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RND2000 flashing
Hi,
I've got an old readynas which I have been happy with. 2 days ago I had a powercut.
Now the NAS will not boot, it just flashes / blinks. Theres LEDs = blue Power, yellow ACT, green disk 1 and...
Marc_V is correct, the duo can boot with only disk 2 installed.
If you are lucky, only the OS partition on disk 1 is damaged, and the data is ok. I suggest connecting disk 1 to a Windows PC (using USB or SATA), and then see if R-linux for Windows can access the data. https://www.r-studio.com/free-linux-recovery/ Note that will only work with XRAID. If you are using RAID-0, you'd need the full R-Studio package. You can download the full version for free, but you'd need to purchase before you can extract any data.
I also suggest testing them in a Windows PC with vendor tools (Seatools for Seagate, Lifeguard for Western Digital).
Power down the NAS before you remove the disks, and label them by slot as you remove them. Don't format them when you connect them to the PC, as that will destroy any data. Windows won't recognize the file system, but the tools listed above will detect healthy disks, and can access them directly.
<<So the "plan to do the same for disk 2" part makes no sense.>>
I was working along the lines of some sort of disk failure on 1 perhaps, and clinging to the hope that 1 fails the other will still live. I have 2 different 1 TB disks, 1 is a WD red (disk 2) which I haven't attempted to look at yet.. I assumed it was a more robust disk it might hold more data if disk failure on 1. I assume the problem on disk 1 becuase LED for disk 1 was flashing.
.. so how do I find out what went wrong and if I am lucky to recover my data how to fix it for the future? if the disks are identically functioning then it (my problem I have now) will replicate and I can't stop it, my backup plan and investment in readynas and disks has crumbled catastrophically.
Should i buy new disks/new NAS? I still think I need to buy at least 1 x external 1tb disk to get the data off the old NAS disks.
Sorry, I lost track of the fact that you are scanning with R-linux for Windows. I was instead thinking about NAS resync.
A Duo v1 (4.1.x firmware) uses hardware acceleration for RAID. All 4.1.x systems use a dedicated "parity" disk for RAID protection, and that generally is in the last slot. In your case the data is mirrored (only two disks), but the hardware path is the same as the 4-bay NV+ v1.
The parity disk is formatted differently from the others - the area being mirrored doesn't have a supporting partition structure. So R-linux won't be able to find any data files on that disk.
A duo v2 (5.3.x firmware) isn't organized that way, and R-linux will find the files on healthy mirrored disk.
pgtips wrote:
.. so how do I find out what went wrong and if I am lucky to recover my data how to fix it for the future? if the disks are identically functioning then it (my problem I have now) will replicate and I can't stop it, my backup plan and investment in readynas and disks has crumbled catastrophically.
One obvious question is how much the data is worth to you, and what are the consequences of losing it.
A backup plan always starts with some assessment of the threats. For example
- any disk can fail, and sometimes multiple disks fail in rapid sucession.
- The NAS itself can fail
- a power surge (for example nearby lightning strike) can damage the chassis and the disks. It can propagate through ethernet, and not just the power circuits
- A unexpected power failure can result in cached writes not being written, and that can result an out-of-sync volume that can't be mounted.
- Someone can steal the NAS (or just the drives in it)
- Fire or flood might damage the NAS.
- Ransomware might destory the data on the NAS and other repositories on your network.
If you think through these, you fairly quickly come to the conclusion that RAID alone is not enough. You at least need one copy of the files on a different device. If you want to protect against all the threats, you need to have an off-site copy as well. That could be a USB drive at a friend's house or in a safety deposit box, or it could be cloud backup.
My policy is to have at least 3 copies (including the original) of everything I care about - with one copy off site. I used to think 2 copies were enough, but there have been a couple of times when I discovered that the backup wasn't readable. That was pre-NAS, but I still am more comfortable with 3 copies. Since I upgraded to a 3 copy approach (many years ago) I have never lost data.
USB drives are cost effective for backup, but I suggest that you are better off with two (which you can rotate). Though not related to backup directly, I do recommend protecting all NAS with a UPS. A lot of data loss stories begin with a power issue of some kind. You want one that has a USB connection, so the NAS can monitor it and shut down cleanly when the battery runs down.
pgtips wrote:
Should i buy new disks/new NAS? I still think I need to buy at least 1 x external 1tb disk to get the data off the old NAS disks.
I think I answered the USB drive question above.
The Duo (either model) is end-of-life. Though it is working well for you, eventually you will need to replace it with something else. Newer NAS are faster, have more capacity and more features. Also, the windows file protocol (SMB 1.0) that your NAS uses is being deprecated by Microsoft. At some point you will need a NAS that supports SMB 3.0.
One option is to purchase a new OS 6 ReadyNAS (prehaps an RN212 or an RN422), and equip it with new NAS-purposed disks. You can then continue to use your Duo as a backup NAS, using the built-in backup jobs in Frontview. My own Duo v1 is used that way. It wakes up once a day, and backs up some of the shares on my primary NAS (a RN526x).
What a relief.
I have been able to start a copy of files it found in R Linux. Its got a way to go and first backups are my essential items, I need more disk space but I am so pleased. I can't thank you enough for giving me the tools and the time in replying to help me with this.
<<The parity disk is formatted differently from the others - the area being mirrored doesn't have a supporting partition structure. So R-linux won't be able to find any data files on that disk.>>
so my second disk (a NAS WD Red) will be of no use in this restoration process ?.
My initial/original problem still exists to some extent, even though I am currently recovering data from my NAS to disk I still don't know what caused it or if I can redeploy my disks, obviosuly I am concerned the problem will simply replicate and I am back to square one.
I have learnt that RAID 1 is so mis sold as the solution i.e if 1 disk fails the other keeps rolling, thats not a failsafe so I am thinking about my options.
Is a 2 bay NAS really suitable, I just want to backup my data in a centralised location and have a distanced remote backup the backup, so I think a 1 disk NAS with an attached external drive (via USB I assume) is the way for me, the USB backing up the NAS backup, the NAS providing centralised access.
My files are some work files and media (pictures of the children and some DVDs) and some oither files I do not wish to lose.
I have looked at cloud options but my internet speeds are not suitable for access and the cost is slightly prohibitive when I can have the setup local.
I do not know what to do with my current unit, is it unusable?. My disks as well, are they beyond any use?. Can they be formatted (for NAS use).
But it still doesn't solve how to stop this happening again. There was no warning and it was total failure. I think I was lucky to find support on this forum and that my disks could be recovered but I may not be so lucky next time. I just want to backup my files and keep as storage/media storage and back that up too.
I've been a fan of netgear for many years but I am also looking at Synology as the price seems competitve. I think a single disk with a usb cable into another room/location backing up the NAS.
I'd appreciate any thoughts and my thanks again, a credit to this forum.
I'm glad you are able to offload your data.
pgtips wrote:
so my second disk (a NAS WD Red) will be of no use in this restoration process ?.
Not with R-Linux, as it doesn't do actual RAID recovery. Other RAID recovery tools might be able to use it. One thing to keep in mind is that the Duo v1 is very old, and the organization of the parity disk is unique to v1 ReadyNAS. All other ReadyNAS use linux software RAID, so the situation with them is a bit different.
pgtips wrote:
I have learnt that RAID 1 is so mis sold as the solution i.e if 1 disk fails the other keeps rolling, thats not a failsafe so I am thinking about my options.
Is a 2 bay NAS really suitable, I just want to backup my data in a centralised location and have a distanced remote backup the backup, so I think a 1 disk NAS with an attached external drive (via USB I assume) is the way for me, the USB backing up the NAS backup, the NAS providing centralised access.
RAID is not fail-safe, and that is of course an important thing to know. It usually does work for routine disk failures though. I have seven ReadyNAS of various models at the moment - which is crazy, but some are only for testing or for reference when I'm helping out here. I purchased my first one in 2010. I've replaced several disks over few years with no problems, and only lost a volume twice. Once was with a Duo v1, and that was power-related. The second was a temporarily bricked RN102. That was a closed beta unit, and it turned out that there was something wrong in the beta bios that eventually caused a failure (the production units never had that flaw). In my experience, the odds of failure are actually pretty low - you need to account for it, but you shouldn't over-react either.
One aspect is to separate data availability from data safety. When a disk fails, the array becomes degraded, but the data remains available. If you need to add capacity, then the RAID array can be expanded in the background, and the data remains available during that process. For most home users, high availability is a convenience feature. But if you are running a business, losing access to your data can cost you serious money.
In the specific case of the Duo v1, the system is limited to 2 TB drives. My own Duo v1 is set up with two jbod volumes in order to maximize capacity. It is purely a backup, and I am ok with dropping RAID protection on it in order to get more space. So it is viable for you to switch to flexraid, and move to a single volume without RAID if you like. You could then add a second volume later on if you needed it (moving some shares onto it).
pgtips wrote:
I do not know what to do with my current unit, is it unusable?. My disks as well, are they beyond any use?. Can they be formatted (for NAS use).
As far as I can see, the NAS remains fully functional. You do of course need to test both disks, as suggested above. Assuming they pass, you can put them back in the NAS, and do fresh factory install.
pgtips wrote:
My initial/original problem still exists to some extent, even though I am currently recovering data from my NAS to disk I still don't know what caused it or if I can redeploy my disks, obviosuly I am concerned the problem will simply replicate and I am back to square one.
...
But it still doesn't solve how to stop this happening again. There was no warning and it was total failure.
Well, if the disks fail the vendor diags, then you will know the cause. If they pass, then you probably never will.
I think the right question is what steps are needed to prevent future failures. Here are two:
- use a UPS with the NAS
- make sure email alerts are configured and working. Then deal with any issues promptly.
Though I recommmend using those alerts, keep in mind that Google found that 36% of mechanical hard drives fail with no warning whatsoever. That's an older study, but I haven't seen any data that suggests the numbers are better today.
pgtips wrote:
I've been a fan of netgear for many years but I am also looking at Synology as the price seems competitve. I think a single disk with a usb cable into another room/location backing up the NAS.
It's a competitive marketplace, and it does make sense to see what's out there. Keep in mind that the lessons learned in this situation apply to any storage - USB drives, internal PC drives, all NAS (any manufacturer).
I don't favor the USB cable to a single drive in another room myself. One aspect is the length of the USB cable. Another is the reliability of USB drives. They've become commoditized, and the only factor that seems to matter is price. I was seeing high failure rates with USB drives (compared to internal ones) some years back, so I decided to stop using them. If you go with USB backup (and many people do), I suggest that you rotate two drives, not just one. Also, I suggest that you periodically do a full backup to the drive, and not just do incremental backups.
Personally I'd get a new NAS with at least one new disk, and repurpose the duo v1 as a backup NAS. That can automatically back up the new main NAS on a schedule over your network.
pgtips wrote:
I have looked at cloud options but my internet speeds are not suitable for access and the cost is slightly prohibitive when I can have the setup local.
What speeds do you have (up and down)?
FWIW, I've been using CrashPlan backup for disaster recovery for a while now. I used to run it natively on the NAS (though your duo isn't capable of that). However now I map the NAS data volume to a PC drive letter, and run Crashplan on the PC. Current pricing is $10 per month per device and there is no storage cap. Backups keep up, but it did take quite a while to get everything backed up intially. I think it's fine for disaster recovery, but I am sticking with the local backup(s) too.
Fantastic reply, I have learnt so much in the past few days. I'll finish backing up my data today and tomorrow and then do as you suggest and use this failed NAS unit as a backup of a newer NAS.
I think my last question is (thinking ahead) how to do the factory reset when the unit will not actually turn off.
Instructions say hold the reset and power on (blue front button), but previously as soon as I connected power the unit powers up, its stuck in a loop from which it never recovered. I guess the answer is to try it (hold reset) and find out.
Do you have a Duo v1 or a Duo v2? The v2 says "Duo v2" on the front panel. The boot menus are a bit different.
You can avoid the need for the boot menu altogether though. Just zero the disk(s) with the vendor tools. When you insert them in the NAS and power up, it will automatically do a factory install.
Hi,
this step is actually proving a bit more difficult than I expected. Mine is a Duo1 (as it does not say duo2 on the front.)
No matter what, the front led power button will not do anything. To power down I have to disconnect power. When I reattach power, with reset button in or out, the unit does the same flash/blink sequences and comes on immediately so the power button is redundant.
I held in the reset button for 25 seconds (and the 5 second as well) but made no difference, the front LEDs still flash the same sequence as the start of this thread. 3 or 5 flashes on the small disk1 led.
Disks - I have recovered everyting I need which is great. In seatools my disk, that I am happy to format, is given a clean bill of health. It is currently now on a "fix all" long check to see if I can find something. How do I Zero them (is that format?) I do not have that option in seatools. In Windows diskmanager I can do some things (create dynamic disk or new striped volumes) but not 'zero' them
But the ReadyNAS chassis must have a problem. I am unable to turn it on via front button nor factory reset.
pgtips wrote:
I held in the reset button for 25 seconds (and the 5 second as well) but made no difference, the front LEDs still flash the same sequence as the start of this thread. 3 or 5 flashes on the small disk1 led.
The most complete boot menu description is in the hardware manual on pages 15-16 http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/RND2110/Duov1_NV+v1_HW_en_06Dec11.pdf
You have to have at least one disk installed to do a factory default.
pgtips wrote:
Disks - I have recovered everyting I need which is great. In seatools my disk, that I am happy to format, is given a clean bill of health. It is currently now on a "fix all" long check to see if I can find something. How do I Zero them (is that format?) I do not have that option in seatools.
I don't like "fix all" myself. It will attempt to reallocated failed sectors (that is, attempt repairs).
But Seatools does have a write zeros capability. It's one of the advanced tests, so you need to select "advanced tests" and then press F8.
You could also try WDC's lifeguard - I believe that will work with any disks.
would that be Erase Boot Sectors or Overwrite Erase ?
Edit : I have chosen full erase in lifeguard
Hi,
Formatted disk inserted into bay 2. held in reset at the back and connected the power cable, waited 5 seconds for the lights to flash and then released reset but nothing changes, still 3 flashes then 3 LED disk 1 blinks.
So I thought ok, full factory reset, removed power, counted to 20, held in reset and reconnected the power, waited 25+ seconds released reset... still the same flashing.
I have just left it running.
Seperately (just for my own curiosity) I connected disk 2 to R-Linux and unexpectedly (re earlier posts) all my data was there. Its a newer WD red disk so I set that to one side for a while as a complete NAS backup (I've ordered another disk few days ago so thats not going to be missed)
Each time I try to reset I am introducing a power cut which I am sure doesn't help, but equally the NAS isn't responding, the front blue power button is not responding.
I am open to suggestions now, after reset I don't know what else to try, has my readynas failed ?
Many thanks
pgtips wrote:
Formatted disk inserted into bay 2. held in reset at the back and connected the power cable, waited 5 seconds for the lights to flash and then released reset but nothing changes, still 3 flashes then 3 LED disk 1 blinks.
Did you try this in bay 1? One possibility is that somewhere along the line the bay 2 SATA port in the NAS failed.
With Lifeguard, there is a quick erase advanced test that also removes the partition information. Though the full erase is a good diagnostic, it has uncovered issues for me that the non-destructive tests missed.
after erase what is my next step, insert and attach power or press reset as well. either bay or try both ?
Update:
I've run the quick erase and reinserted into bay 2
Attach power. I get same sequence, all lights blink then Disk LED1 blinks 5 times
I re ran quick erase and inserted into bay 1.
Attach power, I get same sequence, all lights blink then Disk LED1 blinks 5 times
I repowered with reset depressed
I get same sequence, all lights blink then Disk LED1 blinks 5 times
The blue rapidly blinks then all LEDS blink 3 times, then LED blinks 5 times.
pgtips wrote:
after erase what is my next step, insert and attach power or press reset as well. either bay or try both ?
The point of the erase is to eliminate the need to press reset.
pgtips wrote:
I've run the quick erase and reinserted into bay 2
Attach power. I get same sequence, all lights blink then Disk LED1 blinks 5 times
I re ran quick erase and inserted into bay 1.
Attach power, I get same sequence, all lights blink then Disk LED1 blinks 5 times
Try this again (bay 1). Use RAIDar - see if it detects the NAS and what status it gives you. https://kb.netgear.com/20684/ReadyNAS-Downloads#raidar
nothing, Raidar does not see it
I have another disk arriving so I will try that instead. I also replaced CR2032 batter in case that was a problem (I read a post it helped someone with a problem and I had a new battery spare so ) replace battery didn't help.
All thats left is new disk I guess if that fails the Netgear unit is useless ?
No unfortunately same as message 3, it still doesn't, its network connection is amber (not green) , all I get is
RAIDar could not find any NETGEAR storage on your network. Check that your storage device is powered on and connected correctly. For more help, visit http://my.netgear.com.
sorry forgot to mention that Raidar doesn't see the NAS. I've only got the blinking lights to work from
Message 3 of 26on the positive, I have managed to save my data from the catastrophic ReadyNAS failure and it is backed up. I am better equipped in understanding how flaky Raid1 can be.
I bought a new NAS disk and have got a new NAS chassis on the way. Of the 2 disks I removed from my dead duo (both of which work) I have inserted one into my offsite network attached PC becuase luckily for me my NAS is in another building therefore I can use my networked PC to backup the NAS (to its old RAID1 drive I took out).
Its a bit of a loop but it forced me to rethink backups and it will work out. My NAS backs up my PC offsite and media. The replacement NAS still acts as a media server/storage and backup for photos and PC + I can use my own network to backup the NAS contents to my PC. Thats what I mean about the loop as the NAS backs up my PC and media, the PC backs up the NAS but they are 2 seperate buildings and I am actually quite happy with this. If I get another HDD I will make an offsite copy.
Last few days have been stressful but I got my data back which was most important. Thank you so much again for your help :-)
pgtips wrote:
its network connection is amber (not green)
Amber means it's making a fast ethernet connection, not gigabit. I guess you could try a different cable or switch port, but that seems like a long shot.
pgtips wrote:
the NAS backs up my PC and media, the PC backs up the NAS
I've also backed up NAS shares to various internal hard drives in my PC(s). It worked out well for me.
pgtips wrote:
Thank you so much again for your help
I'm glad I could help.
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