Linksys NSS4000, NSS4100, NSS6000, NSS6100 Technical Bulletin

TECHNICAL BULLETIN

Network Attached Storage System Recovery
Procedure

This document describes how to recover your Network Attached Storage (NAS) system if it has failed due to a
problem with the internal USB flash drive. It contains the following sections:

Products Affected •

Problem Description •

NAS Recovery Using an External USB Drive •

Formatting the External USB Flash Drive •

Downloading the Recovery Bootloader and Firmware Update Files •

Rebooting the NAS Using the External USB Flash Drive •

Upgrading the NAS Firmware •

Backing Up the NAS Configuration •

Products Affected

NSS4000 4-Bay Gigabit Network Storage System Chassis •

NSS4100 4-Bay Gigabit Network Storage System Chassis with 1.0 TB RAID •

NSS6000 4-Bay Advanced Gigabit Network Storage System Chassis •

NSS6100 4-Bay Advanced Gigabit Network Storage System Chassis with 1.0 TB RAID •

Problem Description

The Network Storage Server (NSS) can lock up unexpectedly during startup (for example, after a power outage,
power cycle, or a reboot required after a firmware upgrade). The System LED (light) flashes red or displays
steady red if the internal USB flash drive failed to boot in USB 2.0 mode.

NOTE: All data existing on the hard drives is secure.

NAS Recovery Using an External USB Flash Drive

You will need an external USB 2.0 flash drive to start your NAS. A USB 2.0 flash drive that is 256MB to 1 GB in
size with formatted bootable and FAT16 is required. (Linksys recommends the Kingston Data Traveler 512 MB
USB 2.0 flash drive.)

You will leave this external USB flash drive permanently inserted into the unit and it will be used every
time you start the unit.

If you are not sure that the external USB flash drive is formatted for FAT16, perform the steps in the following
section, “Formatting the External USB Flash Drive.” If your flash drive is already formatted, go to the
“Download the Recovery Bootable and Firmware Update Files” section.

Formatting the External USB Flash Drive

Download the 1. PeToUSB program (version 3.0.0.7) to format the USB flash drive. This application is a freeware program and can
be downloaded from the following URL:

http://gocoding.com/page.php?al=petousb

On your local PC, create the directory 2. c:\PeToUSB.

Open the 3. PeToUSB V3.0.0.7 zip file and extract the files to the c:\PeToUSB directory you created. The following files should
appear:

•

PeToUSB.exe

ReadMe.txt •

petousb_changes.txt •

Insert the USB flash drive into the USB port on the local PC.4.

Using Microsoft Windows Explorer, browse to c:\PeToUSB.5.

Double-click 6. PeToUSB.exe to run the program. If the USB flash drive is inserted in the PC, the program automatically finds the
device. Click Refresh if you do not see the drive at first.

If you have more than one USB drive inserted in your PC, make sure that the correct one is selected.

Make sure 7. USB Removable is selected.

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Check the 8. Enable Disk Format box and enter a volume name in the Drive Label field.

Click 9. Start to format the drive.

Click 10. Yes to continue.

At the warning message, click 11. Yes to continue.

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