A few years back I bought a dlink DNS-320 NAS which I installed two 1TB hard disks (HDDs). The NAS was configured to run on RAID 1 mode. This faithful NAS has given me great peace of mind, and is also a silent worker. Occasionally, the fan does spurt up and cool the box up just a little.
A few months back, one of the hard disks crashed and I inserted a 2TB HDD as a replacement. A few days later, I took out the remaining 1TB and replaced it with another 2TB HDD. All went well with the replication of files and folders.
My Photography Hobby vs Space Crunch
However, as I took more and more photos - the disk free space became lesser and lesser. I own a Canon 60D and I use it for macro and landscape adventures. I also happen to like my daughter's latest Samsung NX500 with its 16mm~50mm kit lens. So, it has to happen.
With two 2TB HDDs and getting only 1TB in storage space, I had to do something to get the DNS-320 to recognise the 2TB HDDs as 2TB HDDs and not 1TB HDDs. Hope this does not confuse you.
After searching the internet and not getting good answers, I decided to try something through the front USB Backup port of the NAS. As I did not intend this to be a tutorial, I did not take snapshots of some screen displays. Since this little adventure helped me A LOT, I have decided to put it down on record (well, somewhat) as to how you can do yours.
I suppose you would need to "imagine" how it was supposed to look like - for some screenshots. Nevertheless, I do hope that photographers who own DNS-320 and want to upsize their RAID1 HDD capacity will find this walk-thru helpful.
Heath Check on the Operational NAS Hard Disks.
I have two HDDs inside the NAS that are supposedly running fine. Do use [Hard Drive Configuration] to check that all is STILL well. By the way, you would need to login to the NAS from your PC browser (or any other device internet browsers) by entering the IP Address of the NAS.
You may click on the [Status] to view the various health statistics of each of the HDDs. This sreenshot shows my after-this-project HDDs - not the original 1TB HDDs, as I did not take a screenshot them.
Powering Down the NAS
You then shut down the NAS so that you can safely remove the two HDDs. To do that, navigate to System Management \ System Settings \ Shutdown. By the way, the firmware for my NAS is 2.05.
Once the Shutdown confirmation screen is displayed, we can proceed to remove the two HDDs. I labelled the HDDs as "Left" and "Right" with a marker - the way I took them out from the unit. You may have to be careful with the handling as it can be rather hot!
Installing New Hard Disks
A few days back, I managed to get hold of two additional 2TB HDDs. So these two HDDs are now inserted into the NAS. You may get hold of 3TB HDDs if you can afford it. The DNS-320 accepts up to 3TB hard disk capacity. Once it is done - do power on the NAS.
Once the NAS is up and running, do proceed back to the PC browser and navigate to Disk Management \ Hard Drive Configuration. Selected [Set Raid Type and Reformat] and proceed to set up the RAID 1 configuration. The screenshot below is an after-the-project shot. Do not be confused when you see that yours look a little bit different!
It will take a few minutes and then the NAS should be ready for use.
The Lefft and Right HDDs
There was no reason for doing this except that if ever I wanted to go back to square one - I know which was which!
The removed HDDs are now sitting on the floor, labelled as "Left" and "Right". The existing data (folders/files) where I kept all my photos and videos are in these two HDDs.
IDE/SATA-USB adapter
I needed a converter to connect the "Left" HDD to the NAS so that the NAS can read data from it. Here is where the IDE/SATA-USB adapter comes into play. This is an old adapter that I bought years back to transfer important data from IDE disks to SATA disks. [Below]. Yah. Looks primitive.
The Connection
Take the "Left" HDD and connect it to the IDE/SATA-USB adapter. Here is how it should be done.
Now, we can power on the "Left" HDD. Next, plug the USB adapter end into the front USB port of the NAS. Do wait for a few seconds for the NAS to take note of the new device. [Below].
Setup USB Backups - Part I
Return to your PC browser and click on APPLICATIONS. [Below]. Click on the Local Backups icon.
Now on the USB Backups link. [Below]. You will be able to see MTP Backups and USB Backups on the right side of the screen.
Caution. Power on the "Left" HDD before inserting the USB adapter plug into the NAS USB port. Then click on the USB Backups. [Below] The screenshot below is an after-the-project shot.
Setup USB Backups - Part II
Load up Windows Explorer. Search for the NAS. When I looked into the content of the "Left" 2 TB HDD, it contained two volumes, USB Disk1_2 and USB Disk1_4. I found that only USB Disk1_2 contained all my files and folders. With this in mind, we can proceed to complete the setup fields.
For the source, select (or type in) USB Disk1_2 and for the Destination, select Volume_1. Fill in the necessary parameters and you are good to go.
Duration of the Data Transfer (copy) process
For the 700GB++ files, the copying took about 12 hours. Simply from USB wire to NAS port. A straightforward data movement mechanism. I am glad that I used this NAS-firmware method.
Earlier in the day, I tried using my Windows Explorer to select & copy folders/files from the "Left" HDD to the Volume1 (NAS). It was agonizing. After a few hours, I did some calculations. It could take five days! My laptop was on wireless and although the NAS was on wired - it was struggling! The worse part was that the laptop has to be powered on for those few days!
You may now shutdown your laptop. Go to bed. Have a sweet dream.
Manage the Copied Folders/Files
Oh yes. Folder management. The [USB Backups] firmware actually copies all the folders/ files into sub-sub folders within Volume1.
So, all your folders and files are two folders below the top hierarchy. What I did then was to load up the Windows Explorer again and drill down into the the actual folders. Windows' Cut & Paste was used to move the folders and files back to the root of Volume1.
Dismount the USB-HDD.
Remember to return to the physical NAS and depress the Front USB button for 5 seconds to dismount the "Left" HDD. You will know you have done 5 seconds as a series of flashing blue lights will flicker when you have reached the timing. Release your finger!
The flashing will then go on for about 30 seconds or so and then it stops.
That is all. Power off the USB adapter. Pull the USB plug out of the NAS. Keep the "Left" and "Right" HDDs for as long as you needed.
In conclusion, I do wish my readers all the best!
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