Simple ReadyNAS 6 Pro XRAID2 question

Hello,

I have a 6 bay ReadyNAS Pro 6 RNDP6000-200 with 1 WD WD20EFRX 2TB Red drive in it. The drive is almost full, and I want to add some space. I am considering either adding 1 more WD20EFRX, then choosing to mirror those drives, then add 2 more 3TB Toshiba DT01ACA300 drives. I guess the XRAID2 will just make 2 mirror sets? Is this the best way to go, because if I were to add 3 more 2TB-Red drives (around $300), if XRAID2 did RAID5 then I would have 6TB total? If I go the 1-RED + 2 3TB-TOSHIBA route, it will cost me around the same $300 (but I already have 1 Toshiba drive, so the price is actually $200). But then again, if I went with 3 Toshiba 3TB drives, I would have 6TB+2TB of all redundant storage if my XRAID2 does a MIRROR and a RAID5 set )mirror the 2TB Red's, and Parity Stripe the 3TB Toshiba's)?

Again, here are my options, in list format:

1) Buy 3 x WD 2TB-Red drives for $300, and if XRAID2 does RAID5 I will have 6TB usable.

2) Buy 1 x WD 2TB-Red + 2 x Toshiba 3TB for $300, and see if XRAID makes 2 arrays for 8TB total.

I just an not sure what XRAID2 will make, is there a calculator somewhere, or can we use the Drobo online capacity calculator?

Thanks,

David

Installation & Upgrade

StephenB
Dec 05, 2015
TB stands for terabyte; TiB stands for tebibyte. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tebibyte The NAS reports TiB, but mislabels it as TB.

You have 14 TB, which is the same as 12.7 TiB.

The conversion formula is

14 TB = 14 * (1000/1024) * (1000/1024)* (1000/1024) * (1000/1024) TiB - which is ~12.7

Having two measures for space is very confusing, but goes back a very long time.

26 Replies

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mdgm-ntgr
NETGEAR Employee Retired
Nov 05, 2015
1. You would have 6TB usable

2. You would have a dual-layer array using X-RAID2. X-RAID2 will expand a volume when redundant space can be added. So you would have a 4x2TB layer giving 6TB, and a 2x1TB layer using the remaining space on the 3TB disks giving you an additional 1TB.

Note that like most computers we use TiB but call it TB. 6TB is approx 5.4TiB. It's still the same amount of space but just a different measure. Note also that there is a little space taken up by the OS partition, the swap partition and overheads.
- howarddavidp
  Tutor
  Nov 05, 2015
  Wow, thanks for the quick reply. To be honest, the fact that I get replies this fast might means I switch all my NAS's to NEtgear, you don;t get this support from everyone!
  
  So, if upgrading to 6 means a complete wipe, maybe I should just start over fresh with some 5TB Toshiba drives (they are on sale for $129). I could start with 3 x 5TB Toshiba drives and get 10TB to start with?
  
  So, my questions:
  
  Questions #1:
  Can I pull out the 2TB Red drive, or do I need that drive to do the upgrade? My thoughts are that some of the NOS is on the RED drive, so if I pulled it out, it won't boot?
  
  Questions #2:
  If I have to wipe, I guess I will have to reload my NOS (prob. version 4.2.x), then do the upgrade to 6 on the new drives? Can you drop me the link to reloading the base OS, ver. 4.x?
  
  Question #3:
  I see some people suggest you download the new NOS zip file, and also a BIN file script to rename, or whatever the prep is for upgrading from 4.x to 6.x. However, I also see some people have a file for download that is already prepped? Which is better, use the script and have it rename the latest NOS, or just use the already renamed NOS BIN file? Seems the renamed file is easier?
  
  Question #4:
  I have a 2TB USB drive, can I backup the data on the NAS now with a USB drive, and then restore when I have the new drives installed, or are backups from 4.x not compatible with 6.x?
  
  Thanks again, wonderful support you guys have!!!
  
  David
  
  PS - I think my next NEW-NEW NAS will be a Netgear.
  - ifixidevices
    Luminary
    Nov 05, 2015
    #1. If you've got the data backed up elsewhere then you're can take out the 2TB drive. The current OS will install on any new non-formatted/used drive and boot up as if you ran a factory default.
    
    #2. I'd upgrade using the drive you already have in the device (the 2TB) then factory default the device once you're on 6.
    
    #3. Download - Install first PREP4TOR6_0.1-x86.bin
    
    Then download R4toR6_latest.bin
    
    And depending on what version you're given in that bin file if it's not 6.4.1 beta 1 I'd suggest downloading that then installing it.
    
    It's a very simple and straightforward upgrade. I've got 6 8TB drives running raid 5 in my pro 6. It's a total of over 36TB's of space.
kohdee
NETGEAR Expert
Dec 02, 2015
There is a RAID calculator: http://rdconfigurator.netgear.com/raid/index.html