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ReadyNAS - Force volume expansion after failed attempt
I have a ReadyNAS Ultra 4, with a single X-RAID2 volume on 4 drives. All 4 drives were 2TB and after 6 years the volume was getting full, so I began the process of replacing them with 4TB drives, one...
I don't run LMS myself, but there is a thread from 2019 that might be useful: https://community.netgear.com/t5/ReadyNAS-Storage-Apps-Old-Legacy/ReadyNAS-RN424-Can-I-install-LMS-Logitech-Media-Server/td-p/1770413
OS-6 conversion steps are
(Optionally) make sure the latest BIOS is installed before you do the conversion. To do this you install http://www.readynas.com/download/addons/x86/4.2/BIOS_Update_Package_0.5-x86.bin as an add-on and reboot the NAS. Do this after you backup the NAS. This isn't necessary, but if you so want to update the bios it is easiest to do it prior to conversion
Basic instructions for the conversion itself are
- BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP
- Upload PREPR4TOR6_0.1-x86.bin as an add-on using the ReadyNAS web gui, but do not reboot afterwards (avoids the need to do manual factory resets)
- Upload R4toR6_6.9.5.bin using the ReadyNAS web gui firmware update
- After you upload the addon+firmware and reboot, it will update the firmware and start a factory default.
- Go through the setup process on the converted NAS
- Update the NAS to the current OS 6 (check for updates will work).
- Restore files from the backup.
Netgear won't provide paid support on a converted NAS, so that is one consideration. There is a small risk that the process could fail, and if that were to happen it might not be possible to get the NAS running again.
If you do decide to convert the Ultra, then you should also consider increasing the RAM - especially since you want to run apps. Shipping OS-6 NAS have at least 2 GB of RAM, your Ultra only has 1 GB.
JLCosyn wrote:
I have looked at the expansion.log file, but don't really follow everything it has to say.
You could upload the zip to cloud storage, and then send me a PM (private message) with a download link. You use the envelope icon in the upper right of the forum page to send a PM. Don't post the link here, there is some potential for privacy leakage.
Thanks for the response. RAIDiator 4.2.31 I know there's no "dedicated" parity drive; it's just a convenient way to express the size. As I said, the volume started with 4 drives of 2TB each, so effectively 6TB (minus system overhead), after allowing for parity. I replaced all 4 drives (one at a time, obviously) with 4TB, and allowed the sync to complete with each new drive. When all 4 had been replaced, I did a reboot, and it started the expansion, but the expansion then failed. Now it's sitting in fully redundant status, but the volume did not expand, and remains at only an effective 6TB. When the expansion is done, with 4 drives of 4TB each, it should be able to expand to an effective 12TB. But multiple reboots have not caused the expansion of the volume.
JLCosyn wrote:
RAIDiator 4.2.31
A lot of Ultra/Pro owners have converted their NAS to run OS-6 firmware, so this is helpful to know.
JLCosyn wrote:
Now it's sitting in fully redundant status, but the volume did not expand, and remains at only an effective 6TB. When the expansion is done, with 4 drives of 4TB each, it should be able to expand to an effective 12TB. But multiple reboots have not caused the expansion of the volume.
4.2.x does have two expansion limits, but you should not have hit them.
One option is to download the full log zip file, and see if you can get more details on what exactly failed in the expansion process.
Another is to back up all the files, do a factory default, and then set up the NAS again. After that restore the files. If you take this path, you might consider conversion to OS-6.
Thanks again for the very quick reply.
I have looked at the expansion.log file, but don't really follow everything it has to say.
I was hoping to avoid having to do a factory default and full rebuild, but perhaps that would be the way to go, if it would mean I can upgrade to OS-6. Can you point me to a page that would tell me how to get OS-6 installed during the process of reset/rebuild?
One other question, though: I use this ReadyNAS not only as a data backup device, but as a music system, running the old Logitech Media Server. I know it's old architecture, but I have many Squeezebox players throughout a large house, and don't want to have to change to another system. Will OS-6 support running LMS?
Thank you again for your helpful responses!
I don't run LMS myself, but there is a thread from 2019 that might be useful: https://community.netgear.com/t5/ReadyNAS-Storage-Apps-Old-Legacy/ReadyNAS-RN424-Can-I-install-LMS-Logitech-Media-Server/td-p/1770413
OS-6 conversion steps are
(Optionally) make sure the latest BIOS is installed before you do the conversion. To do this you install http://www.readynas.com/download/addons/x86/4.2/BIOS_Update_Package_0.5-x86.bin as an add-on and reboot the NAS. Do this after you backup the NAS. This isn't necessary, but if you so want to update the bios it is easiest to do it prior to conversion
Basic instructions for the conversion itself are
- BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP
- Upload PREPR4TOR6_0.1-x86.bin as an add-on using the ReadyNAS web gui, but do not reboot afterwards (avoids the need to do manual factory resets)
- Upload R4toR6_6.9.5.bin using the ReadyNAS web gui firmware update
- After you upload the addon+firmware and reboot, it will update the firmware and start a factory default.
- Go through the setup process on the converted NAS
- Update the NAS to the current OS 6 (check for updates will work).
- Restore files from the backup.
Netgear won't provide paid support on a converted NAS, so that is one consideration. There is a small risk that the process could fail, and if that were to happen it might not be possible to get the NAS running again.
If you do decide to convert the Ultra, then you should also consider increasing the RAM - especially since you want to run apps. Shipping OS-6 NAS have at least 2 GB of RAM, your Ultra only has 1 GB.
JLCosyn wrote:
I have looked at the expansion.log file, but don't really follow everything it has to say.
You could upload the zip to cloud storage, and then send me a PM (private message) with a download link. You use the envelope icon in the upper right of the forum page to send a PM. Don't post the link here, there is some potential for privacy leakage.
This is all excellent information, and I truly appreciate it. I do back up the NAS (which is itself the primary nightly backup repository for multiple PCs), so doing a full rebuild won't be a problem. Just time consuming.
If I do decide to do the OS-6 upgrade, I will bump the memory in the box, too; that makes good sense. But none of it is likely to happen at least until the weekend, when I have time to devote to the project. Obviously the bulk of the time will be just restoring data after the upgrade, but I will also have to review the process of configuring everything, because it has been many years since I did the set-up on the Ultra, and I have barely had to touch it since. The thing has been a real workhorse, running continuously and doing its job with no trouble or complaint. I've always been of the "if it ain't broke, don't mess with it" philosophy, so until the X-RAID2 volume started to fill up, I just let the box sit there and run. But eventually, everything has to have an upgrade, and I suppose this might be the time.
Thank you, yet again, for your help.
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