Netgear updates ReadyNAS firmware
by Volker Weber
December 19, 2007
NETGEAR is pleased to release the 2nd update to the RAIDiator 4 firmware for the ReadyNAS network attached storage product line. The latest firmware will work with all preceding ReadyNAS products and can be updated easily from the FrontView System/Update/Remote tab. If you prefer, you can choose to do a local update by first downloading the new image here: RAIDiator-4.00c1-p2
Comments
Normally I update all my gear to the newest firmware version as quickly as possible. However, when it comes to a (backup) device such as this, I'd rather wait. So, whoever feels like updating to this version, please let me know how it went. Volker, I guess your are not first in line either when it comes to updating your ReadyNAS...!?
Actually, I am. Currently running a late beta of this firmware and will update to the release ASAP.
I got bitten (slightly) by upgrading the firmware before many other people (somebody has to be!). I'd been using two of the betas and I updated to the first version of the released Radiator4 as soon as it was released. However, I came across a problem soon after (as did a few other people), where you could not connect to the web admin interface. Turns out the Apache_SSL process was being pegged at 99%cpu and never supplying the pages. The problem was not in any of the betas and only appeared in the release version (c1-p1). It was fixed in one of the beta versions for 4.00c1-p2. The device worked perfectly in all aspects except the interface.
Ironically of course not being able to connect to the web interface means that you cannot update the firmware (well at least straightforwardly). The workaround is to reset the firmware, using the reset switch at the back (details on the Infrant forum).
It's now working fine, so I think I'll give it a few weeks before touching it again.
I've been lucky enough to wait with an upgrade, not stumling into a lot of the problems which other users had after the V4.00c1-p1 upgrade.
Now that I've upgraded the ReadyNAS NV to V4.00c1-p2, everything seems to run fine.
Movie files play flawlessly on the PS3 if the right codec / container are being used,
the performance is fine, the fan is not louder than before.
The new web interface works fine and is more usable than before, especially the submenus on the left side.
Hopefully there a no mean hidden bugs left... I bet these past weeks were very troublesome and labor-intensive for the Infrant / Netgear guys.
I'm still on RAIDiator 4 Beta 8 with my new ReadyNAS, as recommended by my supplier. No problems so far, just slow web UI performance.
When he's giving me thumbs up, I'll invest a few days for DLT tape backup and then upgrade both devices to c1-p2. (The older unit is still on Raidiator 3, it's about time anyway.)
I used RAIDiator4 since Beta 1 with no issues at all, I required it to fully utilise my 4 x 1.0TB drives...which are now full :(
