NV+ Slow Read in 4.1.7, 4.1.8 & 4.1.9-T6

[robclarke41]

Hi All,

I'm pretty sure there is never going to be a solution to this after trawling through hundreds of posts on this issue - but I thought I would ask anyway.

Like many others after I updated my 3x Netgear ReadyNas NV+ units from the 4.1.7 to the 4.1.8 firmware and my transfer rates sharply dropped. They went from:

4.1.7
Read 25MB/s
Write 19MB/s

to

4.1.8
Read 5MB/s
Write 16MB/s

After reading about all the various fixes it seems as though people either reverted back to 4.1.7 or updated to the 4.1.9 beta. I tried both, one on each NAS, the results were:

Reverting to 4.1.7
Read 12MB/s
Write 17MB/s

Updating to 4.1.9-T6
Read 8MB/s
Write 16MB/s

To say the least the results are worrying, these are official updates from a large multinational company with access to state of the art testing facilities. Were these updates not tested? So yes I can revert back to 4.1.7 but I still take a performance hit on what I had before. Obviously the process of reverting does not undo whatever problems the 4.1.8 update introduced. I know RAID systems are not a backup and I could factory default the NV+ and restore from my offsite backup. This is a huge pain though and will take a very long time before I'm back up and running. Has anyone else been in my situation? Experienced similar performance loss? and most importanly found a solution? I can live with a 12MB/s read speed but why should I when I know it is capable of 25MB/s! I just want to get back to where I was before.

Hopefully someone out there can help?

[robclarke41]

Just a quick update... I opened a case with Netgear and they suggested the below. Can anyone verify that this procedure will not cause any data loss? The Netgear tech is saying that an OS reinstall will only change the admin password and IP. Is there any risk involved with this?

Its strange everyone that has had this problem has a faster read speed that write still yet mine is the opposite. Would love to hear from anyone who has had this problem or knows more about it.

From Netgear....

I have read your case and I understand that you are experiencing a problem with your ReadyNas NV+ units wherein you are now getting only 5 MB/s of read speed, but before you can get 25 MB/s. I apologize for the inconvenience you have experienced. Since we are doing this online, it may require a few e-mail exchanges before we can resolve the issue. Please be assured that I will do my best effort to help resolve your case in the least amount of time.

It is possible that firmware is causing the issue. Kindly do the following to help us resolve or isolate the problem (you may try it on 1 NV+ first):

1. Please upgrade the firmware/RAIDiator to the latest version 4.2.19.

a. Download and save the firmware on your computer. You can get it from this link:

http://www.readynas.com/?cat=47

b. Access the FrontView and go to System, Update and Local tab.
c. Browse for the firmware and click on Upload and verify image. Then click Perform system update.
d. Wait for the update to finish.

2. After a successful firmware update, please do an OS reinstall. This procedure will not erase any data, it will just reset the admin password and network settings. Kindly follow the steps from this link:

http://www.readynas.com/kb/faq/boot/how_do_i_re-install_the_firmware

3. If the problem persists, please try to connect the NAS directly to your PC and check if you have same read speed. Here is the link for the steps:

http://www.readynas.com/kb/faq/boot/how_do_i_direct-connect_between_readynas_and_pc_or_mac

I hope that the steps provided would help resolve the problem. Please feel free to contact us again if you will require further assistance.

To answer or close this case:

A system generated e-mail will be sent to your e-mail address to inform you that I have responded to your inquiry. Please DO NOT REPLY to the e-mail sent to your e-mail address. Instead, if you want to reply to the message above and have additional query, please click “NO” when the system ask you “Was your problem resolved with the information provided by the NETGEAR representative above?”.

When you select “YES”, your case will be closed and a separate e-mail containing a survey link will be sent to you to measure your customer support experience.

Thanks again for choosing NETGEAR. Have a great day!

Sincerely,

Gerry Fulgencio
Level 2 Expert
NETGEAR, Inc.
http://support.netgear.com

[mdgm]

4.2.19 is for x86 not Sparc. 4.1.x is for Sparc.

Try the other steps.

OS re-install leaves data intact. Worth a try.

Do you use Windows/Mac/Linux. What protocol do you use to connect to the NAS (e.g. CIFS)?

[robclarke41]

Hi mdgm,

Thanks for your reply, I use Windows 7 Ultimate x64 and I'm using CIFS to connect to the NAS. So you would reccomend trying the OS reinstall? I'll give this a try on one of the NAS units this morning and post back the results. Thanks for the tip on 4.1.x

[robclarke41]

Also I am using the RAIDiator-4.1.9-T6 firmware to upgrade and then do the OS reinstall, is this the correct version? I've seen other forum members mention success with T2 but I can't find that anywhere?

[mdgm]

T6 is a newer beta. I'd stick with that. It includes a major update to the CIFS service (See http://www.readynas.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=59222). Do give the OS re-install a try.

[robclarke41]

Ok thanks - I just went through the procedure and instead of saying 'OS reinstall' the LCD display said 'FW reinstall'. Is this correct or have I done it wrong? All my settings etc were still on the NV+ aftr the procedure.

[mdgm]

Either is fine. OS and FW are synonyms in this case. FW is short for firmware

[robclarke41]

Great thanks, unfortunately it hasn't solved the problem though I am now getting:

10.5MB/s Read
21MB/s Write

So write speed as before is good and now even better, but all I do is read from the NV+ units and this is still too low. How can my Read/Write speeds be at such odds with each other? I would be quite happy if they were reversed. Is there any thing else I can try?

[robclarke41]

Ok all resolved, thanks go to this article http://www.richard-slater.co.uk/archive ... windows-7/ I change my MTU on my Windows 7 PCs to match the NV+ units (1500). I am now getting 38MB/s read - thanks for all your help though.

[robclarke41]

Arrrrgh no it is not resolved, all my PCs are back to 10MB/s read this morining?! I checked the MTU size which is fine, why has it suddenly all died again? Please help! someone!

[robclarke41]

I should also note that my Write speed is now even higher than before so I have:

Read: 10MB/s
Write: 26MB/s

[robclarke41]

Anyone?

[mdgm]

What happens if you reboot the NAS, do the read speeds go back up to 38MB/s?

[robclarke41]

I just deleted the NIC from device manager and deleted the driver, the rebooted and let Windows 7 rediscover the NIC. Am now back up to 25MB/s Read - I can live with this!