Since you mentioned that you have already replaced the disks with the new ones and that you have already factory reset the NAS, use RAIDar to set it up. This will allow you to choose between XRAID and FlexRAID then build the volume.
The default login is admin for username and netgear1 for password.
Well, yes that the best way to do it. Factory reset since you have the full backup of the data.
The ReadyNAS chassis has a flash memory that will flash the OS to the disks that you will insert. You have the latest firmware so that should have XRAID2.
Re: How to Upgrade? - All new drives - ReadyNAS Pro Business Edition [X-RAID2]
If you replace all the drives, the NAS will boot from flash (which contains the RAIDiator version you are runing) and then do a factory default. You can use RAIDar to tell the unit how you want it to format the drives, or you can just wait and it will default to XRAID2.
Now would be a time to consider moving to OS6 on your NAS. While it's not officially supported on legacy NASes, it is compatible with yours. OS4.2.x is quite long in the tooth.
If you are up to the task, a processor upgrade would also make it snappier. A Core2 Duo E7500 runs about $5 these days on eBay and will almost double your processor power.
If you replace all the drives, the NAS will boot from flash (which contains the RAIDiator version you are runing) and then do a factory default. You can use RAIDar to tell the unit how you want it to format the drives, or you can just wait and it will default to XRAID2.
Now would be a time to consider moving to OS6 on your NAS. While it's not officially supported on legacy NASes, it is compatible with yours. OS4.2.x is quite long in the tooth.
If you are up to the task, a processor upgrade would also make it snappier. A Core2 Duo E7500 runs about $5 these days on eBay and will almost double your processor power.
Not really interested in too many changes. I just use this box as a jukebox to run Logitech Media Server (LMS) and hold all the FLAC files. Maybe a little video storage.
I have noted that there were some hoops to jump through to get LMS to install/run on the OS 6 platform. All my stuff including me is getting "long in the tooth".
Thanks for upgrade ideas anyhow - I just need more disk space right now. If I was to do anymore it would probably be a completely new box from a different manufacturer. (Still smarting from being kicked to the curb when OS 6 came out. )
Besides I think I would really benefit more from a faster SATA channel than an upgraded CPU don't ya think?
Besides I think I would really benefit more from a faster SATA channel than an upgraded CPU don't ya think?
No, actually I don't. I believe your NAS supports SATA II, which handles 300 MB/sec per channel. That's faster than today's mechanical drives.
Huh? - the new drives going in are SATA III 600 MB/sec (as were all the drives I saw while drive shopping) so wouldn't there be a performance increase if they were installed on a SATA III channel? Or is the SATA III standard not achievable in the real world - only on paper - due to other bottlenecks (I/O channel, etc)?
Re: How to Upgrade? - All new drives - ReadyNAS Pro Business Edition [X-RAID2]
@dmahon1 wrote: If you just want more disk space, don't you just pull one disk, replace with larger disk and wait for array to rebuild. Then repeat with each disk?
Yep that would be one way but I really need to do some serious dusting & cleaning of the data files, create & test a new backup procedure and do a clean install of the LMS software. I was just looking for some confirmation on the procedure to replace ALL the drives at once.
If I grow it in the future I'll use the expansion method...
Huh? - the new drives going in are SATA III 600 MB/sec (as were all the drives I saw while drive shopping) so wouldn't there be a performance increase if they were installed on a SATA III channel? Or is the SATA III standard not achievable in the real world - only on paper - due to other bottlenecks (I/O channel, etc)?
Note there is some gain if you are using a SATA multiplexer (which lets you connect multiple hard drives on a single SATA interface). With SATA multiplexing, the bus can become a bottleneck. But your Pro doesn't use SATA multiplexing.
The biggest bottleneck in your Pro is actually the gigabit network connection.
Upgrading the CPU and/or memory can improve performance with small file transfers, and is good if you are running add-ons on the NAS that are CPU-hungry. If you are going to install OS6 on the NAS, then upgrading memory makes sense (as the new x86 platforms all have at least 4 GB of memory).
Huh? - the new drives going in are SATA III 600 MB/sec (as were all the drives I saw while drive shopping) so wouldn't there be a performance increase if they were installed on a SATA III channel? Or is the SATA III standard not achievable in the real world - only on paper - due to other bottlenecks (I/O channel, etc)?
Note there is some gain if you are using a SATA multiplexer (which lets you connect multiple hard drives on a single SATA interface). With SATA multiplexing, the bus can become a bottleneck. But your Pro doesn't use SATA multiplexing.
The biggest bottleneck in your Pro is actually the gigabit network connection.
Upgrading the CPU and/or memory can improve performance with small file transfers, and is good if you are running add-ons on the NAS that are CPU-hungry. If you are going to install OS6 on the NAS, then upgrading memory makes sense (as the new x86 platforms all have at least 4 GB of memory).
Thanks for the explanation and encouragement on the OS 6 install. I've got it installed with the new drives. Gonna try things with the same CPU and 3 GB of memory. Also found somemore info on installing/running LMS on OS 6 that seems easier than I thought so I'll be trying that also.
Just in case things go poorly I've noted your recommendation on the CPU upgrade - any recommend for the correct memory upgrade?
Re: How to Upgrade? - All new drives - ReadyNAS Pro Business Edition [X-RAID2]
I've used GSkill, OCZ, and Corsair PC2-6400 CL4 memory wih no problems, and I've seen where others have used Crucial. The max the motherboard can use is 8GB, and the 4GB modules command a premium price, so I've gone with 2x2GB. As with the processor, they've gotten pretty cheap on eBay. Be careful not to get some with too tall a heat spreader.
