the very fast response.

Ouch, I better ask a little deeper question here, deeper for me that is.

First, I discovered I am running 4.1. I thought I'd advanced to the latest firmware but I need to resolve that straight away for starters.

Next, I will not gain any more space? Let me ask it this way:

I have two 2TB drives that are in bay 1 and 2 (C and D). I would like to mirror them. I would like to add two additional 1TB drives in bays 3 and 4 (E and F). Can I not see these E and F drives separately from C+D, and separate from each other? Providing 1 storage device off of the C+D drives, then a separate E drive, and a separate F drive? Is this possible? I thought from the reading I'd done, this was possible????

I will re-re-reread the docs again. This is what I could not understand. How to select Flexraid. How do I get to the screen or LED to see that. Trust me, I've read the manuals and searched to see just a simple sequence to get there and for the life of me I don't see how to get to that screen or LED selection. I will look at the docs again and see if it sheds more light. I'm not a dummy by any means but dang, this Netgear device does have me boondoggled.... and I know it is me.

Tx for your reply. Off I go again...

StephenB wrote:

Hopefully you understand that your desired configuration will not give you any more space that simply growing your existing XRAID volume to 4 disks. Are you running a v2 (5.3.x firmware) or a v1 (4.1.x firmware)? For the v1, flexraid is discussed starting on page 19 of the manual (http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/RAIDiator4-1_SW_en_06Dec11.pdf) For the v2, it starts on page 21 (http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/READYNAS%20ARM-PLATFORM%20%28DUO%20V2,%20NV+%20V2%29/RAIDiator%205.3%20SW%20Manual_5Sep12.pdf) Either way, start with 2 disks installed, choose flex-raid, and then raid-1. That is volume C. After that is finished up, add one disk, and create a new volume D. This will be RAID-0. When that completes, add one more disk, and create a new volume E. That will also be raid-0. BTW, if you had wanted to protect Volume D instead (2 RAID-1 mirrors) you would have added the disk to Volume D, instead of creating a new volume. You create the shares on the desired volume, which gives you control over which are redundant.

If you are running 4.1.x then you have a v1. You can't run 4.2.x or 5.x.x on that platform. 4.2.x is for x86 platforms, 5.3.x is for arm. You have a sparc.

If your disks are different sizes you will see more disk space on your platform.

To select XRAID you need to use a PC running RAIDar. You do the factory default from the boot menu (http://www.readynas.com/kb/faq/boot/how ... _boot_menu, section is "Duo / NV / NV+ / X6/600") You then have a 10 minute window (from the time you started the default) to select flexraid from the PC. (http://www.readynas.com/kb/faq/boot/how ... -raid_mode)

Tx for the the reply.

I think I am finally sorting this out. Thanks to the replies that shed light on each head scratching moment.

However, I finally did get RAIDar to see the device and I now have two 2TB drives installed as RAID1, and now syncing. Will wait until their are done and will add the third drive and believe I see how it follows suit.

Thankx for the replies. The whole thing had me bollixed up for a bit, but it is starting to make sense.

StephenB wrote:

If you are running 4.1.x then you have a v1. You can't run 4.2.x or 5.x.x on that platform. 4.2.x is for x86 platforms, 5.3.x is for arm. You have a sparc. If your disks are different sizes you will see more disk space on your platform. To select XRAID you need to use a PC running RAIDar. You do the factory default from the boot menu (http://www.readynas.com/kb/faq/boot/how_do_i_use_the_boot_menu, section is "Duo / NV / NV+ / X6/600") You then have a 10 minute window (from the time you started the default) to select flexraid from the PC. (http://www.readynas.com/kb/faq/boot/how_do_i_switch_between_flex-raid_and_x-raid_mode)

StephenB wrote:
If you are running 4.1.x then you have a v1. You can't run 4.2.x or 5.x.x on that platform. 4.2.x is for x86 platforms, 5.3.x is for arm. You have a sparc. If your disks are different sizes you will see more disk space on your platform.

Just to clarify the space comment:

xraid1 (which is what your platform uses) doesn't support unequal size disks. If you install 2x1 TB + 2x2 TB, the xraid 1 treats all disks as 1 TB (wasting space).

xraid2 doesn't behave that way, but your platform doesn't use it.

Then how can one add two 2TBs, and if there are two additional 1Tbs, can they be added in some other type of arrangement to provide for the first two bound together, then a separate third, and separate fourth?

StephenB wrote:

StephenB wrote: If you are running 4.1.x then you have a v1. You can't run 4.2.x or 5.x.x on that platform. 4.2.x is for x86 platforms, 5.3.x is for arm. You have a sparc. If your disks are different sizes you will see more disk space on your platform. Just to clarify the space comment: xraid1 (which is what your platform uses) doesn't support unequal size disks. If you install 2x1 TB + 2x2 TB, the xraid 1 treats all disks as 1 TB (wasting space). xraid2 doesn't behave that way, but your platform doesn't use it.

Here's a different question I guess... what configuration does support unequal size disks, and support storage expansion? I have two 2 TBs and 2 1TBs. Looking to utilize the hardware is all. tx

StephenB wrote:

StephenB wrote: If you are running 4.1.x then you have a v1. You can't run 4.2.x or 5.x.x on that platform. 4.2.x is for x86 platforms, 5.3.x is for arm. You have a sparc. If your disks are different sizes you will see more disk space on your platform. Just to clarify the space comment: xraid1 (which is what your platform uses) doesn't support unequal size disks. If you install 2x1 TB + 2x2 TB, the xraid 1 treats all disks as 1 TB (wasting space). xraid2 doesn't behave that way, but your platform doesn't use it.

Or simplest... what is the best use of two 2Tb and two 1Tb drives in a ReadyNas NV+?

Good news is once I get this sorted out, I will stop asking these annoying questions. Dunno why RAID is perplexing to me...

tx