Re: ReadyNAS NV - Can't connect

Rich17 · ‎2020-12-24

Bought in 2006 as Infrant ReadyNAS NV, and it worked well until now. I replaced a couple failed disks over the years with no problem. Last week my ATT fiber gateway was replaced last week and now the ReadyNAS will no longer connect to the network. It was set to DHCP before the change, but rebooting the ReadyNAS did not resolve the problem. I set my laptop IP to the old subnet 192.168.100.x and connected direct to ReadyNAS but no response in Raidar. I have blinking green link lights on the ReadyNAS ethernet port and on the gateway. I moved the NAS next to the gateway and used a different, known good ethernet cable, no response to Raidar. I am using Raidar 4.3.8. I don't remember what version software is on the ReadyNAS. I did update it a few times in the distant past.

As recommended in the online help when Raidar will not connect, I reinstalled the ReadyNAS OS by holding in the reset button while starting, then releasing the reset button when disk lights appear. It took some time to finish the installation then booted up like normal. The front lights are all solid green, power button solid blue like before the reinstall. After reinstalling the OS I still could not connect to it with Raidar through network or by direct connection, even after another boot to make sure it had chance to get a DHCP address.

I'm planning to replace the NAS, so saving the stored data is my only goal now.

I tried to create a support ticket with Netgear, but I cannot register the product as required because there is no serial number printed on the serial number sticker! Custumer Support is helping me to register the product.

My questions:

1. Is there any way to get the data off the ReadyNAS without using the network ethernet port? Like maybe through the USB port? My ReadyNAS is not setup for automatic USB backup.

2. Can I buy an identical (used) ReadyNAS NV, install my three HDDs and access the data?

Thanks for any help!

Rich

Rich17 · ‎2021-01-21

The ReadyNAS NV started up fine and is running on it's original RAID disks, and thankfully, I was able to get all the data copied off of the NAS! Thanks to everyone on the thread for your assistance!

One weird thing:

With the test disk installed, Raidar showed the NAS was running on lastest firmware.

But with the old RAID array disks installed the firmware version shown in Raidar now says it's still running firmware "4.01c1-p1" The NAS has not updated the old disks to the newer software. I will retire it now anyway so doesn't matter.

I would like to make a donation in thanks for your assistance StephenB. Can you PM your paypal addy?

Thanks

Rich

View solution in original post

Sandshark · ‎2020-12-24

When connected to the router, does the NAS show up as a connected device in the router's interface?

Does it show up on RAIDar with the drives removed?

If the unit is set to DHCP and there is no DHCP server available, then it will default to 192.168.168.168, not the address to which it was previously assigned. So set your laptop to 192.168.168.xxx and try again. If it is set to a static IP, then you used the right process.

If that works, then we can move forward and try to figure out why it doesn't appear on your network when connected to the router.

If something has happened to your NAS hardware and the array is intact, then an NV or NV+ will work to access the data. But you are buying something that's quite old. Frankly, I think the going price on eBay is a bit steep, too.

There are other ways to recover the data, too. But let's try and get your NAS working first.

StephenB · ‎2020-12-24

Is the NIC led lit on the router and the NAS? It's possible that ethernet isn't being negotiated correctly. We've seen a couple of cases where "green" ethernet features in new routers/switches don't play well with the NAS.

You could try a direct connect between the NAS and your PC. If the NIC leds are lit, then see if RAIDar detects it.

If you can log in, remember that the OS reinstall will reset the admin password back to either netgear1 or infrant1 (depending on exactly how old it is).

@Rich17 wrote:

1. Is there any way to get the data off the ReadyNAS without using the network ethernet port?

No - the USB port won't work because the NAS is a USB master (like your PC) and not a USB peripheral.

If you can connect the drives to a PC (using either SATA or USB adapter/docks) then you can use RAID recovery software to offload the data. R-Linux is an inexpensive package that will work for this.

If you were to purchase a new OS-6 ReadyNAS, then you could also engage Netgear Support to temporarily mount the array (read-only) on a new NAS. I believe they will charge for that. https://kb.netgear.com/29875/ReadyNAS-Migrating-disks-from-RAIDiator-to-OS-6

If you have a linux system, you can also mount the array on it with standard linux tools (assuming you can connect the disks).

@Rich17 wrote:

2. Can I buy an identical (used) ReadyNAS NV, install my three HDDs and access the data?

You can migrate to any 4-bay sparc-based ReadyNAS - it doesn't need to be a strictly identical model. This would include the NV, an NV+, and the ReadyNAS 1100 (RNR4000).

There are some challenges here though. All the compatible NAS are very old (Netgear stopped selling sparc-based NAS in 2011). Also there is an NV+ v2 model out there which is an arm platform. That isn't compatible, and it isn't that easy to tell the difference - and often the sellers get it wrong.

Rich17 · ‎2020-12-24

Thanks for your reply StephenB

There is link light on ReadyNAS and on router when connected with home LAN cable and with 12 foot patch cable. There is link lights on both ReadyNAS and PC when direct connected but Raidar doesn't see the ReadyNAS.

Buying an old NV would probably be the easiest path, but I will explore R-Linux, it's good to know I can use RAID recovery software if the NAS refuses to communicate.

Thanks!

Rich17 · ‎2020-12-24

Thanks for your reply Sandshark

ReadyNAS doen't appear in router list of connected devices

With drives removed there is no change, other than 4 disk lights blinking green instead of 3 lights solid with 3 disks installed.

I rebooted the ReadyNas with no ethernet connected to force it to 192.168.168.168, then direct connected to PC set to IP 192.168.168.200 with mask 255.255.255.0. Raidar could not see it. Raidar was working 2 weeks ago over the LAN.

Thanks

Rich17 · ‎2020-12-24

Netgear Customer Support can't help me since my Infrant ReadyNAS did not come with a serial number! I bought it from Amazon in 2006, but the serial plate is blank. So I'm very appreciative of the support here on the forum.

I just purchased a used Infrant ReadyNAS NV from ebay seller, he said it works and ebay gives money back guarantee, so hopefully that will work out.

Is there anything I should do to the "new" unit before I install my drives and power it up?

Should I do a factory reset on it first?

Should I install a single scratch drive to see if it works?

Thanks for any ideas

Rich

StephenB · ‎2020-12-24

@Rich17 wrote:

Is there anything I should do to the "new" unit before I install my drives and power it up?

Should I install a single scratch drive to see if it works?

If the firmware install image in the flash doesn't match the OS on the drives (which is almost a certainty), then the boot loader will attempt to install whatever firmware is in the flash onto the drives. That could be a problem, as there are some downgrades that could result in data loss.

Normally I'd tell you to do a factory install on a scratch disk first, and then update the same firmware as you had on the old NAS. But unfortunately, you don't know what firmware that was. So what you need to do instead is update the firmware to the currently shipping version (which is 4.1.16): https://kb.netgear.com/000038792/RAIDiator-Version-4-1-16-Sparc. Extract the binary from the zip, and then install that binary with frontview.

After that I suggest making sure that all the bays in the replacement NAS work. You can easily test that by booting up the NAS with the scratch disk in each slot. If that works, then migrate your original disks (keeping them in slot order). The migration process will then also update the OS on the disks to 4.1.16.

@Rich17 wrote:

Should I do a factory reset on it first?

No, and in fact you can't. The factory reset installs the OS onto the disks from the flash install image. That simply can't be done if there are no disks installed.

Rich17 · ‎2020-12-24

Makes perfect sense and I'm glad I asked.

I will update the thread when I get into it.

Thank you, StephenB!

Rich17 · ‎2021-01-07

OK

I got the replacement ReadyNAS NV from EBay. It is powered up and I can see it on the network with Raidar 4.3.8.

I have an old SATA 80GB HDD that I have installed in the ReadyNAS drive holster, installed it and started up the ReadyNAS. The blue light is blinking slowly indicating:

Background task active

A lengthy background task such as a system update is in progress.

I tried to browse the ReadyNAS IP address 192.168.1.128, but got no reply.

What is FrontView? Is Frontview a part of Raidar?

In Raidar, the setup and browse buttons were dimmed out when there was no disk installed as seen in the pic below. They are still dimmed now as the NAS works on the inserted 80GB scrap drive, so I cannot yet see any details about the new NAS.

I have the three (250GB) drives of my RAID array marked in order so I can install them later. But only after I upgrade the NAS to latest software, and test each slot with the scrap disk.

Thanks for any assistance getting my NAS back up and running.

Rich17 · ‎2021-01-07

After 15 minutes there is no progress on the scrap drive. It is still slow blinking blue. All 4 greens drive indicator lights are blinking on and off in alternation with only the #2 drive bay light blinking on and off. The scrap drive is installed in bay #1. I don't know the health of this drive, it could be junk. Also in Raidar it shows the NAS with "no disks detected."

Should I try another drive for the test scrap drive?

Thank you

Rich17 · ‎2021-01-07

My USB SATA drive enclosure is dead so I can't evaluate my other spare SATA drives for scrap until I replace that in 2 days. Back on pause.

StephenB · ‎2021-01-08

Your 80 GB drive must be very old, and could well be dead. So I do suggest trying another one. FWIW, your 250 GB models are almost certainly beyond their expected life.

@Rich17 wrote:

What is FrontView? Is Frontview a part of Raidar?

Frontview is what Netgear called the admin web interface on your NAS. You'd access it by opening your browser to https://nas-ip-address/admin (using 192.168.1.128 for the NAS IP address in your case).

The home page looks like this:

Rich17 · ‎2021-01-08

Thanks for your reply StephenB!

OK I've made good progress. I found a brand new WD Red 3TB HDD (circa 2018) to use for testing.

The new NAS accepted the disk and displays Raidiator 4.1.16.

I moved the one test disk through all 4 bays (swapping with NAS off) and they all eventually indicated their corresponding steady green light.

I can see the host on the network. I was able to log into Frontview and access the Setup screen, but I have not tried to read or write data to the test disk.

Am I ready to install my original three RAID5 drives containing the data from my old NAS? I have them marked in original drive bay order.

I assume I can remove the test disk and install only the RAID drives?

Should I install all three drives at the same time?

Thanks for your help!

Rich17 · ‎2021-01-08

Sorry but pictures are not uploading

StephenB · ‎2021-01-09

Images need to be manually reviewed and approved before they are shown. So there is always a lag.

@Rich17 wrote:

OK I've made good progress. I found a brand new WD Red 3TB HDD (circa 2018) to use for testing. ... I moved the one test disk through all 4 bays (swapping with NAS off) and they all eventually indicated their corresponding steady green light.

Good!

One comment here - your NAS doesn't support disks > 2 TB. It will recognize the 3 TB drive (as you found), but it ends up using less than 1 TB of space. That's not a problem for your testing, but you do need to stay at 2 TB or less for your operational drives. BTW, it also won't handle USB drives that are > 2 TB.

@Rich17 wrote:

Am I ready to install my original three RAID5 drives containing the data from my old NAS? I have them marked in original drive bay order.

Should I install all three drives at the same time?

Yes and Yes.

Install all the drives at the same time (with the NAS powered down). Trying to install them one at a time won't work at all (and attempting it could lose your data).

The NAS should be able to handle any order, but installing them in the original slots is safest.

Rich17 · ‎2021-01-21

The ReadyNAS NV started up fine and is running on it's original RAID disks, and thankfully, I was able to get all the data copied off of the NAS! Thanks to everyone on the thread for your assistance!

One weird thing:

With the test disk installed, Raidar showed the NAS was running on lastest firmware.

But with the old RAID array disks installed the firmware version shown in Raidar now says it's still running firmware "4.01c1-p1" The NAS has not updated the old disks to the newer software. I will retire it now anyway so doesn't matter.

I would like to make a donation in thanks for your assistance StephenB. Can you PM your paypal addy?

Thanks

Rich

StephenB · ‎2021-01-22

@Rich17 wrote:

I would like to make a donation in thanks for your assistance StephenB. Can you PM your paypal addy?

I appreciate the thought, but I'm not set up for that. I'm happy I was able to help, and there's no need for anything more.

Rich17 · ‎2021-01-22

OK thanks again, Stephen!