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Re: Apparently automatic volume capacity not working as advertised

teddis
Aspirant

Apparently automatic volume capacity not working as advertised

I'm trying to upgrade from a 8TB to a 16TB system. A year or more ago I bought a 4TB drive as a test and somehow got the system to replicate to it. I wasn't ready at the tim to make the full upgrade, but recently commiting to do so last week. I bought 3 more 4TB Ironwolf COMPATIBLE drives and attempted my first swapout the other day but so far nothing is going as expected. Instead of remaining online but degraded, my volume cage UI went dark and there's no indication any replication is happening. In fact, the system decided it could handle the situation and shut down by itself! Just prior to the swap, I also completed disabled my auto backups. Maybe one clue is an error unable to download firmware, buy why? My system firmware is already install latest of 6.10.5. Seems like a complete bust for a "simple" RAID system upgrade. Are there any diagnostics to check or logs? (Apparently having massive difficulty uploading screen shots here). I can see while editing but then missing after editing.

 

 

Screen Shot 2021-11-12 at 9.35.02 AM.pngScreen Shot 2021-11-11 at 6.10.21 PM.pngScreen Shot 2021-11-11 at 6.11.05 PM.pngScreen Shot 2021-11-12 at 9.35.02 AM.pngScreen Shot 2021-11-11 at 6.11.05 PM.png

Model: RN214|4 BAY Desktop ReadyNAS Storage
Message 1 of 8
StephenB
Guru

Re: Apparently automatic volume capacity not working as advertised


@teddis wrote:

 I bought 3 more 4TB Ironwolf COMPATIBLE drives and attempted my first swapout the other day but so far nothing is going as expected.

I suggest testing the new disks in a Windows PC using Seatools. You can connect them either with SATA or with a USB adapter/dock.

Message 2 of 8
teddis
Aspirant

Re: Apparently automatic volume capacity not working as advertised

I don't have access to a PC, just my Macs. I've ordered an adapter to test with Disk Util. I replaced the first ironwolf with a second one received but some results. Nothing. The volume cage is dark and doesn't look like anything is replicating. With two such failures, doesn't seem like a shipping fluke, but some odd incompatibility readynas os. I would this this would mount!

Message 3 of 8
StephenB
Guru

Re: Apparently automatic volume capacity not working as advertised


@teddis wrote:

 With two such failures, doesn't seem like a shipping fluke, but some odd incompatibility readynas os. I would this this would mount!


Lots of people use Seagate Ironwolf drives, so it's not an incompatibility.

 

It's not that uncommon for drives to be damaged in shipment (and if the package is mishandled, it's quite possible that it would affect all the drives in the package).

 

Another option is simply to exchange the disks, and see if the second set behaves differently.

 


@teddis wrote:

I don't have access to a PC, just my Macs. I've ordered an adapter to test with Disk Util.

While waiting you could also try testing them in the NAS.

  1. Power down
  2. remove all the old drives (labeling by slot)
  3. insert one of the new disks (perhaps in bay 2, since bay 1 isn't detecting it)
  4. Power up.

If the NAS detects the drive, it will automatically do a factory install.  You then complete the setup (doing as little as possible).  Then run the disk test (volume settings wheel on the system->volumes tab).  If that completes with no errors, then the test passed.  When done, destroy the volume (using the volume settings wheel option), power down, and remove the drive.

 

This only does a read/non-destructive test, but it still has value.

 

 

 

Message 4 of 8
Sandshark
Sensei

Re: Apparently automatic volume capacity not working as advertised


@StephenB wrote:

If the NAS detects the drive, it will automatically do a factory install.  You then complete the setup (doing as little as possible).  Then run the disk test (volume settings wheel on the system->volumes tab).  If that completes with no errors, then the test passed.  When done, destroy the volume (using the volume settings wheel option), power down, and remove the drive.

 


Before destroying the volume on the first disk tested, power down and move the drive to slot 1.  If the unit powers up normally and sees the volume, then the slot is OK.  I don't see anything in your process that shoud damage the slot, but it's best to eliminate all possibilities.

Message 5 of 8
teddis
Aspirant

Re: Apparently automatic volume capacity not working as advertised

I received my USB 3.0 to SATA hard drive adapter for my Mac and tested all three IronWolf drives (seem fine). Each had to be initialized using the Disk Utility. I'm not sure the best format that should be used. I thought ExFat would be the most modern FS. My system finally upgraded to latest firmware 6.10.6 as well.

For days ReadyNAS would blink "degraded" and never seemed to begin migration. I discovered (finally) is some kind of physical limitation of the drive bay system. I finally "pushed" the drive back further into the cabinet, and the drive "connected" and start migration. Unfortunately, it was using previous 2TB drive. Anyway, here's a screen shot. I wish I had correctly used the new 4TB IronWolf drive instead. To avoid potential damage, I'm waiting. for this useless exercise to complete (using old original drive). The big problem is WHY won't the new drive snap in and connect with the backplane? This feels very wrong. Perhaps I'm missing some physical piece or just didn't push far enough back on the bay but seems like I should not have had to do more. I'll update again soon. If there is any recommendation as to how to properly ensure data seal with the internal backplane and the drive bay, I'd appciate knowing the right solution... Thanks.

Screen Shot 2021-11-21 at 3.22.58 PM.png

Message 6 of 8
StephenB
Guru

Re: Apparently automatic volume capacity not working as advertised


@teddis wrote:


For days ReadyNAS would blink "degraded" and never seemed to begin migration. I discovered (finally) is some kind of physical limitation of the drive bay system. I finally "pushed" the drive back further into the cabinet, and the drive "connected" and start migration.

This isn't something I've seen with my own drive bays/trays.  Was this happening with the new drive or just the old one?

 


@teddis wrote:

I received my USB 3.0 to SATA hard drive adapter for my Mac and tested all three IronWolf drives (seem fine). Each had to be initialized using the Disk Utility. I'm not sure the best format that should be used. I thought ExFat would be the most modern FS.

FWIW, as far as the NAS is concerned it doesn't matter - it needs to reformat them anyway.  That is something you'll need to do manually after you hotswap each drive - selecting it from the center graphic on the volume tab, and then selecting "format" on the right.  After that completes, the resync will automatically start.

 

Note the resync for the remaining three 4TB drives will be done in two steps, so be careful not to hot-swap the disks too soon.

Message 7 of 8
Sandshark
Sensei

Re: Apparently automatic volume capacity not working as advertised

I agree that that behavior with the caddies is not normal.  You should check to see that there isn't any debris in the connector area (once sync is complete).  There are a couple other thngs that might cause that problem, I suppose:  Not having the tool-less drive retention bracket fully seated or using the wrong size screws (too big a head) if not using the tool-less system.

Message 8 of 8
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