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Forum Discussion
Volume expansion fails even after factory default
Hi,
I've got a problem with Readynas Pro Business Edition. I've got 3 x 4TB + 3 x 3TB. Changed 4th 3TB to 4TB and expansion failed. It's OK since I probably passed the 8TB limit. I've made a fresh backup. Installed all 6 disks (bays 1-4 - WD Red 4TB, 5-6 - WD Red 3TB). Made factory default with single redundancy X-RAID2. After booting all procedures went well (checking disks + creating C + installing system). And now about strange things that happen.
1) System recognizes 4TB disks as 3TB (all six have about 2700 MB i volume information screen)
2) Last disk, in bay 6 starts blinking and system starts resync (why?). After it finishes the job after about 6 hours (volume is of course empty), it says volume expansion possible after reboot.
3) After reboot it recognizes 4TB disks properly, volume expansion starts and finishes in 3 seconds with "volume expansions failed".
4) Another reboot and after it another resync happens (?) and another expansion failer. After that next reboots doesn't make any changes. Nothing happens: neither resync nor volume expansion. Final status: volume of just 13TB with 4x4TB + 2x3TB.
I tried another factory default, tried formating disks under windows (to make them totally empty - I know it's somthing like voodoo, but wanted to be sure...), changing bays. Nothing. I want volume of over 16TB and that's why I made that factory default. But it's a total failure. Or maybe I just do something wrong.
Regards!
I've got a problem with Readynas Pro Business Edition. I've got 3 x 4TB + 3 x 3TB. Changed 4th 3TB to 4TB and expansion failed. It's OK since I probably passed the 8TB limit. I've made a fresh backup. Installed all 6 disks (bays 1-4 - WD Red 4TB, 5-6 - WD Red 3TB). Made factory default with single redundancy X-RAID2. After booting all procedures went well (checking disks + creating C + installing system). And now about strange things that happen.
1) System recognizes 4TB disks as 3TB (all six have about 2700 MB i volume information screen)
2) Last disk, in bay 6 starts blinking and system starts resync (why?). After it finishes the job after about 6 hours (volume is of course empty), it says volume expansion possible after reboot.
3) After reboot it recognizes 4TB disks properly, volume expansion starts and finishes in 3 seconds with "volume expansions failed".
4) Another reboot and after it another resync happens (?) and another expansion failer. After that next reboots doesn't make any changes. Nothing happens: neither resync nor volume expansion. Final status: volume of just 13TB with 4x4TB + 2x3TB.
I tried another factory default, tried formating disks under windows (to make them totally empty - I know it's somthing like voodoo, but wanted to be sure...), changing bays. Nothing. I want volume of over 16TB and that's why I made that factory default. But it's a total failure. Or maybe I just do something wrong.
Regards!
15 Replies
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- You would need e.g. 6x4 TB disks in place at the factory default for a volume >16TB, even then you wouldn't be able to expand the volume further. So you might want to use Flex-RAID so you can have multiple volumes.
Or if you are willing you could update to ReadyNAS OS 6, update to 6.1.7-RC5 and do a factory default. ReadyNAS OS 6 doesn't have the 8TB or the 16TB limit.
Personally I would recommend using dual-redundancy not single-redundancy, especially when using high capacity disks.
Welcome to the forum! - Thank you for the answer. But still I do not understand one thing.
So it's not possible to expand with the capacity I currently have in all six bays? If I wanted to stay with single-redundancy then in X-RAID2 it should initialize after factory default with much bigger volume and it actually should accept that config of 4x4TB + 2x3TB? Why it fails then? Why would I need 6 same disks?
As I understand volume expansion is not possible AT ALL after I pass the limit of 16 TB? I mean I wouldn't be able to change those last 3TB disks to 4TB disks and expand volume even though I do not pass 8TB expansion limit? jarri wrote:
So it's not possible to expand with the capacity I currently have in all six bays? If I wanted to stay with single-redundancy then in X-RAID2 it should initialize after factory default with much bigger volume and it actually should accept that config of 4x4TB + 2x3TB? Why it fails then? Why would I need 6 same disks?
It creates a 6x3TB RAID-5 layer then attempts to expand to use the extra space on the 4TB disks and fails.jarri wrote:
As I understand volume expansion is not possible AT ALL after I pass the limit of 16 TB? I mean I wouldn't be able to change those last 3TB disks to 4TB disks and expand volume even though I do not pass 8TB expansion limit?
Correct. That's why the use of Flex-RAID where you can have multiple volumes or upgrading to ReadyNAS OS 6 which does not have these expansion limitations would be worth considering.- OS 6 is currently out of question, becuase it voids guarantee and secondly because of that "loud fan case" that I found out. The second one is even more important since the unit is located in my television/living room at the moment... :)
I will try with Flex-RAID maybe.
OK, I understand now the process with failed expansion, but I think it's strange, since it should be possible to expand just on those four 4TB disks (becuase they make pairs) with 3TB disks not used. It actually would possible in config of 4x3TB + 2x2TB. It also went well when I was just adding 3 x 4TB disks reoplacing older 3 x 2 TB disks. So the conclusion is, that X-RAID2 stops working effectively with volumes over 16 TB and there is no good solution for my case with X-RAID2? - With 6.1.7 there is fan control for the Pro, but I understand the support reason for you not wishing to use it.
Yes, there is no way to expand past 16TB on 4.2.x. Multiple volumes using Flex-RAID would be the way to go. - Hopefully last question. Sorry, but I'm not really a Linux-guy. I was a programmer, but on C64/Amiga many years ago. :)
So...
If I wanted 6.1.7 to be installed do I need to do any editing in command-line in ReadyNAS or just install it as 4.2.26 update from frontview? - You could use a modified image to update to 6.1.6 then update to 6.1.7 RC or modify 6.1.7 RC to go direct to the RC. See http://www.readynas.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=70323
- Ok, no risk no fun. I did an instal, upgraded to 6.1.7 RC and rebooted with factory default.
But it seems it's not my day. System restarted, hopefully was configured as X-RAID2. But I cannot enter admin frontview since ReadyNAS change to offline state and with resync data on display it just makes it job very slowly. Is it OK? - What web browser and version are you using?
Try clearing your web browser cache, closing your web browser then try again.
Also try a different web browser.
Perhaps also see if you can access the GUI after waiting a little while.
If all else fails I can have a look at your system if you like. - Firefox 28.0.
I hope it will be fine. Now maybe it does offline resync. It goes quite fast, so in 2-3 hour it should finish. Then maybe I will be able to enter config. Maybe now it is offline?
I already entered GUI, before restart. Now it doesn't work.
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