Thats only a option for Nas with x86 CPUs. So it isnt a solution for the RN series and others.
There is at least one post in the xpenology forum saying that the OP had Xpenology running on an RN312 (with RAM upgraded to 4 GB) and an RN516. So I think it is possible on the x86 RN NAS. But the poster was using a USB boot drive.
But as you say, it certainly is not possible with ARM.
I have been a ReadyNAS user since 2009, I started with the DUO, I continued with an Ultra 2 (with this ReadyNAS it was running with RAIDiator for 90% of its useful life; and finally I tried OS6 a few months before retiring it, and it convinced me because I acquired the next ReadyNAS), and the latest acquisition, a 426.
With all the ReadyNAS I've owned, what I love: the stability of the O.S. and the quality of the construction materials (I see other NAS manufacturers abusing plastic).
I don't like to have Readynas full of apps installed, I'm just looking for data stability (I only use Plex, PHPSysinfo and SMBTools) and so far in 13 years with no major incidents. I love the OS6 environment, simple and functional: 10 points for Netgear from my point of view in that sense (although it could be improved).
However, my 426 is 2 years and 10 months old, and it's too early to retire (expandable to 64GB RAM and a VTx-capable CPU). Netgear, here, has a problem of posture and dedicated human resources. My intention is to continue using it for a longer time even if Netgear leaves the NAS market, but it is inevitable to think of a plan B for my box:
-POSSIBILITY 1: The possibility of Netgear allowing users to continue the OS6 project (the source code posted on the Netgear website is incomplete... I don't see the source code related to the LCD screen, libreadynas, the web panel sources, ... if I'm wrong, correct me). This would allow users to try to upgrade to Debian 9 or Debian 10. Although I would prefer that effort be made by Netgear, for that they know OS6 perfectly.
- POSSIBILITY 2: Installation of another OS, it would be sad because OS6 is perfect for these boxes, but if Netgear leaves the market there should be that possibility. Many of the ReadyNAS models have an HDMI port that would facilitate the installation operation, in the rest of the boxes it would be through a serial port and that would be a limitation, but at least it is something... I will comment on this in another POST about the ReadyNAS 428 and 426 about its possibilities...
It's just an opinion, a reflection... but I refuse to retire the 426, I just hope that Netgear doesn't disappoint us, and at least have the courage to update the Debian version, a job that should have been done 2 years ago ...
My biggest complaint is being kept in the dark. If they are dropping the line, let us know. It's not like there are a lot of units in a warehouse that will go unsold if they do. If they think that keeping it a secret will somehow help their reputation, they are completely wrong, IMHO. Not letting the customer base know their direction will hurt far more. They appear, and maybe really are, rudderless. If I were buying equipment for a company, I'd avoid a supplier like that like I avoid COVID.
My wish: The Jedi buy it back for pennies on a dollar. For those not familiar, the Jedi are the original Infrant development crew who had a huge presence on this forum (well, it's predecessor). Those guys did some marvelous stuff with some pretty limited hardware, and most of it is still functional today.
I am fully for your "POSSIBILITY 1" - give us at least a description of the hardware (LCD screen, front panel buttons?) if not the software itself.
RockStor runs perfectly well on my 526-es and 626-es, which have a fully functional (if somewhat strangely placed) x8 PCIe 3.0 slot, allowing for the use of decent graphics cards. If I could find a way to talk to the LCD and buttons, I'll be a happy Netgear fan for the rest of my days. I understand the company pulling off the NAS market, but abandoning their user base is not exactly a nice thing to do.
Model: RN526X|ReadyNAS 526X – 6 Bays with up to 60TB total storage, RN626X|ReadyNAS 626X – 6 Bays with Intel® Xeon® Quad-Core Server Processor
My intention is to continue using OS6 as much as possible. But I want to have the various options raised. And no, I'm not going to spend more money on another NAS when this one is practically new. And yes, it would be responsible for Netgear to at least provide the information to access the LCD and the rest of the features if OS6 is finally abandoned (for example, through the source code?). I prefer, sincerely, that Netgear upgrades de Debian version, and continue with OS6.
I miss a reaction from Netgear about their confidence, or, as Sandshark says, that the Jedi team returns (with permission from StephenB and other Netgear members, whom I thank for all the attention in recent years here).
My NAS is a ReadyNAS 426, (it has more than 2 years of warranty left, if I remember correctly it was 5), and I haven't opened it yet.
Option 1 gets complicated when everything has to be done via serial communication. Reviewing the photo of the 426 motherboard (the same as the 428) there is no accessible PCIe to connect a graphics card.
However, I have observed that the pins where the PCIe slot would go are free and ready to be soldered. Is that the real use? They are 36 pins aligned as a PCIe x1 slot would be soldered.
In the bottom right you see what I say.
The socket will cost between €2 and €4 (and I have seen different manufacturers such as Molex or Samtec. I would look for someone who has some skill with soldering. Can anyone give any details on these pins?
I have to warn you that this PCIe is oriented 'wrongly', so you will not be able to plug in a normal PCIe card, at least not easily, and not any size. You see, the pinout of a PCIe x1 slot (as shown here for example) tells you that the 2x11 pins (power etc.) should be to the right in your photo, and the 2x7 pins (signal and clock pairs) should be to the left.
So - yes, in principle you should be able to solder a PCIe x1 socket on the MB, but will have to plug the cards 'backwards', which will most likely prevent you from inserting a graphics card (as they are always at least half-length cards).
Of course you could solder the socket not directly on the MB, but via a short extension cable, which will allow you to position your graphics card more freely inside the case (not that there's too much free room inside, but still).
Hope this helps!
Model: RN526X|ReadyNAS 526X – 6 Bays with up to 60TB total storage
If one were putting in a substitute OS, a USB-based graphics solution would seem the right direction to me for units without an HDMI or VGA port. Since they only support a post-boot graphics environment (as far as I've found in my research), initial installation could still be a bit of a PITA, but one could always do the install from a PC and then move the drive with the OS into the NAS. If changing BIOS settings would be required, one would have to use the serial console.
I also tried to port bcachefs but failed, I lost some data in my test 😞
To make Bit Rotation protection continue to work, I extract the binary mdcsrepair and mdcsrepaird from firmware archive which is downloaded from https://kb.netgear.com/20684/ReadyNAS-Downloads , and start the daemon with the script in gentoo_on_nas (init.d/mdcsrepaird).
