External USB Disk, WDEARS and other issues.

[Willo]

Hey There QNAP Guys,

I have just moved from PC to Mac environment and was after a little help. I have brought myself a MiniStack with a 2TB Hard Drive in it to use as a NAS backup but it will also function as a temp storage location for some Pro Tools Audio projects. So I plan to have 2 partitions and use Super Flexible File Synchronizer to back up the NAS data to the MiniStack.

I am having issues getting the QNAP to recognise the USB drive though with two partitions. What I would like to do is have two partitions using a Master Boot Record partition table and have the first partition NTFS and the second partition as HFS+ Journalled.

I have tried to do this using disk utility on the Mac with Perian installed and it will format and partition the drive but then the NAS won't detect the USB attached hard drive. If I format the drive in QNAP it blows the whole drive away.

What are my options and what will the NAS support.

Also, I just read the FAQ's on how to migrate data from old to new NAS and it mentions a live cd on FTP but I can't log onto FTP server. Basically, I have connected a USB drive to the NAs and backed up my data, I want to the drive out and replace with a higher capacity drive and then put the data and settings back. It's the getting the data back bit I would like help with. Is there an IMPORT data option like the BACKUP data option?? DO I get the data back on the device first and then restore file share and user settings???

Thanks and Regards

Willo

[QNAPJason]

Hi Willo,
1. Firmware v3.2 & prior versions cannot recognize HFS+ external drives.
May I know your NAS model & firmware version?

2. There is no import data option. You will need to manually copying the data form your external drive to the NAS new internal drive.
You can however import the system settings from the backed up file to restore user and share settings.

Jason

[vicksen]

1. Firmware v3.2 & prior versions cannot recognize HFS+ external drives.
May I know your NAS model & firmware version?

Just wondered if there will be a firmware release which does support HFS+ external drives.

Also, it would be nice to have the ability to partition an external drive on QNAP or otherwise & have QNAP recognize it. (I've got a 209)

[Don]

1. Firmware v3.2 & prior versions cannot recognize HFS+ external drives.
May I know your NAS model & firmware version?

Just wondered if there will be a firmware release which does support HFS+ external drives.

Also, it would be nice to have the ability to partition an external drive on QNAP or otherwise & have QNAP recognize it. (I've got a 209)

As Jason stated 3.2 and prior versions do not support HFS+. It is supported in 3.3.0 but 3.2 is the last f/w version for the x09 series. So you won't see if for those models.

[Willo]

Thank you for the replies,

My NAS is TS-109 Pro and it's running the latest available firmware off your site. I only upgraded it 3 days ago. It's been running rock solid for ages.

What concerns me though is that this NAS is still available in retail outlets and QNAP have dropped support essentially for the product as there are no longer firmware updates.

Lack of support for EOL products is definitely something to keep in mind when I decide to upgrade, I was actually thinking of buying another one if Super Flexible File Synchroniser doesn't work the way I would like it to so I can replicate between NAs devices. I LOVE the NAS and have flogged the product to all my mates.

Surely they haven't dropped off firmware/software updates and bug fixes.

On another note though is that even if the firmware doesn't support HFS, would the NAS recognise at least the one partition formatted as NTFS??? Does formatting one partition as HFS wipe support for the USB disk completely?

Cheers

Willo

[Willo]

BUMP.............

Qnap comments??

[QNAPJason]

Hi Willo,
Yes, NAS will be able to recognize the 1st partition with NTFS file system. TS-109 will not be able to recognize the 2nd partition because it is HFS+.
Multiple partitions with NTFS should also work.

Jason

[Willo]

Thank you for the replies,

My NAS is TS-109 Pro and it's running the latest available firmware off your site. I only upgraded it 3 days ago. It's been running rock solid for ages.

What concerns me though is that this NAS is still available in retail outlets and QNAP have dropped support essentially for the product as there are no longer firmware updates.

Lack of support for EOL products is definitely something to keep in mind when I decide to upgrade, I was actually thinking of buying another one if Super Flexible File Synchroniser doesn't work the way I would like it to so I can replicate between NAs devices. I LOVE the NAS and have flogged the product to all my mates.

Surely they haven't dropped off firmware/software updates and bug fixes.

On another note though is that even if the firmware doesn't support HFS, would the NAS recognise at least the one partition formatted as NTFS??? Does formatting one partition as HFS wipe support for the USB disk completely?

Cheers

Willo

Thanks Jason,

I'm interested on QNAP's position on ongoing support for EOL products like TS-x09 series as indicated by Don and also my comments above.

Cheers

Karl

[Don]

In other threads Jason has already stated that 3.2 will be the last firmware released for the x09 series. QNAP archived these models over a year ago. The best you can hope to see after 3.2 becomes official is maybe some bug fix releases but no new features.

[Willo]

In other threads Jason has already stated that 3.2 will be the last firmware released for the x09 series. QNAP archived these models over a year ago. The best you can hope to see after 3.2 becomes official is maybe some bug fix releases but no new features.

Yet they are still available retail.....

Please QNAP one last update HFS+ support... Please...

They are really not that old though...I'd have hoped from such a robust and SMB type devices as it is marketed, you would get a longer product lifecycle inc. support and firmware updates, in the SMB world we talk TCO so if I have to upgrade units relatively often to increase my support TCO becomes quite high. Let's be honest these are fantastic devices that with all the experience I have had with them, they are ROCK SOLID.