With the announcement of EOL on the RD5200 and RD516, is there a chance that we can get code to reflash the devices to act as a ReadyNAS. I understand it would not be the same as the new hardware, but if we were able to use the existing hardware, I for one would be happy to have it run as a backup / replication target. I have seen the odd note about booting to USB and flash with xyz code, but nothing posative from Netgear about supporting such a move. So the direct question to engineering. Will you be able to provide firmware (and a supported procedure) so I can convert my RD 5200's and RD516's to latest ReadyNAS. That would go a long way to making all those who invested in ReadyData not feel so let down. There is no real way I am happy to leave EOL kit in production. What would happen when we get VMware x released, as I can't imagine Netgear getting certified on EOL kit. I am not bothered about the data, as I can easily migrate with backups, vmotion, replication, export to NAS :) so flash and wipe if perfectly ok.

Hi Nick, Thank you for the post, giving the challenges of moving from ReadyDATA to ReadyNAS context. Indeed, a "customer loyalty program' may be a good way to motivate our customers to make the transition, and retain the value of the investment made in the original purchase of the ReadyDATA product. I welcome your suggestions, from Nick, and from any one of you who stay with NETGEAR, and participate on this community site. Of course, the program must be equitable and makes sense to both NETGEAR and its customers. Please email me at doug.cheung@netgear.com. Your last sentence about Christmas brings a good hearted smile from me. I'd rather be the guy coming down the chimney and handing out gifts, than the guy crawling on the floor, crack exposed, trying to fix an old pipe. In all seriousness, I am committed to working with you to give you a soft landing... Customer loyalty program is my preferred route. Happy holidays... Doug

I'll let a Netgear employee give the definitive answer, but I wouldn't hold my breath. There was no offical (supported) upgrade for any of the other EOL NASes, so I would not expect the ReadyData to be any different. So even if they provide a similar path to OS6.x for the readyData as they did the Intel X64 NASes, would you be any more confortable with an unsupported OS than an EOL one in a Prooduction environment? And if the requirement for using Netgear "signed" drives was retained, what would you do if you need a replacement? I believe Netgear has really dropped the ball on being considered a real choice for a business NAS with their upgrade policy, especially since they have proven it is possible, they just chose not to. Not providing an OS upgrade for free forever, I understand. Not providing one when the hardware no longer supports it, I understand. Just deciding to tell your cusomers where they can stick their old units because they don't want to deal with it -- monumentally short sighted.

The supported OS to run on the ReadyDATA is ReadyDATA OS.

Well I guess either you didn't read the question, or you didn't care, both of which are a great disapointment. I understand which OS is targeted currently against which hardware. Specifically I asked is there some way Netgear can make available a version of the NAS software that we can run on the Readydata hardware. I well remember the conversation with the Netgear rep when you were pitching against NetApp and Netgear assuring me that you were going to be further developing the ReadyData range so I could be assured of future products in the range. That was only 24 months ago. Now having invested in 7 of the units I am faced with scrapping them. But wait, Netgear could help all the other folk just like me. Find a way to port the NAS software to our ReadyData, then we can at least use it for something. If you ever want to be taken seriously in the "business / enterprise" market you have to be able to differenciate between yourselves and your competitours. I can buy tin anywhere, it's the support for the tin that is the real value, and currently your answer makes the Netgear tin I purchased worthless.

As you've seen mentioned elsewhere on the community the ReadyNAS firmware can run on it, but doing so is not supported. The RDD516 has the same hardware as the RN516 except the RDD516 has 16GB ECC RAM vs 4GB ECC RAM in the RN516. ReadyDATA may be EOL, but you can still use ReadyDATA OS. ReadyDATA OS 1.4.4 no longer requires that hard disks be signed so long as they are 512n: ReadyDATA OS 1.4.4: Using unsigned drives ReadyNAS OS 6 doesn't require signed disks on any firmware on any device it will run on.

ReadyData EOL and convert to ReadyNAS

12 Replies

Replies have been turned off for this discussion

Sandshark
Sensei
Dec 16, 2016
I'll let a Netgear employee give the definitive answer, but I wouldn't hold my breath. There was no offical (supported) upgrade for any of the other EOL NASes, so I would not expect the ReadyData to be any different. So even if they provide a similar path to OS6.x for the readyData as they did the Intel X64 NASes, would you be any more confortable with an unsupported OS than an EOL one in a Prooduction environment? And if the requirement for using Netgear "signed" drives was retained, what would you do if you need a replacement?

I believe Netgear has really dropped the ball on being considered a real choice for a business NAS with their upgrade policy, especially since they have proven it is possible, they just chose not to. Not providing an OS upgrade for free forever, I understand. Not providing one when the hardware no longer supports it, I understand. Just deciding to tell your cusomers where they can stick their old units because they don't want to deal with it -- monumentally short sighted.
mdgm-ntgr
NETGEAR Employee Retired
Dec 16, 2016
The supported OS to run on the ReadyDATA is ReadyDATA OS.
- NickNak
  Aspirant
  Dec 16, 2016
  Well I guess either you didn't read the question, or you didn't care, both of which are a great disapointment.
  
  I understand which OS is targeted currently against which hardware. Specifically I asked is there some way Netgear can make available a version of the NAS software that we can run on the Readydata hardware.
  
  I well remember the conversation with the Netgear rep when you were pitching against NetApp and Netgear assuring me that you were going to be further developing the ReadyData range so I could be assured of future products in the range. That was only 24 months ago. Now having invested in 7 of the units I am faced with scrapping them.
  
  But wait, Netgear could help all the other folk just like me. Find a way to port the NAS software to our ReadyData, then we can at least use it for something.
  
  If you ever want to be taken seriously in the "business / enterprise" market you have to be able to differenciate between yourselves and your competitours. I can buy tin anywhere, it's the support for the tin that is the real value, and currently your answer makes the Netgear tin I purchased worthless.
  - mdgm-ntgr
    NETGEAR Employee Retired
    Dec 16, 2016
    As you've seen mentioned elsewhere on the community the ReadyNAS firmware can run on it, but doing so is not supported.
    
    The RDD516 has the same hardware as the RN516 except the RDD516 has 16GB ECC RAM vs 4GB ECC RAM in the RN516.
    
    ReadyDATA may be EOL, but you can still use ReadyDATA OS.
    
    ReadyDATA OS 1.4.4 no longer requires that hard disks be signed so long as they are 512n: ReadyDATA OS 1.4.4: Using unsigned drives
    
    ReadyNAS OS 6 doesn't require signed disks on any firmware on any device it will run on.
tdaters
Aspirant
Feb 25, 2017
Perhaps I missed it, but is there a way to install OS 6 on a RD5200?
Tim
- FramerV
  NETGEAR Employee Retired
  Feb 26, 2017
  Hi tdaters,
  
  It can run the OS6 but we do not support it.
  
  You can also try to post on the ReadyDATA section for assistance from the community who have been able to try it.
  
  ReadyDATA
  
  Regards,

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ReadyData EOL and convert to ReadyNAS

12 Replies

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