Now something completely different.

Yesterday I was looking for a way to recover my QNAP TS-410 NAS server system. Containing lots of data and making it available over the net to various places, this little high tech helper is simply essential for me. Of course I do regular backups which are even stored in totally different locations (besides of local script based backup), but the NAS makes working a lot easier. Confronted with the thought to maybe have to work without it for at least four weeks was enough motivation to get it back to work.

What happened? I discovered a new firmware update (3.2.2) for my unit which had some great improvements. Because of the smooth update process with the last firmware updates I thought to just do it. Anyhow the update process was cancelled (because of too much traffic from the NAS at that time?). Second try gave a success message, so I confirmed the request to reboot. But nothing happened afterwards. Only the green (power) light flashing red and green. You could not see any hard disk access during boot up process.

Conclusion: flash image damaged.

The net only gave me a solution for older models which did not work with my TS-410.

So here is the solution which I luckily found out after 2 hours of search and 4 hours of download process (yes, the QNAP ftp server is really slow!):

- Power down your NAS system

- Unplug all hard disks (pull out the hot swap drives)

- go to ftp://csdread:csdread@ftp.qnap.com/NAS/live_cd/ and download the right ISO file for your NAS system (or click the links below – always use right button and “Save as…”):

TS-109, TS-209 – Data_Recover_live-cd_2009-01-15_TS109-209.iso

TS-110, TS-119, TS-210, TS-219, TS-219P – Flash_Reburn_live-cd-2009-09-24(TS-110&119&210&219&219P).iso
Important Note for TS-110 provided by user achipa: If the recovery does not seem to work (no reaction when you boot), doublecheck that you have the correct .iso file. I have a TS110 and discovered that I had to boot the Flash_Reburn_live-cd-2009-12-09(TS-410&410U&419P&419U).iso and NOT the other one (even though that one had the TS110 in the filename and the docs referred it).

TS-410, TS-410U, TS-419P, TS-419U – Flash_Reburn_live-cd-2009-12-09(TS-410&410U&419P&419U).iso

Note from user achipa to check if you have the right ISO file: After boot-up with the ISO log in as root (user root / password root) and do ls -l /tftpdroot/

- download the according pdf file which contains a manual for flashing your NAS system:

TS-109, TS-209 – TS109-209_data_recovery_with_Live_CD.pdf
TS-110, TS-119, TS-210, TS-219, TS-219P, TS-410, TS-410U, TS-419P, TS-419U -Flash_Reburn_TS-x10&x19_Series_Firmwar_Update_Through_Recovery_Mode&Live_CD.pdf

- burn the ISO image to CD

- boot burnt CD on PC or laptop and wait until the login prompt appears – ignore all error messages

note: the following steps only apply for all TS-x10 and TS-x19 models! for other models read pdf file mentioned above!

- connect your PC or laptop network port directly to your NAS (no switch in between!) – use LAN port 2 if your NAS has two ports

- use a thin tool like a paper clip to press the reset button on the back of your NAS

- hold the reset button and power on your system

- you will hear a long or two short beeps

- the flash image will be loaded from your laptop or PC – during that process the orange LAN light flashes

- next, your NAS will try to re-program its flash memory – red light remains lit

- do not do anything until you hear a long or two short beeps

- your system is now rebooted and back at work

- you may now put the hard disk drives back in

- good luck with your next try to update your firmware.

HINT
If you own a QNAP NAS with small flash (up to 16MB) memory you will NOT have to recover your settings. They will be loaded from the hard disks. Your flash memory only contains a loader for the operating system (actually a bit more but that is not the matter) – lucky ones (like me). On a “professional” model (like 419P) re-programming the flash memory may cause loss of your settings (not verified – just be aware that this might be possible).
Anyway you should save your configuration binary every now and then!

Great news: the view in my Servant Salamander file manager is now updating when I create or remove files on my NAS!

Hope this helps some people having problems with their NAS.

Feel free to post comments or link back to this article.

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