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[cplloyd42]

Hi All,

I've just joined this forum so don't know if this issue has arisen before. If so, please point me to the appropriate thread.

Recently I powered up my DNS-320 from a week's sojourn while we were away. The usual startup occurred, but I didn't hear the disks spin up. On checking further, I found that I could access the unit with my Web browser, but no disks were showing in the administration and status areas, and my PC cannot acces the disks. This situation remained after a few power cycles, and I was advised by D-Link tech support that my unit had died. The disks are 2x 3TB WD drives formatted RAID 1.

I have now ordered a replacement DNS-320. I wish to know if there is any issue I need to be aware of if I just transfer these disks from the old unit to the new one?

Any advice would help me. I'm assuming that the disks are still OK.

Paul.

[ivan]

Your problem appears every so often and there are a couple of things you should be aware of:
1) If you are getting a new unit it will most probably be a DNS-320L (the DNS-320 has been out of production for some time)
2) To get the best performance from your new unit you should reformat the disks as RAID 1 in the new unit and then restore your data from your tested backup (since these units, along with all other small NAS units, use a software RAID system there is always the possibility that a RAID array formatted on one unit will not be compatible with another unit of a slightly different series).
3) For safety you should make a backup of your data if you don't already have one.  With RAID 1 it is a reasonably simple matter especially if you already have an SATA/USB adapter or caddy (see the 'Data Recovery (windows PCs' sticky above for windows Operating system), if you use Linux it is even easier because you don't have to use an IFS driver.

The only other thing, if you have any questions please ask and we will try and help.

[cplloyd42]

Thank you, ivan, for your advice. I'm a little confused with a couple of your points, though, and would appreciate some clarification, if you would be so kind:

1) I don't have a SATA/USB adapter/caddy, but they seem to be freely available on eBay. Do I need one that will take both disks simultaneously, or two of them plugged into 2x USB3 slots at the same time, or does only 1 disk need to be accessed to make all files available (I've never been clear in my mind just how RAID 1 works)?
2) I presume that once I have plugged in the adapter/s with disk/s inserted, it/they will look like an external HD and so files can be copied/backed up to another disk system.
3) What do you mean by "windows PCs' sticky above for windows Operating system"? I'm not sure what a "sticky" is, and nothing on my screen seems remotely to be about the Windows OS.

BTW. The replacement unit I have purchased (due in a few days) was described as a DNS-320, not DNS-320L. If it should turn out to be a genuine DNS-320, I take it that the need for a SATA-USB adapter is no longer required?

Thanks once again,
Paul.

[ivan]

No problem with your asking for extra information because I always have to think about the knowledge of the person asking the question (I run a company that supplies IT services to industry).

1) Since your disks are formatted as RAID 1 that means that you have two disks that are identical - they both contain the same data therefore you only need to use one to make your backup from.  The idea of RAID 1 is to keep your data safe should one disk suffer a fault.  In that case you switch off the unit, replace the faulty disk, power the unit back on and if you have set it to auto rebuild the array it will start doing so while you continue to have access to all your data.  If you have an SATA 'hot swop' disk tray in your computer that is free you can also use that.

2) If you are using Windows you will need a program or Installable File System driver (IFS) to allow you to read the Linux Ext2/3 format of the NAS drive.  It is also possible to use a 'Live' Linux DVD (one that allows you to boot and run Linux from the DVD while giving you access to your computer drives and external USB disks) and use that to read the USB mounted NAS disk and copy the data to either the computer hard drive if there is enough space (make a folder for only that backup) or to another external USB disk.

3) Stickies are forum posts that the moderators have given a permanent place at the start of the forum listing.  They contain information relevant to many of the questions that people ask. There you will find a post with the heading DNS-320 - Data Recovery (Windows PCs). http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=41400.0 This contains information that has been taken from a number of posts on the forum and while it does not give 'blow by blow' instructions it does give enough information for someone that knows a little about computers to, hopefully, recover their data or make a backup that they forgot to do before they had problems. 

Regarding the new NAS, if it is a DNS-320 you stand a fair chance that it will read your RAID 1 disks BUT it is better to have a backup just in case.

Edit to add direct link to recovery information.

[cplloyd42]

Many, many thanks, ivan. That explains a lot to me.

I take it that Windows 10 does not have an IFS driver, even the Pro version as I have. I have downloaded Ext2IFS.exe in anticipation.

I agree with your point re making a backup of the data, even if my new DNS is a 320 model, and will try my best to do an immediate backup when the disk becomes readable.

I really do appreciate your help here.
With gratitude,
Paul.