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[jhumroo]

Sorry if this seems like a newbie post.

I have a DNS-320 with two 3TB hard-drives in a Raid 1 configuration. I've had this setup for about two years.

For the past few days, I have been having a lot of problems with dropping of connection etc. to the NAS from my Mac and XBMC Media center. When that happens, the only solution is to unplug/replug the power to the NAS. This solves it for a while, then the problem reoccurs.

I ran the SMART test on the drives from the Web Portal and both drives passed. However, I see that the LED light for the Left drive is off.

• Could the SMART test be wrong, and is it possible I have a dead hard-dive?
• How do I determine if the drive is truly bad?
• If I replace the drive, will it auto-format and mirror the data from the good drive, or do I have to do it manually?

Please advice.

Thanks,
Raj
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[cable2]

Hi Raj,
Hopefully you have another true backup for your data, if not and you can afford another hd or other backup solution, use it to backup your data.  Other options, shut down the 320 and pull the drive which is showing up as "failing", install it in another computer either directly or via USB.  Download and run the drive manufacturers drive diagnostic tool and run it for your suspected drive, actually do the download first and then connect the drive.  You should probably run the "extended" version of the diagnostic which will probably take several hours.  This should tell you what kind of condition the hd is in for certain, if you can even get the drive recognized.  The short Smart drive test has been known to give erroneous results at times, especially on a "dying" but not totally "dead" drive.  Good luck
PS. Check out the sticky on why Raid 1 is not a backup.

[jhumroo]

Thanks for the reply.

I'm using the NAS mostly as a media server, so it's not storing any critical data.

However, I would like to know if I put in another HD, will the data from the good drive automatically mirror to it or do I have to manually initiate that process.