OS6 now works on x86 Legacy WARNING: NO NTGR SUPPORT!

+1

I too am more of a 'hardware' guy than dev but I can at least offer to beta test on any of the models I own or have access to.

I still remain confused by Netgear's stance on supporting existing x86 models. Quoting JabbaTheHut:

The ReadyNAS OS 6 is only available on the new products. We are not supporting units in the field based on older operating system versions to the latest version. There are many reasons for this. There is a fundamental file system change which makes upgrading difficult to impossible for devices in use. The data risk associated with any upgrade. Even with the factory default option, there are hardware limitations on the previous generations which would need to be overcome.

Fundamental file system change, agreed. Factory default should obviate this point, no? Wikipedia's entry on Btfrs states:

Btrfs can warp to fit unusual spatial layouts because it has very little metadata anchored in fixed locations. The btrfs-convert tool exploits this ability to do an in-place conversion of any ext[2,3,4] file system by nesting equivalent Btrfs metadata in its unallocated space. This produces a hybrid file system that can be mounted as either ext[2,3,4] or Btrfs. If mounted as a Btrfs, all the converted files are available and writeable in the default subvolume; the old ext[2,3,4] filesystem itself is made visible as a large sparse file (mountable as a read-only disk image) in separate subvolume that can be deleted to commit the conversion. If mounted as ext[2,3,4], the conversion is rolled back.[26]

Makes it sound less daunting? Data risk associated, blah blah blah - yes, there is a data risk just getting out of bed in the morning - point conceded and ignored. Hardware limitations on previous generations - this one concerns me. What hardware limitations are there? RAM? Upgrade. CPU? On an x86 Pro, don't think so. SATA controller? Maybe? Either way, we are talking about a Debian system that supports Btfrs. Nothing special there. It has a web server and some pretty screens. It has a few services tweaked and quite a few scripts written. XRAID2 = Netgear and maybe there is the bigger issue. May need to be content with standard RAID modes? Also, for the same reasons you can't simply modify a Pioneer to a BE Netgear writes in some protective code to perform a model or signature check - is it a violation of licensing or copy-write to overcome this limitation?

Are there any encrypted modules or a requirement for encryption in the boot image? Is any of the code licensed in such a way as to prevent a homebrew? If it can run on a Pro (which, it has been stated is just an x86 box with a nice case) it could run on any x86 box, like a generic 2RU SuperMicro box. Would Netgear feel brand dilution was an issue and issue a C&D? Hopefully no. It would be nice to have an official NTGR 'blessing' (hint hint).

In any case count me in.