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ReadyNAS 516 / OS6 dual redundancy with X-RAID2
Hi, I've been looking into this and been unable to find a definitive answer... If I were to setup a new ReadyNAS 516 with 4 freshly installed disks, would I be able to configure X-RAID2 in dual r...
steveoelliott wrote:
It seems that I may have to first convert it to Flex-Raid level 6 and then back to X-RAID2.
With OS4, converting to flexraid required a factory reset. That's not the case with OS 6.
If you are starting fresh, then you start with 3 disks, change to flexraid and add the fourth for redundancy, then switch back. It isn't intuitive, but isn't difficult either.
Alternatively, you can insert all four, switch to flexraid while the volume is building/syncing. You can then destroy it (while it is building) and recreate it as RAID-6.
steveoelliott wrote:
It seems that I may have to first convert it to Flex-Raid level 6 and then back to X-RAID2.
With OS4, converting to flexraid required a factory reset. That's not the case with OS 6.
If you are starting fresh, then you start with 3 disks, change to flexraid and add the fourth for redundancy, then switch back. It isn't intuitive, but isn't difficult either.
Alternatively, you can insert all four, switch to flexraid while the volume is building/syncing. You can then destroy it (while it is building) and recreate it as RAID-6.
So it's not easy and intuitive like is was on OS 4.2
To summarise, when loading or factory defaulting a new system with 4 disks, one should convert to flex-raid level 6 and then revert back to XRAID-2 to benefit from dual redundancy over the 4 disks.
Thanks...
steveoelliott wrote:
To summarise, when loading or factory defaulting a new system with 4 disks, one should convert to flex-raid level 6 and then revert back to XRAID-2 to benefit from dual redundancy over the 4 disks.
Yes.
I've got ya... However, is there any reason to even both going back to X-RAID2. I mean RAID 6 would give the dual redundancy.
steveoelliott wrote:So it's not easy and intuitive like is was on OS 4.2
I must have missed something.
On RAIDiator 4.2, to create a RAID6 volume on 4 HDDs:
1) You must Factory Default your unit
2) Within 10 minutes, you must start RAIDar from a PC in the same subnet
3) Wait for the NAS to show up
4) Select Flex-RAID and confirm
5) Wait for RAIDiator to install and your NAS to boot up
6) After that, you can't turn X-RAID back on
On ReadyNAS OS 6, to create a RAID6 volume on 4 HDDs:
1) Turn off X-RAID from the GUI
2) Destroy the volume from the GUI if you already have one
3) Create your volume the way you want, still from the GUI
4) If you want to turn X-RAID back on, you can do it from the GUI
All that from the same page. How is it more difficult?
Also, I think there is confusion about what provides redundancy. It's your RAID volume, not "X-RAID" or "X-RAID2".
"X-RAID" and "X-RAID2" are NETGEAR technologies that allow to automatically expand a RAID volume, vertically and horizontally, when you upgrade a HDD or add one, also to avoid unused capacity in case of mixed HDD sizes (by creating secondary RAIDs).
"X-RAID" is the one on RAIDiator 4.1. "X-RAID2" is on everything above that, RAIDiator 4.2, RAIDiator 5, ReadyNAS OS 6.
Don't confuse "X-RAID2" with "RAID6", the first one means X-RAID technology version 2, the second is a RAID with dual redundancy.
Finally, why do absolutely want to turn X-RAID back on? In your case, it's not of any use. If you want to expand your volume afterwards yes. But you must understand that this is not a mandatory step for your desired setup to work.
For more info about X-RAID, google is your friend: http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/22802
RAID levels: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAID
Thanks... Please understand that I don't yet own or manage a 516 and am merely at the planning stage... The 4.2 OS allowed you to do this as part of the initial configuration and the steps for establishing dual redundancy are not clearly documented in the user guide.
I am fully aware of RAID, how it works and the various levels. It is Netgear's implementation which I have questioned in this post and has now been answered.
I thank everybody for their contribution...
N.B: It is possible to use dual redundancy and X-RAID2 on the ReadyNAS Pro 6 running OS 4.2: see below
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