>> Backup the data stored on the Buffalo NAS LS-QL Quad before you begin. <<
>> This process will destroy all data currently stored on the Buffalo NAS LS-QL Quad. <<
>> This process was tested using an existing RAID 5 configuration. A different process may be required for existing RAID 0, 1 or 10 configurations. <<
As tested scenario:
- NAS: Buffalo LS-QL/R5 Quad
- NAS Model: LS-QL F/W 1.10
- NAS Firmware: 1.10
- NAS existing RAID configuration: RAID 5
- NAS upgrade drives: Hitachi 2TB 7200 HDS722020ALA330
- NAS post upgrade net available capacity RAID 5: 5,835,825,152 kbytes / 5565.48 GB / 5.565 TB
- System OS: Windows 7 64 bit
- System browser: IE 8
- Buffalo NASNavigator2 version: 2.24
Items required:
(1) - NAS: Buffalo LS-QL/R5 Quad
(4) - new upgrade drives (unused or devoid of existing partitions)(must be 7200RPM or greater, SATA)(RAID array size will be determined by the smallest drive, so matching sizes are best, identical drives / matching models are optimum)
(1) - small to medium phillips (cross head) screwdriver
(1) - computer attached to the same network as the NAS that has a functioning copy of Buffalo NASNavigator2 and a functioning web browser
30 to 45 minutes for the physical replacement of the drives
? to 36 hours for the creation and checking of the new RAID array (depends on RAID type and drive size)
? hours/days/weeks to reload the data on the NAS (sure would be faster if we could Direct Copy any type of file/folder to any destination... )
To upgrade drives:
- The quad is NOT a hot swap-able device. Power down the unit each time before you pull a drive.
- The quad keeps its OS on a hidden RAID partition on the drives, so you cannot replace the drives all at once. You must swap them out one-by-one so the OS can rebuild its partition as you swap in one drive at a time.
- As you remove each old drive, mark the old drive’s position, e.g. drive #1, drive #2, etc. on the drive itself (not the drive tray) so you can restore the old drive in its correct position if you need to re-install the old drive for any reason during this process.
- >> Backup the data from the quad. << This upgrade process will destroy all data on the quad’s old drives.
- You can do this in any order, but it is a lot easier if you work sequentially, meaning drive 1,2,3,4 or 4,3,2,1. This example will use 1,2,3,4.
- Start NAS navigator
- Right click on the quad drive icon you wish to upgrade
- Select “web admin”
- Using web admin, delete the existing RAID partition(s) on the quad. Click on "disk management," then "RAID setup," then click on the icon next to the existing RAID array, then click on "Change RAID Array," then click on "OK" in the "Remove RAID Array" confirmation dialog box.
- Power down the quad
- Remove and replace drive 1
- Power up the quad
- Wait for the status light to go red
- In web admin, refresh the browser, re-login and select “drive management” then select “disk format”
- In the format target drop down menu, select the drive number you just replaced. Double check that you are formatting the correct drive.
- Click “apply”
- The drive will format very quickly.
- In web admin, click “home” and confirm the new drive appears with its new full capacity.
- Power down the quad
- Remove and replace the next drive in the sequence (1,2,3,4)
- Repeat steps 12-20 until all drives are replaced, one by one. The entire process up to this point will take 30 to 45 minutes if you take your time and are careful.
- Using web admin, select "drive management,” then select “RAID setup;” create the RAID array(s) on the new drives. Creating and checking the new array can take 18 hours or more.
- Once the new RAID array has completed its setup and checking cycle, reload data onto the quad.
- Job complete
This method based on information in this post: http://forum.buffalo.nas-central.org/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=16016