Hello everyone,
I’m facing a critical issue with a brand-new NAS and I have a one-week window to decide whether to return the unit. I need to know if this is a hardware defect or a known limitation.
NAS Technical Details:
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Operating System: Windows 11
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NAS Model: QNAP TS-216G
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Firmware Version: 5.2.2.2950 Build 20241114
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Network Setup: Single Port (Connected to a Mikrotik Router)
Disk Configuration:
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Drive Configuration: RAID 1
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Number of Drives: 2
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Drive Manufacturer: Toshiba
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Drive Model: N300 4TB (7200 RPM)
The Issue: During the initial RAID 1 resync, the NAS randomly reboots (Watchdog trigger) or becomes completely unresponsive.
Crucial Observation:
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When I tested the NAS with only one drive installed, the system appeared stable and this behavior did not occur.
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As soon as I added the second drive to initiate the RAID 1 mirror, the reboot loops and service timeouts started.
Current Status:
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Even with “Service First” priority set (Resync speed capped at ~60 MB/s), the unit suddenly beeps and restarts.
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After the reboot, it resumes from a bitmap checkpoint (currently at 9%), but shortly after, I lose SSH and Web access although the unit still responds to PING.
Could this be a power delivery issue of the TS-216G not handling two 7200 RPM drives simultaneously, or an I/O saturation on the ARM processor?
Has anyone experienced this “zombie” state where the NAS pings but services die during RAID sync on this specific model?
That will not be normal, none of the NAS units I have ever worked with, ever had random reboots during (re)builds of RAIDs.
Could be power delivery, could be RAM (not changable on this low end model) could be a busted drive shorting the rail..could be many things
1 Like
Thanks for the insight, dolbyman.
Your point about power delivery and the possibility of a drive shorting the rail makes a lot of sense, especially since the NAS is stable with only one drive.
Since I am an IT Analyst and I happen to have a TS-464 (Intel-based) at my office, here is my plan for tomorrow to isolate the issue:
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Cross-Testing the Drives: I will move both Toshiba N300 drives to the TS-464 and attempt to build the RAID 1 array there.
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Verifying Stability: If the TS-464 completes the resync without any reboots or GUI “Server Busy” errors, I’ll know for sure that the TS-216G unit is defective (either the motherboard or its power adapter).
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Drive Health: I will also run a Full SMART test on both drives using the TS-464 to rule out any internal shorts or bad sectors that could be tripping the TS-216G’s watchdog.
I have until next Wednesday to return the TS-216G, so this test will be the “deal breaker”. I’ll post the results here as soon as I have them.
Was that written with AI? seems like it…
Just be aware that you cannot place the x86 build drives back into an ARM device, as the drives contain more than just data (also OS and settings)
https://www.qnap.com/en-ca/nas-migration
1 Like
Hi dolbyman,
You caught me! Yes, I used AI to help write the message because my English speaking/writing isn’t great, although I can read and understand it perfectly fine. I wanted to make sure the technical details were clear for the community.
Regarding the TS-464, I am fully aware of the migration issues between x86 and ARM architectures. My goal with the TS-464 is strictly for hardware diagnostics:
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I want to see if these Toshiba N300 drives can complete a RAID 1 resync without crashing a more powerful Intel-based system.
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If it works on the TS-464, I will perform a Secure Erase on both drives to wipe all partitions and OS data.
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Then, I’ll put the clean drives back into the TS-216G for a final attempt.
If the TS-464 handles the drives perfectly but the TS-216G continues to reboot even after a fresh start, I’ll know for certain the TS-216G unit is defective and I will process the return before my Wednesday deadline.
Thanks for the warning about the architecture migration, I’ll be careful!