I have a NAS 102 populated with two drives, RAID1, now running out of space.
I've added a further external drive via USB port.
The System sees it, but reports the message: System: External storage device is connected but the file system is not recognized.
I checked on my PC it was standard Win11 formatted, and accessible. Since it does not come up as potential capacity, I can't use the NAS format function. Suggestions please.
Yes, that's what I thought. However, although it was set to sync and GMT, the time was well out. I assumed it was syncing to an American server, so I disabled it and entered the time manually.
You can configure 0.pool.ntp.org and 1.pool.ntp.org. That should give you a local server.
Entering the time manually is generally good enough, but it needs to be re-done periodically because the internal clock will drift. Also you need to recheck it after a power disruption.
I have a NAS 102 populated with two drives, RAID1, now running out of space.
The best strategy is to purchase two NAS-purposed drives (for ex. Seagate Ironwolf), end expand the RAID-1 array. If you do this, don't purchase WD Reds - they are SMR (shingled magnetic recording). WD Red Plus are ok.
The System sees it, but reports the message: System: External storage device is connected but the file system is not recognized.
Use the Windows Disk Manager to see if there is a second partition on the disk. (The disk manager calls them "volumes"). If there is, then remove all the partitions using the disk manager. Then reformat it as NTFS in Windows.
Excellent, thanks. I now see the external drive, but it's just an external USB drive, and not being automatically added to the existing Volumes. When I go into the settings wheel for the drive, I'm offered options to eject it, or format it: EXT 3/4, NTFS (which it already is), and BTRFS.
Excellent, thanks. I now see the external drive, but it's just an external USB drive, and not being automatically added to the existing Volumes. When I go into the settings wheel for the drive, I'm offered options to eject it, or format it: EXT 3/4, NTFS (which it already is), and BTRFS.
What's my action here please?
Try formatting it as NTFS.
It won't be added to the RAID array, but you will be able to create shares on it.
Also I have found a log entry: System: NTP is disabled
NTP sets the time and keeps the clock in sync. Clock the time settings wheel on the system page, and check the box next to "synchronize clock with an internet server" to enable it.
That would, I think, be disappointing, as all the documentation says the RAID will automatically absorb any added storage. Maybe I'm misunderstanding the implications. What I had intended was to make more space available to the existing RAID so that it could continue to service my backups without needing reconfiguration.
For example in the Software Manual it says: 'With X-RAID, you can start out with one hard disk, add a second disk for data protection, and add more disks for additional storage capacity. X-RAID accommodates the new disks automatically. You can replace existing disks with larger-capacity disks and X-RAID automatically accommodates the new disks'.
How could I make the additional space available to my backup system?
That would, I think, be disappointing, as all the documentation says the RAID will automatically absorb any added storage.
External disks aren't added to RAID. That is a really bad idea, since any USB disconnection would result in an out-of-sync array. USB disks are also often SMR (shingled magnetic recording) - which is a technology that is not well suited to RAID.
That said, you can still create shares on the external disk, and move some of your data to it. The share list you see in Windows and other software doesn't include the volume name, so there is no distinction as far as file access goes.
How could I make the additional space available to my backup system?
I already gave you the best way - which is to get two larger internal disks (Seagate Ironwolf or WD Red Plus), and expand the RAID-1 array. You'd hot-swap the first, wait for the sync to complete, and then hot-swap the second.
Can you tell us what your "backup system" is? Are you talking about Time Machine (Mac), an iSCSI LUN, or backing up to share(s)?
External disks aren't added to RAID. That is a really bad idea, since any USB disconnection would result in an out-of-sync array. USB disks are also often SMR (shingled magnetic recording) - which is a technology that is not well suited to RAID. OK, understood; however, that is very much not the message from the manuals, so they are extremely misleading.
That said, you can still create shares on the external disk, and move some of your data to it. The share list you see in Windows and other software doesn't include the volume name, so there is no distinction as far as file access goes. OK, I might have to go that way and change the destination of the backup, keeping the existing position as an interim hold.
I already gave you the best way - which is to get two larger internal disks (Seagate Ironwolf or WD Red Plus), and expand the RAID-1 array. You'd hot-swap the first, wait for the sync to complete, and then hot-swap the second. Unfortunately I already acquired the new USB drive, so I'll need to consider my strategy.
Can you tell us what your "backup system" is? Are you talking about Time Machine (Mac), an iSCSI LUN, or backing up to share(s)? Commercial backup to a Share on the NAS.
Yes, that's what I thought. However, although it was set to sync and GMT, the time was well out. I assumed it was syncing to an American server, so I disabled it and entered the time manually.
Yes, that's what I thought. However, although it was set to sync and GMT, the time was well out. I assumed it was syncing to an American server, so I disabled it and entered the time manually.
You can configure 0.pool.ntp.org and 1.pool.ntp.org. That should give you a local server.
Entering the time manually is generally good enough, but it needs to be re-done periodically because the internal clock will drift. Also you need to recheck it after a power disruption.
