No network link after disk 1 failure #19879784

I've just done an OS Reinstall via the diagnostics menu but the display is still saying "no network link" after a reboot from that.

The ethernet cable is plugged into the ReadyNAS and the port's lights are lit up, yet no cigar. It's the same for either ethernet port.

RAIDar sees the ReadyNAS on my network, my modem has assigned it an address, but the ReadyNAS won't let me enter Setup or Browse it. Windows network diagnostics says the device won't accept the connection.

I'm now doing a Disk Test via the diagnostics menu. Depending on what this Disk Test tells me, I will go ahead and replace Disk 1 and...
...hope it restores the network link once the volume has resynced itself to incorporate the new disk? *shrug* Does a ReadyNAS Pioneer Pro's network link cut out in the case of disk failure? Anyone?

I've replaced the failed Disk 1 and my Pioneer Pro volume has now resynched successfully but still indicates it has "no network link".

I have tried two brand new ethernet cables between all connections, neither of which change the following:

My router light blinks to indicate there is a connection being made to the ReadyNAS.
Ethernet port lights next to each port on my ReadyNAS, router and PC motherboard blink as if everything is normal whenever a cable is connected.
RAIDar detects the ReadyNAS on boot up, and indicates it has been assigned a DHCP address by my router and a MAC address is also specified, but when I attempt to Browse or enter Frontview via RAIDar, my browser informs me a "connection cannot be made", or a Windows dialogue box pops up to tell me Windows cannot access the ReadyNAS DCHP address as specified in RAIDar. I cannot access Frontview from RAIDar, either. When I click the Diagnose button on the Windows error dialog box, I am informed "the remote device won't accept the connection".
If I try to swap ethernet ports once this initial boot-up connection has been confirmed in RAIDar, RAIDar's detection is lost and cannot be retrieved by me refreshing RAIDar. I have to re-boot the ReadyNAS for RAIDar to detect it again.
All of these issues occur irrespective of which router port i use on my router, ReadyNAS or PC motherboard.

My router is a Billion 7800N and has always worked like a charm.

Why has my ReadyNAS lost its network capabilities? Do i need to replace its onboard NIC? This seems to be the only solution i can glean from the forums when i search for "no network link" problems.

I'd really appreciate it if someone can help me, here. I'm a little worried no one has replied so far.

Open a tech support case (see Online Submission link in my sig) and post your case number.

mdgm wrote:
Open a tech support case (see Online Submission link in my sig) and post your case number.

Thanks, case number 19879784.

The RMA replacement unit I received has EXACTLY the same problem as i reported re my original ReadyNAS unit (above): "No network link" straight out of the box. I can only assume the replacement unit was not refurbished properly before being sent out to me as a replacement.

As with my first ReadyNAS, I have tried everything to confirm this is NOT the case, including 'Reinstall OS' of this replacement ReadyNAS, another factory reset and repeated firmware update of my router (which works and assigns DCHP addresses perfectly for every other device on my network - and, in fact, the ReadyNAS which refuses any RAIDar connections to it); basically everything as reported re my first ReadyNAS support case, above, applies again.

I've now been without the data on my ReadyNAS volume for a full month. I also now have two faulty ReadyNAS units sitting here in my house: one just received but which apparently needs to be replaced like the first, and the original one which i've only just packaged up in the box and have ready to ship back to Netgear in return for this faulty RMA unit. I paid $40 to have the first one replaced in expedited fashion and now I'm wondering how many more times I'll need to pay $40 to return these things.

Not too sure what to say about this. Gobsmacked.

Raidar finds it though... so the network link itself is ok???

Yeah, the network link itself is fine; a MAC address and a new DCHP address are shown as assigned by the router in RAIDar. I've done everything to the router (factory reset, firmware update, changed ports, everything just to check it's not the router). Still no cigar.

It's the onboard NIC on the ReadyNAS that is refusing any connections: cannot establish a connection to get into Frontview via RAIDar's 'setup' button; cannot 'Browse' the volume from RAIDar either. It's weird, but there's only one thing preventing connection and that's the ReadyNAS. The NIC ethernet port lights are lit up on the ReadyNAS and everything. Tried different cables, both ReadyNAS ethernet ports...

Not sure how RAIDar is detecting the connection since it is constantly refused by the ReadyNAS.

Thanks to Brian of Tech Support. Very polite and efficient chap has sorted out another RMA for me.

I can't quite believe this but the second RMA unit I just received doesn't work either. Same "no network link" problem as per my original and the first RMA "refurbished" replacement I received, only this time RAIDar doesn't see it on the network at all AND its rear reset button (to access the maintenance menu) is either missing or jammed - presumably by the previous owner prior to getting it replaced. I seem to be a guinea pig for Netgear to send their allegedly "refurbished" RMA ReadyNASes for me to confirm that they haven't been properly "refurbished". I fear my patience is being mistaken for kindness at this point.

All ReadyNAS units I've received units have been tested on a second network with a different router (a perfectly functioning Netgear CG3100 instead of a perfectly functioning Billion 7800N). Both routers were set as DHCP servers. The "no network link" problem was confirmed in each case.

Starting to wonder if I'm being punk'd. I've been looking around the room for a hidden camera all day. At $40 a pop reply-paid to return these RMA ReadyNASes, you'd think Netgear would consider testing them before sending them out. But who the hell am I to tell them how to run their company? I'll just keep sending them back and getting them to pay for shipping each time.

Brian of Tech Support has organised *yet another* RMA authorisation (my 3rd in the space of a week), and after initially advising me over the phone that his boss had authorised a brand new ReadyNAS be sent out to me, has just emailed to advise they have no brand new ones left so they'll send another one out "and see if this one works or not". I mean, you know. Unbelievable.

If this third one doesn't work, my next phone call will be to the government department for consumer affairs.

They could have sent an Ultra 6 Plus as a replacement if replacing with a new unit. That's pretty much the same hardware. As the Pro Pioneer has been discontinued for a few years it's hardly surprising they don't have any new units left.