NETGEAR RND4000v2, ReadyNAS Duo v2, ReadyNAS NV+ v2 Software Manual

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

Software Manual

Models:

Duo v2 NV+ v2

350 East Plumeria Drive San Jose, CA 95134 USA

September 2012 202-10896-04

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

Support

Thank you for choosing NETGEAR. To register your product, get the latest product updates, get support online, or for more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the Support website at

http://support.netgear.com

Phone (US & Canada only): 1-888-NETGEAR Phone (Other Countries): Check the list of phone numbers at

http://support.netgear.com/general/contact/default.aspx.

Trademarks

No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any means without the written permission of NETGEAR, Inc.

NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo, and Connect with Innovation are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. Information is subject to change without notice. Other brand and product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders. © NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved.

Statement of Conditions

To improve internal design, operational function, and/or reliability, NETGEAR reserves the right to make changes to the products described in this document without notice. NETGEAR does not assume any liability that may occur due to the use, or application of, the product(s) or circuit layout(s) described herein.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Quick-Start Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Additional Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Diskless Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

RAIDar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Setup Wizard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Language. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Administrator Password. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Change the Administrator Password. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Recover Your Administrator Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Chapter 2 Disk Configuration

Basic Disk Configuration Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

RAID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Volumes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

X-RAID2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Flex-RAID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Manage Disk Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Expand a Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Change RAID Modes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Chapter 3 Shares

Basic Share Concepts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Data Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

File and Folder Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

File-Sharing Protocols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Access Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Create Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Manage Shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

View Shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Fine-Tune Share Access. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Reset Permissions for Files and Folders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Create a Folder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Delete a Folder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Remove a Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Access Shares Remotely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Table of Contents | 3

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

Access Shares Using a Windows Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Access Shares Using HTTP with Webshare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Access Shares Using Rsync . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Access Shares Using a Mac OS X Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Access Shares Using a Linux or Unix Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

ReadyDROP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Chapter 4 Users and Groups

Basic User and Group Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

User and Group Account Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

User and Group Management Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Local Users Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Create User Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Edit User Accounts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Delete User Accounts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Create Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Edit Groups. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Delete Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Chapter 5 System Management

System Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Set the Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Manage File-Sharing Protocols and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

UPnP Discovery Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Set Up TiVo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

Disk Spin-Down and Power Timer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

Manually Shut Down the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

UPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

Update Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

Update Firmware Remotely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

Update Firmware Locally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

Network Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

Ethernet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

DNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Host Name and Workgroup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

USB Storage Devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

System Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

Check the Disk Status with Disk Smart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

Alerts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

System Logs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Add-ons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

Manage Add-ons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

Find and Install Add-ons Using Dashboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

Install Standalone Add-ons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

NETGEAR genie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

Chapter 6 Backup and Recovery

Back Up or Restore System Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

Basic Data Backup Concepts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

Back Up Your ReadyNAS System with Vault. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Back Up Data onto a Local Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

Manage Backup Jobs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

Edit a Backup Job. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

Delete a Backup Job. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Manually Start a Backup Job . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

View a Backup Log. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88

Configure the Backup Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88

Time Machine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

Recover Backed Up Data from ReadyNAS Vault. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91

Recover Backed Up Data from a Network-Attached Device . . . . . . . . . . .91

Appendix A Notification of Compliance Index

1. Getting Started

This NETGEAR® ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3 Software Manual describes how to configure and manage your ReadyNAS storage system.

Your ReadyNAS® storage system relies on the following software applications:

• RAIDar. Use this setup utility to find your ReadyNAS system on your local area network

and launch Dashboard.

• Dashboard. Use this browser-based interface to configure and manage your ReadyNAS

system.

This chapter includes the following sections:

• Quick-Start Guide

• Additional Documentation

• Diskless Systems

• RAIDar

• Setup Wizard

• Administrator Password

• Diskless Systems

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

Quick-Start Guide

This manual provides conceptual information about storage systems, detailed instructions about using your system, and recommendations about configuring, managing, and backing up your system. NETGEAR recommends that you read this manual to make the best use of your storage system.

To quickly start using your system, review the following sections in this order:

1. RAIDar on page 8. You use RAIDar to discover your storage system on your network.

2. Setup Wizard on page 11. This wizard guides you through initial setup of your system in a

few simple screens.

3. Create Shares on page 32. Shares are similar to folders or directories and are the way you

organize the data you store on your ReadyNAS system.

4. Create User Accounts on page 51. Y ou create a user account for each person that you want

to let access your ReadyNAS system.

5. Basic Data Backup Concepts on page 80. You can back up the data you store on your

ReadyNAS system, and you can use your ReadyNAS system to back up data you store on other devices.

Additional Documentation

NETGEAR maintains a community website that supports ReadyNAS products. Visit

http://www.readynas.com for reviews, tutorials, comparison charts, software updates,

documentation, an active user forum, and much more. For information about your system’s hardware, see the ReadyNAS Duo v2 and NV+ v2

Hardware Manual, which is available at

http://www.readynas.com/documentation.

Diskless Systems

If you have a diskless ReadyNAS storage system, you must first install and format at least one disk before you can use RAIDar or Dashboard. For more information, see the

ReadyNAS Duo v2 and NV+ v2 Hardware Manual.

To obtain support from NETGEAR technical support, you must use disks included on the Hardware Compatibility List in your ReadyNAS system. The list is available at

http://www.readynas.com/hard_disk_hcl.

Getting Started

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

RAIDar

RAIDar is a software application that you use to discover ReadyNAS storage systems on your network. RAIDar is included on the Resource CD that came with your system. It includes versions for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. It is also available at

http://www.readynas.com/duo_nvplus_start.

RAIDar displays several icons to help you determine the status of your system, as shown in the following figure.

123456

Figure 1. RAIDar icons

1. Overall status

2. Volume status

3. Disk status

4. UPS status

5. Fan status

6. Temperature The following table provides a description of each LED icon.

Table 1. RAIDar LED icon descriptions

LED icon Description

No disk or device is attached.

The device is operating normally.

The device failed or needs attention.

This disk is a spare disk on standby . If a disk fails, this disk takes over automatically.

(Blinking) This disk is currently resyncing.

Getting Started

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

Table 1. RAIDar LED icon descriptions (Continued)

LED icon Description

The volume is in life-support mode. Life-support mode happens when the volume encounters multiple disk

failures and might be dead. marked dead in case someone removed the wrong disk while the system was running. If the wrong disk was pulled out, shut down the system immediately, reconnect the disk, and restart the system.

Note: If you reconnect the disk while the system is running,

the disk is marked as a newly added disk and all data on that disk will be lost during the initialization process.

A lengthy background task such as a system update is in progress.

The ReadyNAS system blocks it from being

You can use the following buttons to learn more about the ReadyNAS system or systems on your network:

• Setup. Launches Dashboard for the highlighted system.

• Browse. Displays the shares available on the highlighted system.

This feature works on

the Windows platform only.

• Rescan. Updates the list of ReadyNAS systems on the network and updates the status of

each system it discovers.

• Locate. Causes the LEDs on the highlighted system to blink. Locate is useful if you have

multiple ReadyNAS storage systems and you want to determine which RAIDar entry corresponds to which physical system.

• About. Displays RAIDar information.

• Help. Displays the help screen.

• Exit. Closes RAIDar

 To discover your ReadyNAS system and launch Dashboard:

1. Install the appropriate version of RAIDar on a computer that is connected to the same

local area network (LAN) as your ReadyNAS storage system.

2. If you are using Windows XP before SP2, disable the Internet connection firewall.

3. Launch the RAIDar utility

Getting Started

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

RAIDar displays a window that lists the ReadyNAS system or systems on your network and provides details about the status of each system it discovers.

The default IP configuration is set to DHCP, which is how home routers assign IP addresses by default.

If you are not using DHCP on your router, or if it is not working correctly, your storage system cannot get an IP address. In that case, your system uses 192.168.168.168. If this situation occurs, you must make a direct connection between your storage system and your computer

. To establish this connection, follow your operating system’s instructions

for assigning a static IP address to your computer in the 192.168.168 subnet. If your ReadyNAS system is not detected, check the following and click Rescan to try

again:

• Make sure the ReadyNAS device is turned on and is connected to your network.

• Make sure your client computer that is running RAIDar is on the same subnet as the

ReadyNAS device.

• If you are running RAIDar on Windows XP before SP2, disable the Internet

connection firewall.

4. Highlight your ReadyNAS system and click the Setup button.

RAIDar opens your default browser and prompts you to log in to the storage system.

Getting Started

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

5. Log in to your system using the default login credentials:

• Default user name. admin

• Default password. password

Both user name and password are case-sensitive. The first time you connect to your ReadyNAS system, a Setup Wizard displays to guide

you through initial configuration.

This wizard also displays the first time you log in to your system after you perform a factory default reboot. For more information about factory default reboots, see the ReadyNAS Duo v2 and NV+ v2 Hardware Manual.

Any other time you log in to your system, Dashboard displays.

Setup Wizard

When you launch Dashboard for the first time, a setup wizard displays to guide you through the setup process.

Figure 2. Setup wizard Welcome screen

The wizard guides you step-by-step through the configuration process, assisting you in quickly integrating your ReadyNAS storage system into your network. To choose a different language for the setup wizard, click the language drop-down menu in the upper-right corner.

Follow the wizard’s prompts to configure the following settings:

• Time and date. For more information, see Set the Clock on page 58.

• Alert contact. For more information, see Email Alert Contacts on page 73.

• Host name and workgroup. For more information, see Host Name and Workgroup on

page 69.

• Administrator password and password recovery question and answer. For more

information, see Network Settings on page 66.

• Product registration. For more information, see Diskless Systems on page 7.

Getting Started

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

When you complete the wizard, Dashboard displays. The following figure shows the Dashboard home screen.

Figure 3. Dashboard home screen

Click the Configure button to access the screens that let you configure, manage, and monitor your ReadyNAS storage system.

When you click the Configure button, the Overview screen displays.

Navigation bar

Dashboard button

Figure 4. ReadyNAS Dashboard Overview screen

Getting Started

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

The navigation bar across the top of the screen helps you navigate through Dashboard. To return to the Dashboard home screen, click the Dashboard button.

This screen provides you with a quick overview of your system’s status and provides access to the following information:

• Hardware information

• Services

• Network

• V

olumes

Hover your cursor over a status LED icon to display device information, or click an LED icon or the date and time data to display the related Dashboard screen.

Language

By default, the language setting is Auto, which uses the same language as your browser. If you want to change the language setting, you can do so. To ensure that your ReadyNAS

storage system correctly displays file names, configure your system to use the appropriate character set. For example, selecting Japanese allows the ReadyNAS to support files with Japanese names in Windows Explorer

NETGEAR recommends selecting a language based on the region where the device is being used.

 To configure language settings:

1. On the upper-right corner of Dashboard, click the Language button.

2. Select a language from the drop-down menu.

Getting Started

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

Administrator Password

The administrator can access any file on the ReadyNAS system, including private home shares. It is important to safeguard the administrator password and to change it regularly to protect your data.

Change the Administrator Password

Be sure to choose an administrator password that is different from the default password and keep it in a safe place. Anyone who obtains this password can change settings or erase data stored on your ReadyNAS system.

 To change the administrator password:

1. Select Configure > Profile and select Change Admin

menu.

The Change Admin Password dialog box displays.

Password from the drop-down

2. Complete the following fields:

• Password. Enter a new password.

maximum of 255 characters.

• Confirm Password. Reenter your new password.

• Password Recovery Question.

example, you might enter First dog’s name? or Best friend in Kindergarten? as your password recovery question. Your password recovery question can have a maximum of 255 characters.

Your administrator password can have a

Choose a question that few people can answer. For

Getting Started

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

• Password Recovery Answer. Enter the answer to the question you provided in the

Password Recovery Question field. Your password recovery answer can have a maximum of 255 characters

• Recovery Email

password to be sent.

3. Click the Apply button.

Your settings are saved.

Address. Enter the email address to which you want a reset

Recover Your Administrator Password

You can recover a lost or forgotten administrator password in two ways:

• Use the NETGEAR password recovery tool.

enable administrator password recovery on your ReadyNAS storage system before you can use it. For more information, see Change the Administrator Password on page 14.

• Perform an OS reinstall reboot.

and resets the administrator user name and password to factory defaults.

This process reinstalls the firmware on your system

This web-based tool requires that you

Recover Your Administrator Password Using the NETGEAR Password Recovery Tool

This procedure is an option only if you enabled password recovery by providing a password recovery question, answer, and email address as described in Change the Administrator

Password on page 14. If you lost your password but did not enable administrator password

recovery, see Recover Your Administrator Password Using an OS Reinstall Reboot on page 16.

 To recover your administrator password:

1. Using a web browser

<ReadyNAS_IP_address> is the IP address of your ReadyNAS system.

, visit https://<ReadyNAS_IP_address>/password_recovery.

2. Enter the email address and password recovery answer that you enabled on your

ReadyNAS storage system and click the Reset password and email button. NETGEAR resets your administrator password and sends an email message with the

new password to you.

Getting Started

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

Recover Your Administrator Password Using an OS Reinstall Reboot

This process does not remove data from the system, but resets the administrator password to the factory default password, which is password.

 To recover your administrator password using an OS reinstall reboot:

Perform an OS reinstall reboot on your storage system. The process for performing an OS reinstall reset reboot varies by storage system. For

more information about how to perform a factory reset reboot, see the ReadyNAS Duo v2 and NV+ v2 Hardware Manual.

You must register your product before you can use NETGEAR telephone support. If you did not register your ReadyNAS system during the setup wizard process, you can register it using Dashboard or by accessing the NETGEAR Product Registration website directly.

 To register your system using Dashboard:

1. Click Configure > System and expand the Hardware section.

2. Click the Register button.

Getting Started

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

3. Enter a valid email address in the Email field and click the > button.

4. Follow the prompts.

Your system is registered.

 To register your system using the NETGEAR Product Registration website:

1. Locate the serial number on the label of your product.

2. Using a browser

, visit http://www.NETGEAR.com/register.

The product registration web page displays.

If you have never registered a NETGEAR product, click the Continue button. If you have registered a NETGEAR product in the past, enter your email address and

password and click the Log in button.

3. Follow the prompts.

Your system is registered.

Getting Started

2. Disk Configuration

This chapter describes how to configure the disks in your ReadyNAS storage system. It contains the following sections:

• Basic Disk Configuration Concepts

• Manage Disk Configuration

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

Basic Disk Configuration Concepts

To get the most out of your ReadyNAS storage system, it is helpful to understand some disk configuration concepts. Understanding these concepts is the first step to making good decisions about how to configure, manage, and use your ReadyNAS storage system.

You can configure your storage system’s hard disks in various ways. The most common way to configure disks is using one of the many RAID technologies.

RAID

RAID is short for redundant array of independent disks. RAID is a storage technology that balances data protection, system performance, and storage space by determining how the storage system distributes data. Many different ways of distributing data have been standardized into various RAID levels. Each RAID level offers a tradeoff of data protection, system performance, and storage space. For example, one RAID level might improve data protection but reduce storage space. Another RAID level might increase storage space but also reduce system performance.

Your ReadyNAS storage system supports X-RAID2TM, a proprietary single-volume RAID architecture that is easy to administer, and Flex-RAID, which allows you to format your disks in many industry-standard RAID levels.

Volumes

In the most general sense, volumes are data storage devices. Your computer treats an internal hard drive as a volume. It also treats a portable USB thumb drive as a volume.

Volumes can be either physical or logical. Usually, the term physical volume refers to a hard disk drive. In this context, a two-bay storage system can have up to two physical volumes (hard disk drives), a four-bay storage system can have up to four physical volumes, and a six-bay storage system can have up to six physical volumes.

The term logical volume refers to the way that you divide, or partition, your storage space, for example:

• Each logical volume can correspond to a hard disk drive.

• A logical volume can be made up of more than one hard disk drive.

In this manual, the term volume refers to a logical volume and the terms hard disk drive and disk refer to a physical volume.

Disk Configuration

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

X-RAID2

X-RAID2 is a RAID technology that expands automatically and is available only on ReadyNAS systems. With X-RAID2, you do not need to know intricate details about RAID to administer your system. X-RAID2 allows you to add storage space without reformatting your drives or moving your data to another location. Because the expansion happens online, you can continue to use your ReadyNAS system while the underlying volume capacity increases.

Because X-RAID2 uses a single-volume architecture, if you configure your hard disk drives to use X-RAID2, your storage system has only one volume that is made up of all installed hard disk drives. X-RAID2’s single-volume architecture has two major advantages:

• Easy system management

• Auto expansion

With typical RAID formatting, to add disks or replace disks with larger capacity disks, you must back up the data to another system, add a disk, reformat the RAID volume, and restore the data to the new RAID volume. With X-RAID2, none of those administrative tasks are required. Instead, with X-RAID2, your volume automatically expands to accommodate additional disks or larger capacity disks when you replace smaller capacity disks.

With X-RAID2, you can start out with one hard disk, add a second disk for data protection, then add more disks for additional capacity, and X-RAID2 accommodates the new disks automatically. You can replace existing disks with larger capacity disks and X-RAID2 automatically accommodates the new disks.

X-RAID2 requires a minimum of two hard disks to provide protection against disk failure. If you have a one-disk X-RAID2 storage system and want protection from disk failure, you must add a second disk at least as large as the first. It can be added while the system is running.

X-RAID2 uses the first disk to store data, and the second disk to store parity information that allows it to re-create data if a disk fails in this two-disk system, the usable storage space is one disk. In a three-disk system, the usable storage space is two disks, and in a four-disk volume, the usable storage space is three disks.

Disk Configuration

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

The following figure illustrates how X-RAID2 uses new disks.

Figure 5. X-RAID2 disk usage

1. Initial storage space

2. Data protection

3. Additional storage space

Flex-RAID

Flex-RAID technology allows you to choose from among several industry-standard RAID levels:

• RAID 0. This RAID level is the simplest and is misnamed, because it does not offer

redundancy to protect your data from loss if one disk fails. RAID 0 distributes data across multiple disks, which allows it to offer better performance than disks that do not use RAID formatting. The total capacity of your storage system equals the capacity of all of your disk drives.

• RAID 1.

across multiple disks. In RAID 1, exactly the same data is stored on two or more disks at all times. RAID 1 protects your data from loss if one disk fails. RAID 1 requires a minimum of two disks and an even number of disks. In a two-disk system, the total capacity of your storage system equals the capacity of your smallest disk.

• RAID 5. Supported on ReadyNAS storage systems with at least four drive bays, RAID 5

uses one disk to protect you from data loss if one disk fails. storage system equals the capacity of all your disks minus the capacity of one disk.

This RAID level provides full redundancy of your data, because it duplicates data

The total capacity of your

Flex-RAID also lets you choose JBOD formatting for your disks. JBOD, which is short for just a bunch of disks, refers to a set of hard disks that are not configured using RAID technology and that the computer treats as individual disks. JBOD does not of disk fails. However, some people choose to use JBOD because it maximizes storage capacity. It maximizes storage capacity because you do not use any storage space for data protection when you configure your disks as JBOD.

fer any data protection if a

Disk Configuration

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

Manage Disk Configuration

You can use Dashboard to manage the configuration of the hard disks installed in your system.

Expand a Volume

Dashboard automatically manages volume expansion when you add a disk to your ReadyNAS storage system. This expansion happens in the background while you continue to use your ReadyNAS system. The volume expansion process can take several hours. If you set up email notifications for your system, you receive an email message when the expansion process finishes. For more information about alert notifications, see

Expand an X-RAID2 Volume

To expand your X-RAID2 volume, add a disk to your ReadyNAS storage system. The volume is expanded in the background while you continue to use your storage system. For more information about how to add a disk to your system, see the ReadyNAS Duo v2 and NV+ v2

Hardware Manual.

Alerts on page 73.

If you are adding a second disk, the new disk is used for data protection. If you are adding a third or fourth disk, the new disk is used for additional storage capacity . For more information, see

X-RAID2 on page 20.

Expand Flex-RAID Volumes

To expand your Flex-RAID volume or volumes, add a disk to your ReadyNAS storage system. For more information about how to add a disk to your system, see the ReadyNAS Duo v2 and NV+ v2 Hardware Manual.

The volume is expanded in the background while you continue to use your storage system. The following table describes how the ReadyNAS storage system handles expansion.

Table 2. Flex-RAID volume expansion behavior

Flex-RAID format in use

RAID 0 Any Any Another RAID 0 volume is created for each new disk. RAID 1 2 1 Another RAID 1 volume is created made up of the new

Number of disks currently installed

2 2 Another RAID 1 volume is created.

Number of disks added

Volume expansion behavior

disk. This volume has no data protection because RAID 1 requires two disks per volume to offer data protection.

3 1 The new disk is added to existing second volume; that

volume changes from an unmirrored state (because it had only one disk) to a mirrored state. This means that the fourth disk is used for data protection, not storage capacity.

Disk Configuration

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

Table 2. Flex-RAID volume expansion behavior (Continued)

Flex-RAID format in use

RAID 5 3 1 The new disk is added to the existing volume. JBOD Any Any A new JBOD volume is created for each new disk.

Number of disks currently installed

Number of disks added

Volume expansion behavior

Change RAID Modes

You can change the RAID mode that your ReadyNAS storage system uses. Because this process erases all data, if data is stored on your system, you must first back up the data to another storage device before changing the RAID format.

The process involves resetting your ReadyNAS storage system to factory default settings and using RAIDar to configure the volume during a 10-minute delay during boot.

Change from Flex-RAID to X-RAID2

You can reconfigure your ReadyNAS system from Flex-RAID mode to X-RAID2 mode.

 To change from Flex-RAID to X-RAID2:

1. If any data is stored on your system, back up your data.

For more information, see Chapter 6, Backup and Recovery.

2. Perform a factory reset reboot.

WARNING!

Setting your ReadyNAS system to its factory defaults erases all data and configuration settings.

The process for performing a factory reset reboot varies by storage system. For more information about how to perform a factory reset reboot, see the ReadyNAS Duo v2 and NV+ v2 Hardware Manual.

During the factory reboot process, you have a 10-minute window to choose a RAID configuration. RAIDar sends a prompt to click the Setup button during this 10-minute time frame.

3. Launch RAIDar, highlight your storage system, and click the Setup button.

Disk Configuration

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

The ReadyNAS Volume Setup screen displays.

If you do not select a format within 10 minutes, your system reboots in the same mode that it was previously using.

4. Select the Expandable V

olume (X-RAID2) radio button.

5. (Optional) Click a More button to learn more about X-RAID2 or Flex-RAID.

A pop-up window displays. Click the OK button to close it.

6. Click the Next button.

You are prompted to confirm the volume creation command.

7. Click the OK button.

The volume is formatted. Formatting can take quite a while, depending on the size of your hard disk drives.

8. (Optional) Restore any backed-up data to the reformatted disks.

For more information, see Chapter 6, Backup and Recovery.

Disk Configuration

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

Change from X-RAID2 to Flex-RAID

You can reconfigure your system from X-RAID2 mode (the factory default mode) to Flex-RAID mode.

 To change from X-RAID2 to Flex-RAID:

1. If any data is stored on your system, back up your data.

For more information, see the Chapter 6, Backup and Recovery.

2. Perform a factory reset reboot.

WARNING!

Setting your ReadyNAS system to its factory defaults erases all data and configuration settings.

The process for performing a factory reset reboot varies by storage system. For more information about how to perform a factory reset reboot, see the ReadyNAS Duo v2 and NV+ v2 Hardware Manual.

During the factory reboot process, you have a 10-minute window to choose a RAID configuration. RAIDar sends a prompt to click the Setup button during this 10-minute time frame.

3. Launch RAIDar

, highlight your storage system, and click the Setup button.

The ReadyNAS Volume Setup screen displays.

Disk Configuration

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

If you do not select a format within 10 minutes, your system reboots in the same mode that it was previously using.

4. Select the Flexible Volume (Flex-RAID) radio button.

5. (Optional) Click a More button to learn more about X-RAID2 or Flex-RAID.

A pop-up window displays. Click the OK button to close it.

6. From the Select the desired RAID level drop-down menu, select a RAID level or JBOD

formatting. If you select Auto, your ReadyNAS system automatically chooses a RAID level based on

the number of disks that are installed in your system, as follows:

Number of installed disks RAID level automatically chosen

1 RAID 0 2 RAID 1 3 RAID 5 4

7. Click the Next button.

A dialog box displays prompting you to confirm the volume creation command.

8. Click the OK button.

The volume is formatted. Formatting can take quite a while, depending on the size of your hard disk drives.

9. (Optional) Restore any backed-up data to the reformatted disks.

For more information, see Chapter 6, Backup and Recovery.

Change to a Different Flex-RAID Format

Flex-RAID offers you several different disk formats, depending on the number of disks installed in your ReadyNAS storage system. For more information, see Flex-RAID on page 21.

You can reconfigure your system to use a different Flex-RAID format.

 To change Flex-RAID disk formatting:

1. If any data is stored on your system, back up your data.

For more information, see the Chapter 6, Backup and Recovery.

2. Perform a factory reset reboot.

Disk Configuration

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

WARNING!

Setting your ReadyNAS system to its factory defaults erases all data and configuration settings.

The process for performing a factory reset reboot varies by storage system. For more information about how to perform a factory reset reboot, see the ReadyNAS Duo v2 and NV+ v2 Hardware Manual.

During the factory reboot process, you have a 10-minute window to choose a RAID configuration. RAIDar sends a prompt to click the Setup button during this 10-minute time frame.

3. Launch RAIDar

, highlight your storage system, and click the Setup button.

The ReadyNAS Volume Setup screen displays.

If you do not select a format within 10 minutes, your system reboots in the same mode that it was previously using.

4. Select the Flexible Volume (Flex-RAID) radio button.

5. (Optional) Click a More button to learn more about X-RAID2 or Flex-RAID.

A pop-up window displays. Click the OK button to close it.

Disk Configuration

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

6. From the Select the desired RAID level drop-down menu, select a RAID level or JBOD

formatting. If you select Auto, your ReadyNAS system automatically assigns a RAID level based on

the number of disks that are installed in your system, as follows:

Number of installed disks RAID level automatically chosen

1 RAID 0 2 RAID 1 3 RAID 5 4

7. Click the Next button.

A dialog box displays prompting you to confirm the volume creation command.

8. Click the OK button.

The volume is formatted. Formatting can take quite a while, depending on the size of your hard disk drives.

9. (Optional) Restore any backed-up data to the reformatted disks.

For more information, see Chapter 6, Backup and Recovery.

Disk Configuration

3. Shares

This chapter describes how to create, manage, and access shares on your storage system. This chapter includes the following sections:

• Basic Share Concepts

• Create Shares

• Manage Shares

• Access Shares Remotely

ReadyNAS for Home RAIDiator 5.3

Basic Share Concepts

The volume or volumes on your ReadyNAS storage system are divided into shares, which are similar to folders or directories.

Data Organization

Shares are the way that you group your data. You might want to group your data by type, for example:

• Photos

• Music

• Videos

• Documents

Another option is to group your data by user:

• Tom

• Rick

• Mary

Organizations might choose to group data by department:

• Accounting

• Sales

• Personnel

You can combine these schemes or come up with your own scheme. Your ReadyNAS storage system comes with two shares already created:

• Backup

• Media

If you want, you can delete or rename these shares. You can create other shares to organize your data.

File and Folder Names

A share can contain folders to help you organize your data and files that contain your data.

Ensure that the files stored on your ReadyNAS system use file and folder names with no more than 255 characters if all characters in the file or folder name are alphanumeric. If you use other kinds of characters, the maximum length might be reduced. For example, if a file or folder name uses Kanji or Hanzi characters, the maximum file name length might be 83 characters.

+ 70 hidden pages

NETGEAR RND4000v2, ReadyNAS Duo v2, ReadyNAS NV+ v2 Software Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual