How do I check a NAS drive for faults? Plus tips on replacing the drive...

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jonathan18

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#205964 5-Dec-2016 08:56

So my NAS (a crudy Netgear ReadyNAS Duo v2) is reporting one of its two drives is dodgy; the light for that drive flashes, and I've run a check on the drive which confirms it's dodgy. I've switched out the drives leaving on the dodgy one in, and the NAS wouldn't boot.

My first question is: can I take it on this basis that the drive is kaput? Or should I be trying another means by which to check it, and potentially re-format it? I can't see any ability to elect to format a drive once it is in the NAS (the manual says it'll automatically format a new drive upon insertion), and equally I no longer have a desktop PC that I can connect the drive to. Is there any other way of checking it?

And, as a follow-up question: I was planning on purchasing the same drive, given that will match the other (and ok) drive - does it matter that it's a newer version of the same drive? (The original is a 2TB Seagate Barracuda v1, whereas it seems the current is v6.) I know these aren't the greatest drives, but I'm also not wanting to have to replace both at the same time.

Thanks for any advice!

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#1682258 5-Dec-2016 09:06

Is it running as JBOD, raid mirror, or something else? Any sign that a drive is stuffed I toss it out. WD Red or current version of same should be fine.

davidcole

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#1682261 5-Dec-2016 09:15

Yeah I have a home build nas. Any sign that a drive in S.M.A.R.T. is less than excellent I pull it from the array and use it for generic backup copies that I'm happy to lose.

The drive is more than likely happy for months/years afterwards - but I don't trust it enough for critical data. Then I'll go for whatever WD Red Drive I can get for around the $200 mark (I don't need same sized drives in my system so have that advantage).

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richms

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#1682265 5-Dec-2016 09:23

I run my drives as mirrors, and when one looks bad I get 2 more drives, replace the bad one, let it sync over from the good one and then swap the good one for the other new one. Use it as a reason to upgrade the capacity in those slots as IMO the most expensive part of a large array is the ports and power, not the drives unless you always go for the max size.

The dodgey one I run tests on, if it doesnt increase the bad sector count and performs OK then it goes into another PC to hold less important things - crashplan back up sets and similar that are already in many places. The good one from the pair I do the same with but dont bother testing it.

Sadly since microsoft dont allow bitlocker on dynamic drives, which is what mirrors are, I cant have the stuff encrypted to I cant return the drives if under warranty since that would be a stupid thing to do, so they all go into a giant pile that I will get destroyed sometime.

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sbiddle

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#1682267 5-Dec-2016 09:26

Barracude is only a desktop drive. It is not recommended for NAS usage and it's basically a case of YMMV if you use a drive not designed for a NAS in a NAS or RAID setup.

jonathan18

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#1682354 5-Dec-2016 11:00

Thanks for the replies.

Yep, it's in RAID 1 set-up, so that at the moment so all data is still in existence on the remaining drive, but of course no back-up should that also fail.

Ok, get the point re using desktop drives in a NAS; if I moved to using a model more appropriate for NAS use, do I need to replace both units at once (so the NAS has two identical drives), or can I simply replace the dodgy unit with a different brand/model? (I know I need to ensure capacity is the same.)

I know many people do recommend the WD Red range, so would something like this one be ok? I note that this is 5400RPM, whereas the current Barracuda is 7200RPM - can I have drives operating at different speeds?

It's just that, given the time of year, I will struggle to find the $300+ to buy two of these drives at the same time, hence trying to spread out the cost.

Thanks again.

1101

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#1682419 5-Dec-2016 12:23

Think about backups for that NAS. Some will backup to a USB drive plugged into it .
Have seen data on NAS's ALL lost , when stupidly the data on NAS was the only copy (both times)

If on a tight budget, get the NAS's backup sorted 1st .

jonathan18

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#1682423 5-Dec-2016 12:28

1101:

Think about backups for that NAS. Some will backup to a USB drive plugged into it .
Have seen data on NAS ALL lost , so do use it as the only copy if its used for storage

If on a tight budget, get the NAS's backup sorted 1st .

Fair point! Yes, my NAS supports back-ups to external USB, and TBH this was in place for quite some time. It stopped when I shifted the NAS but didn't relocate the external drives.

Will get this sorted ASAP, because then at least I do have that second copy...

But I'm still interested in knowing what limitations I have in regards to mixing brands/models/speeds of drives within the NAS.

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davidcole

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#1682429 5-Dec-2016 12:35

jonathan18:

1101:

Think about backups for that NAS. Some will backup to a USB drive plugged into it .
Have seen data on NAS ALL lost , so do use it as the only copy if its used for storage

If on a tight budget, get the NAS's backup sorted 1st .

Fair point! Yes, my NAS supports back-ups to external USB, and TBH this was in place for quite some time. It stopped when I shifted the NAS but didn't relocate the external drives.

Will get this sorted ASAP, because then at least I do have that second copy...

But I'm still interested in knowing what limitations I have in regards to mixing brands/models/speeds of drives within the NAS.

Probably worth looking at the manufacturers recommendations for drives.

jonathan18

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#1682483 5-Dec-2016 13:29

davidcole:

jonathan18:

But I'm still interested in knowing what limitations I have in regards to mixing brands/models/speeds of drives within the NAS.

Probably worth looking at the manufacturers recommendations for drives.

Both my current Seagate ST2000D drives and the ones I'm looking at (WD Red WD20EFRX) are listed as compatible; the only note re mixing brands/models I've found is the inconclusive statement "NETGEAR recommends replacing a failed disk with the same disk model." - which does suggest to me it's possible to use a different brand/model, just not recommended.

But, even if this is the case generally, are there any issues with having drives running at different speeds?

richms

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#1682692 5-Dec-2016 16:49

I have mixes on heaps of my older mirrors. But this is all in a esas box off a windows server 2008 machine, not a dedicated nas box. Only problem I have is when I swap brands for the second drive and its slightly smaller than the other one, Have to shrink the partition slightly before I can add it.

Now I make partitions with a few 10's of gigs left at the end of the drive incase I have to swap an old 2TB drive out for whatever I have on hand in the future when something dies and I dont fell like upgrading that mirror. Ones like my lossy music collection are not likly to grow much so no point in splashing out on a pair of 5TB's to hold a little over a gig.

Richard rich.ms

jonathan18

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#1682766 5-Dec-2016 17:50

Now I've got my email alert system on the NAS sorted (I hadn't realised this had stopped when I switched to 2FA on Gmail), I've re-loaded the dodgy drive and had the following messages:

(these headed SMART disk errors detected [NAS])

Detected increasing reallocated sector count[34264] on disk 2 [ST2000DM001-9YN164, Z240A3ZG]. This often indicates an impending failure. Please be prepared to replace this disk to maintain data redundancy.

Detected increasing pending sector count[26376] on disk 2 [ST2000DM001-9YN164, Z240A3ZG]. This often indicates an impending failure. Please be prepared to replace this disk to maintain data redundancy.

Detected increasing uncorrectable errors[26376] on disk 2 [ST2000DM001-9YN164, Z240A3ZG]. This often indicates an impending failure. Please be prepared to replace this disk to maintain data redundancy.

And then 3 minutes later:

(This headed Disk removal detected. [Disk 2] (NAS))

A disk was removed from the ReadyNAS. One or more RAID volumes are currently unprotected, and an additional disk failure or removal may result in data loss. Please add a replacement disk as soon as possible.

Given I never removed it, I think it's poked for sure!

What I may do is (apart from first off sorting USB back-up) is buy one of the Red drives and give it a go with my other current drive. If it works, great; if not, I can cope with a single-drive but backed up NAS until I can afford a second of the Red drives. While I'm planning on buying a new NAS in the future, I'll still need functioning drives!

MadEngineer

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#1682769 5-Dec-2016 17:53

Did you buy both drives as a pair? Check that the faulty drive isn't still under warranty (Seagate's website state's they're not but your purchase date may differ to Seagate's). I've had pairs of drives replaced when only one was faulty as I'd purchased them as a pair for RAID.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

jonathan18

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#1682780 5-Dec-2016 18:11

MadEngineer:

Did you buy both drives as a pair? Check that the faulty drive isn't still under warranty (Seagate's website state's they're not but your purchase date may differ to Seagate's). I've had pairs of drives replaced when only one was faulty as I'd purchased them as a pair for RAID.

That would be nice! I bought them at the same time from the same shop, but that was three coming up four years ago; and one thing about the Barracuda range is they've only got a year's warranty. (You're right that some may indeed be covered, as some shops are still selling them in NZ). At least the WD Red drives come with a three year warranty.

1101

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#1683218 6-Dec-2016 11:53

Just wondering

If 1 drive is starting to fail , should it pulled immediately. ?
Just in case there is some weird sync/mirror issue between the good & bad drives

MadEngineer

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#1683514 6-Dec-2016 22:10

Definitely. Or it over heats and takes out every drive around it. I've also seen a drive kill a raid controller, a replacement raid controller and a motherboard before the drive was found to be at fault.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

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