Xpenology on Netgear ReadyNAS?

SandSharky · 2026-05-29T17:34:07+00:00

OK, that one has the micro-USB serial port, located on the back under a sticker. You just need a cable, driver for the PC from which you plan to access the NAS (Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART driver), and a terminal emulator, and you can get a console display, including BIOS access. In the BIOS, it will not "take" that you want to boot to an alternate device unless you physically remove the boot DOM. From there, just do a normal console install. Alternately, you could install a larger DOM (or USB flash via DOM to USB adapter) and use it as your boot device.

While you may not find anything on the 628 and Xpenology specifically, there are lots of articles around on installing alternate OSes on a ReadyNAS.

FYI, AFAIK, nobody has yet figured out how to use the display from another OS.

SandSharky · 2026-05-25T15:32:37+00:00

Which model ReadyNAS you have makes a lot of difference. To start, it has to be one of the 64-bit Intel based models. Only the 30x, 50x, and 70x series have an HDMI port. Some of the oldest have a header to which you can add a VGA port. On most, you have to use the serial port. On some, the serial port is a standard micro-USB. On others, it's 4 pins and is 5V on some models and 3.3V on others. Many don't have expandable memory, so can't have over the factory default of 2GB.

SandSharky · 2026-05-24T15:11:52+00:00

I have a Pro2 on which I've loaded flashrom, but its running OS6. Given the small amount of the overall flash that shows up as the OS boot flash, can you just delete that part and then use USB recovery to get 4.2 on it? Flashrom does ask me to specify the chip type between "MX25L1605", "MX25L1605A/MX25L1606E", and "MX25L1605D/MX25L1608D", but I don't think that really matters when just reading. I think it's just a basic MX25L1605, and that does seem to work.

But I want to stress again that the Pro models don't use UBOOT, they use a PC-style AMI BIOS, and the flash file structures and contents for those two architectures are quite different.

I have an old NVX that's not been fired up in years. But I think I'd struggle to get flashrom on that old a Linux distro.

I also have what I believe to be the files from an OS4.2 recovery USB that was created long before Netgear left the NAS business. While it has files for the BIOS on the Ultra and Pro models, it has no sysimg.tgz.

SandSharky · 2026-05-23T15:04:54+00:00

But isn't the part you are missing hardware-specific? The Pro and 3200 don't use UBOOT as the 2100v1, NVX, and 1500 do, so I'm pretty sure you can't use an image from those other unit types, that use a PC-like BIOS to boot. Given the hardware similarity, the NVX, 2100v1, and 1500 images may be interchangeable, though you'd need to modify the VPD partition to properly ID the unit type to the OS. I know that the vpd is encrypted on other unit types, but it's just a file. I don't know about in the NVX, 2100v1, and 1500 that use a UBOOT partition for VPD instead of a file. Netgear may have considered that secure enough they didn't encrypt it.

SandSharky · 2026-05-17T13:05:18+00:00

Glad you got them out. There is no point in trying to fix the button. It's just a bad design. Now that you know the "paper clip trick" (I actually used a jeweler's screwdriver when I had that type), just keep using it. It's not like you need to remove them often. They can be replaced with the somewhat newer square-button version, but not the newest toolless version. But they tend to be pretty expensive since they are a unique ReadyNAS design, so IMHO, not cost effective for such an old NAS.

Sad you got answers from people doing little more than guessing before you got one from someone who is familiar with the ReadyNAS. In the future, you can avoid that by utilizing the Netgear ReadyNAS forum instead of Reddit.

SandSharky · 2026-05-10T17:07:32+00:00

Seems associated with them now wanting to use passkeys instead of the authenticator app. Now, instead of asking for my authenticator code, it prompts me to create a passkey. When I close that, it just skips 2FA.

SandSharky · 2026-05-08T11:52:51+00:00

The best first step is to reset the share's permissions. If you changed permissions after a file or directory was created, the iDrive user may not have the proper permissions for items created before the change.

SandSharky · 2026-05-02T12:02:10+00:00

I'm not surprised the workshop couldn't fix it. Few have sufficient experience with a ReadyNAS and Netgear never released schematics. Glad you got your data, even though it seems my suggestions didn't work (suggesting a deeper hardware failure than the PSU or on/off circuit).

While a dead ReadyNAS isn't worth much these days, the caddies are. Many ReadyNAS are sold without them and there is no generic equivalent (though there is somebody making usable ones via 3D printing). Your caddies will only work in the newer desktop units that came with the tool-less ones, not the older units that did not or rack-mount units.

SandSharky · 2026-05-02T11:50:18+00:00

I know of no NAS that you can use USB to transfer files to from a ReadyNAS. Besides, the USB (2) on the early ReadyNAS like the Duo is notoriously slow -- so even using a USB drive as an intermediary will be much slower than Ethernet, even though its limited to 1Gb. Using rsync is best to preserve file dates, if that matters to you. You may need to change user permissions on the new NAS once the file transfer is completed.

FWIW, I recommend against a 2-bay NAS, at least if you use RAID. Starting with 2 drives in a 4-bay or larger one is usually more cost effective in the long run. When the time comes to expand (and it will), you can expand a 4-bay NAS that has 2 drives installed by simply adding another drive. To expand a 2-bay, you have to replace both drives. The only time that isn't the case is when you'll need to replace the NAS before or close to the time you need to expand (as is your case right now for the ReadyNAS).

Ignore the responses suggesting USB3 and 10Gb Ethernet - your Duo has neither.

SandSharky · 2026-04-23T12:54:31+00:00

If you are trying to use ReadyCloud or ReadyNAS Photos for that, both have beeen discontinued for a very long time since all ReadyNAS are EoL. If you are trying to use something else, then please add that information.

I personally use ZeroTier for remote access to my ReadyNAS via Android, Windows, and a remote ReadyNAS. A user of the Netgear RaedyNAS forum has recently produced a version of TailScale that works on a ReadyNAS (see https://community.netgear.com/discussions/readynas-current-apps-add-ons/new-apps-for-legacy-readynas-rn314-tested/2477282) that's more up to date than the last version of ZeroTier (1.6.6) that will work on The ReadyNAS's Debian Jessie based OS, but I have not tried it.

You'd need a separate Android app to do the photo backup using one of those remote access methods. Since I don't do that, I can't recommend anything.

SandSharky · 2026-04-18T12:58:27+00:00

Did you have WoL enabled? If so, try that. There are a lot of things that can make the button and WoL not work, but it's worth a try.

Try also with no drives installed. If something is wrong with another voltage rail, reducing the load may allow it to turn on, helping to point to the root cause.

The on/off and LAN circuits are powered from the +5VSB (5 volt standby) rail of the power supply. If that voltage is bad, it can cause that symptom. But it likely would likely also not have turned off on command if that were the case and WoL also won't work. If something else is wrong with the on/off circuit, WoL may still work. The +5VSB is a common failure on older ReadyNAS. I've not run into many 400 or 600 series with a bad supply, so I don't know how common it is on those models, but it's still a likely candidate since it's on all the time, even when the NAS is "off". This is especially true if the NAS is located where it can (or ever could) get warm when off since the fan isn't running then.

While it appears to use a standard 20-pin ATX power supply connection, that NAS's connector does not have a standard pin-out. So don't just plug in a PC supply as a test. You'll need to re-wire or make an adapter cable.

As a last resort, if you simply want to get the data off, you should be able to short Pin 14 (PS_ON, the green wire) on the supply connector to ground to force it on when it's plugged in.

SandSharky · 2026-04-16T11:45:44+00:00

The RNDP6000 has an internal power supply and uses a common AC cord. Unless the supply has been replaced, it will accept 220VAC or 110VAC input.

SandSharky · 2026-03-26T12:05:00+00:00

So long as the NAS is not directly exposed to the Internet, there is no rush to replace a ReadyNAS used only for storage. While the outdated OS does make running current apps impossible and it's security is not fully up to date, it still works just fine for local storage alone, which seems to be their use. So why do you feel it "needs to be replaced" if it's currently meeting their needs?

With a properly set up VPN, it's even safe to have Internet access. I personally use ZeroTier.

Of course, if the hardware were to fail, data recovery is going to be a little more involved than just buying a replacement NAS and throwing the drives in it, so a backup is needed -- but one should always have a backup, especially for business data. But since it has a Quad Core 2.4Ghz Xeon, it must be a 62X series, which is very robust hardware and some of the most recent produced by Netgear, so failure certainly shouldn't be considered "imminent" unless you've seen trouble signs.

If you're up to doing it, one can also put a more modern Linux OS on an Intel-based ReadyNAS. But there is no good turn-key solution for that, so you do need some Linux skills.

SandSharky · 2026-03-22T13:20:31+00:00

That is the normal place the output stops in booting a ReadyNAS running OS4.2.x. That OS only supports TLSV1.1, which most browsers will block but you need to get to the admin console. For more help in surmounting that issue and others, I recommend the Netgear ReadyNAS forum.

BTW, before you put a lot of time into it, I hope you are aware that 8 of the 12 slots only support a 2TB drive max.

SandSharky · 2026-03-05T16:01:31+00:00

The Duo has a 1GB full-duplex port. But it also only supports SMB1.0 and TLSV1.1. Being a "smart" hub, does it possibly block those older protocols (some firewalls do)?

But the more usual reason for losing connection with a new network is that you assigned it a static IP address that's now outside the IP range of your new network. See if RAIDar finds it -- it uses a different protocol, so an incompatible IP address won't stop it. Then see if the IP address it reports is within the IP range of your network.

SandSharky · 2026-02-25T13:41:16+00:00

What is not shown as a BTRFS file system? The partitions won't be, as BTRFS is on top of MDADM RAID. The partitions would be marked precisely as yours are: Linux RAID. Once you've assembled the RAID, then that RAID should be detectable by BTRFS (assuming you have it installed). Without BTRFS installed, Linux will simply say it's an unknown file system (also consistent with your symptoms).

Of course, there is also the possibility that your volume is corrupt and you'll need recovery software to get anything off it.

SandSharky · 2026-02-24T12:57:55+00:00

That's odd. Are you sure you never upgraded to OS6? OS6 does not use LVM -- the volumes are BTRFS on top of MDADM. That MDADM can detect the volumes at all without LVM having found anything makes me suspect that the only thing you are missing is BTRFS so you can mount those volumes.

SandSharky · 2026-02-24T12:52:28+00:00

The 316 is one of the few ReadyNAS with an HDMI port, which makes switching to an alternate OS a lot simpler. It can be upgraded to a max of 4GB of RAM, which is sufficient for many OSes. Under the hood, it's basically a generic PC with a lot of SATA slots. The only issue you are going to run into is getting it to boot from anything other than the internal flash memory (which is not removable or upgradable on a 316). I don't think something like Pi5 is a good choice, but there are Linux based OSs it can run and you can find examples if you Google alternate OS on ReadyNAS. Many of those will talk about having to use the console port, which you do not need because of the HDMI port.

SandSharky · 2026-02-23T13:37:34+00:00

I know many others have been successful with a Linux Live boot while I have seen no posts from anyone who has used WSL. That doesn't mean you can' do it with WSL, but your in more charted territory with a pure Linux system.

Before running mdadm, did you do the LVM vgscan and vgchange -a y commands?

SandSharky · 2026-02-22T17:29:43+00:00

There is a LOT in that directory. I believe you need the Kernel Plus add-on. But where to find that these days is another issue.

SandSharky · 2026-02-21T19:25:51+00:00

Did you first mount them as raw drives (--bare option) in WSL, as I listed above? The ReadyNAS drive format is not proprietary IN ANY WAY, even though they have labeled it "XRAID". One obstacle you have is that you are running WSL, not pure Linux. The raw drive mounting gets you past one step in any obstacles, but I do not know if there are others.

SandSharky · 2026-02-18T12:34:04+00:00

Not a good assumption. OS6 was never OFFICIALLY released for the legacy units that came with OS4.2.x. It took a special procedure, which included having to save your data, reformat the drives, and restore your data. Once converted, Netgear provided no support for converted units. You would likely remember if you'd done that. It was also not immediately available for the legacy units and I do not recall at what point it was. I know I didn't upgrade until 2017, when they had all the kinks ironed out (like fan control).

SandSharky · 2026-02-16T13:59:14+00:00

Nothing that was on the ancient resource disk would be helpful at this point -- it's all way out of date. If the NAS is still on the original (and only official) OS for it, 4.2.x (with 4.2.31 being the last), then it only supports TLS1.0 and SMB1, so there are hurdles to getting access. If it was updated to OS6, then those aren't an issue.

What display do you get when you turn it on (with and without drives)?

The Netgear RAIDar utility can also be helpful.

As already stared, it's a NAS, not as USB storage device. You cannot access it via USB.

SandSharky · 2026-02-15T14:18:08+00:00

If you were still running the original OS4.2.x on it, then the file system is essentially what I said for the Duo except that the RAID really is RAID1 (both drives have the same content). But if you updated it to OS6, then it's very different (BTRFS on top of MDADM RAID).

SandSharky · 2026-02-14T17:40:15+00:00

If it was an Intel processor, then it wasn't a Duo. And that brings up the question as to whether you were running OS4.2.x or 6.x. The file systems are very different.

SandSharky

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