Format a drive inside the NASBox

[Headlamps]

Hi - I have looked through available documentation and this forum. Sorry if I've missed the answer somewhere.
I have a ReadyNAS DUO (RND2110-100NAS) with two1TB Seagate Barracudas installed. One of the disks is starting to go bad and Seagate has already sent me the replacement (free of charge - nice folks).
I would like to wipe the data on the offending disk before returning it to Seagate.
Can I somehow reformat the "going bad" disk while it is still inside the NASBox without data loss on the good disk?
I'm using the NASBox and 2 disks in a mirrored configuration.
I really don't have a convienient way to connect the bad disk to any other system for reformatting. Can I do it in the NASBox?
Thanks for the help - Headlamps

[mdgm]

Though not recommended you could do this:

1. Power down NAS
2. Carefully remove good disk
3. Do a factory default (http://www.readynas.com/kb/faq/boot/how_do_i_use_the_boot_menu). Note that this will wipe all disks in the NAS at the time it is performed.
4. Power down and remove bad disk
5. Carefully put good disk back in same slot as before
6. Power NAS on.

[Headlamps]

Thanks Mdgm - 2 things occur to me...
1. Does the data actually get scrubbed, or are the usage bits simply reset - leaving the data in tact? I'd kinda like to overwrite the disk (with garbage) so that my data is not readable.

2. Does setting the 'factory defaults' change anything in the enclosure or do the factory settings only effect the disks?

Oh yeah, one more thing. Maybe I shouldn't ask, but why is this procedure not recommended?
Thanks for your help.

[mdgm]

1) The disk is wiped. The secure erase option is not available for the Duo (v1). However doing a normal factory reset would be sufficient to make the data unrecoverable. If you really want to do a secure erase you'll need to find a PC to connect the disk to.

2) It wipes the disks. The enclosure is unaffected unless you choose a different RAID mode but even then once you power down, remove the bad disk and put your good disk back in it would recognise the RAID mode that it was using.

When you handle a disk bare there is a risk of damaging it without realising it. I would suggest ensuring that your backup is up to date before attempting the procedure.

[Headlamps]

Thanks a lot again...
Your info is very helpful. I'll give it a try and post results.
You may have also given me justification with the financial department (aka: The Wife) to upgrade to a newer NASBox that provides the 'secure erase option'... sounds like there's a v2? of this same box...
Thanks again... Headlamps

[mdgm]

Yes there's a v2 (RND2000-200). I suggest you have a read of this before you buy a v2: How to tell whether I have a Duo v1 or Duo v2 or NV+ v1 or NV+ v2

You may also wish to consider the Ultra 2 (RNDU2000-100).

[Headlamps]

Hi MDGM,
I used the link that you provided to get to instructions regarding the boot menu and factory default procedure.
I selected my model from the table of contents list: "Duo/NV/NV+/x6/600" is what I picked.
I turned off the Duo - removed the 2 good drives and installed the bad drive in the disk 1 position.
I depressed and held in the reset switch while I turned the power on... the instructions didn't say how long to hold in the reset switch, so I kept it depressed for probably about 20 - 30 seconds.
4 hours later...
So now, the Duo has been flashing all it's leds (both disk leds, something labled "act" (which looks like a activity led), the "backup" led, and the blue power light. It's been flashing all those leds for about 4 hours.
The instructions say nothing else other than what I wrote above.
I don't know if the Duo is waiting for me to do something or if I'm waiting for it to complete something.
Do you know how long it will take to perform the "Factory Default" process?
Can you tell if I've done something incorrectly?
The blue power light has a steady rhythmic flash. The other four green leds are flashing in unison (all together) and the flash pattern is: 3 long, 3 short, and then back to 3 long flashes. I think it's sending me an "SOS"
Do you have any ideas as to what is happening?

I thought that I'd give it another couple of hours, then power down, take out the bad drive, reinstall the 2 good drives, and make sure that they power up ok. If they're ok, I could remove then again, put in the bad one and try this again.
Later, Headlamps

[readysecure1985]

a factory default on a Duo with a single 1TB drive shouldn't take as long as you are seeing. The Boot Menu has you hold the reset for 30 seconds to get a factory default. It is sounding like it is running a memory test. I would suggest trying the Factory Default one more time.

[Headlamps]

Hi - After a little over an hour I'm seeing the same result as mentioned above: same leds, same pattern.
For this "factory default" process I have not had the NASBox connected to the network - it's just sitting on the desk with no ethernet. Does that matter? Seems like it shouldn't...
If it were connected to the LAN would I be able to connect to the box (thru my pc) to see what it' is doing (possibly using a radiator function)?
Thanks for your help...

[readysecure1985]

Connecting to a computer would definitely allow you to know what is happening. As it is a failing drive it is possible that it has failed while attempting to boot and this may just not work. Has Seagate offered any other options for scrubbing the data?

[Headlamps]

The only other option (from Seagate) was to plug it into another pc - which would be difficult with the equipment I currently have: an old Alpha box from my DEC days and an old version of Redhat running on a Pentium III. I think I'll make sure all is well with the 2 good drives and then futz around with this reset thing again.
By the way, in the table you pointed me to - the one that has the 30 second time requirement for the Factory Default process - what is the "LED flashes" column supposed to be telling me? What leds are supposed to be flashing 2 times? All I get are all 4 green leds flashing (as well as the power light). I never see anything flash only twice.

What am I supposed to see if the Factory Defaults process actually runs? Is there some indication of success?
Also, how badly can I screw things up if I accidentially get into the "OS Re-install" process?

Muchos gracias senor...

[Headlamps]

Hi MDGM,
I appreciate all you tried to do with my problem. Unfortunately we couldn't get the Factory Default process to work - that takes away nothing from your efforts, thanks.
I have tried a few more times without success.
I was feeling pressed for time because I need to return the bad drive to Seagate tomarrow or they will charge me for the drive - argh! So I googled for someone local to reformat the drive for me. I cost $40.00 but at least I'm not sending Seagate a drive with all my banking formation on it!!
Now I just need to make plans to resolve this myself, should it ever happen again - or should I say, when it happens again...
Again, thanks for your help... problem solved.
Regards, Headlamps