BlackArmor NAS Network Storage Server

[Hajo]

stianiquniez,

the preroot loader only reinstalls the system if there is no (correct) partition table on your hard disks (blank/new HDDs or crashed system). Thats the same behavior as with the original firmware.

The file nanddump.mtd2s4000.img contains the preroot loader backup (original Seagate version) from NAND flash partition 2 (CRAMFS image without CRC header). My SP has to patch the preroot loader to fix a bug there.

Did you try to use the show_lcm command? /usr/bin/show_lcm "message1" "message2"

Hajo

[Isaac_X]

Thanks Hajo, this is a great hack. The BlackArmor 440 finally works the way I want it to... it's still overpriced and much too slow compared to similar products, but at least now it can be configured to work properly with Linux and OS X.

Here's Webmin running on the BlackArmor 440, with all of my data intact, and a full-featured interface. There's Netatalk (AFP) for full OS X compatibility. Thanks again Hajo, this really is great.

[stianiquniez]

Hi hajo.. 

I could not find the /usr/bin/show_lcm.. 

I tried a find -name show* 

/usr/bin/showkey

/usr/bin/showcfont

/usr/bin/showkey/.usr/bin/showcfont 

was all i was able to find... So I have not been able to change the LCD. Not that I need that, but it would be nice. 

One question.. 

The / of the filesystem.. Is that on the first hardisk? I have been strugeling with low space now, and can't install some packages i would like.. So I was wondering if debian is on some flash drive on the disk, as the first disk is a part of a LVM.. I havent have the guts to change it to ext3. Would like some more space on my / disk. this is my fdisk -l 

WARNING: GPT (GUID Partition Table) detected on '/dev/sda'! The util fdisk doesn't support GPT. Use GNU Parted.

Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes

255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders

Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Disk identifier: 0x06751000

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System

/dev/sda1               1      121602   976762583+  ee  EFI GPT

Disk /dev/md0: 1068 MB, 1068892160 bytes

2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 260960 cylinders

Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes

Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/md0 doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/md3: 997.3 GB, 997330911232 bytes

2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 243488992 cylinders

Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes

Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/md3 doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/md2: 533 MB, 533921792 bytes

2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 130352 cylinders

Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes

Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/md2 doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/md1: 1069 MB, 1069875200 bytes

2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 261200 cylinders

Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes

Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/md1 doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/dm-0: 997.3 GB, 997329993728 bytes

255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121251 cylinders

Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/dm-0 doesn't contain a valid partition table

WARNING: GPT (GUID Partition Table) detected on '/dev/sda'! The util fdisk doesn't support GPT. Use GNU Parted.

Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylindersUnits = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytesDisk identifier: 0x06751000
   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System/dev/sda1               1      121602   976762583+  ee  EFI GPT
Disk /dev/md0: 1068 MB, 1068892160 bytes2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 260960 cylindersUnits = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytesDisk identifier: 0x00000000
Disk /dev/md0 doesn't contain a valid partition table
Disk /dev/md3: 997.3 GB, 997330911232 bytes2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 243488992 cylindersUnits = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytesDisk identifier: 0x00000000
Disk /dev/md3 doesn't contain a valid partition table
Disk /dev/md2: 533 MB, 533921792 bytes2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 130352 cylindersUnits = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytesDisk identifier: 0x00000000
Disk /dev/md2 doesn't contain a valid partition table
Disk /dev/md1: 1069 MB, 1069875200 bytes2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 261200 cylindersUnits = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytesDisk identifier: 0x00000000
Disk /dev/md1 doesn't contain a valid partition table
Disk /dev/dm-0: 997.3 GB, 997329993728 bytes255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121251 cylindersUnits = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytesDisk identifier: 0x00000000
Disk /dev/dm-0 doesn't contain a valid partition table

And then more disk.. comes up, but i don't think u need that. Thinking of just expand my /. Or is it not possible? 

[Hajo]

stianiquniez,

unfortunately my SP does not correctly copy the show_lcm command from the original Seagate fw to the Debian fs. I'll fix this within the next version.

Nevertheless you can copy the command from the preroot loader backup like this:

debian-armel:~# mkdir /tmp/foo
debian-armel:~# mount -o loop /mnt/md2/nanddump.mtd2s4000.img /tmp/foo
debian-armel:~# cp /tmp/foo/usr/bin/show_lcm /usr/sbin/
debian-armel:~# umount /tmp/foo

Please use GNU parted ('print' subcmd) to show the partition table. fdisk does not support GPT tables.

I can't believe that you installed >1GB of applications to the device It should be theoretically possible to resize all partitions ('/' ist the first partition) if you connect all drives to a Linux PC. But that's not a fun thing to do. Bind-mounting (mount --bind) some directories might be better option.

Hajo

[bill meyer]

Hi Hajo

Got my BA 220 up and running with Lenny. (I am not so familiar with Lenny - yet)

A few questions:

- How do I get the automounter for the USB ports up?

- I can mount USB devices with VFAT, but not NTFS.

OK - found the answer to this one. Had to  mount -t ntfs-3g /dev/sdc2 /mnt/USB2_2 -o force however

(http://beginlinux.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/mounting-an-ntfs-drive-in-debian/)

The gist of it is:

apt-get install libfuse2
apt-get install ntfs-3g

- Do you know of a DLNA server that works with BA NAS + Lenny?

[bill meyer]

Problem:

I share the NAS via a Netgear wireless router.

using cp to copy files gives little feedback on progress, so I use mc to manage the files... but...

ssh keeps on disconnecting during copying bulk files from USB device attached to NAS.

Solution:

1. Loaded a minimal x-server config, tightvncserver and midnight commander.

 apt-get install xserver-xorg-core xorg

 apt-get install xserver-xorg-core xorg

 apt-get install tightvncserver

 apt-get install mc

For extra goodness... install ice window manager. Very small.

 apt-get install icewm 

2. run vncserver

3. Connect to vncserver with remote desktop / vncviewer

4. Manage files with Midnight Commander

Now the connection can drop as much as it likes,  just reconnect via vnc. File copy is not interrupted. 

[Hajo]

Bill,

maybe you want to have a look at the 'screen' and 'rsync -v --progress' commands, which might be easier alternatives.

The BA NAS comes with a copy of the (commercial) ufsd driver. My SP copies the module to the Debian system. You can use it like this:

debian-armel:~# modprobe ufsd
debian-armel:~# dmesg | tail -n5
ufsd: module license 'Commercial product' taints kernel.
ufsd: driver loaded at bf013000 built on Jun  5 2009 15:42:37
UFSD version 7.04 (Jun  5 2009, 15:37:57)
NTFS read/write support included
$Id: ufsdvfs.c,v 1.207.4.1 2009/05/14 14:37:07 shura Exp $ (LBD=ON)
debian-armel:~#

I've never tried to mount an NTFS-filesystem, but 'mount -t ufsd ...' should do the work.

Hajo

[deltaray]

awesome news @Hajo! I have not tried this on my BlackArmor NS110 yet, but I am going to do.

Another question I have before I start installing my own Linux on this thing is, since the NS110 has only one Harddisk, it doesn't make much sense to me to run those partitions in raid 1 mode, which they do.

For example mdadm --detail /dev/md3 shows this:

[code]
/dev/md3:
Version : 0.90
Creation Time : Thu Oct 22 15:17:35 2009
Raid Level : raid1
Array Size : 1950707904 (1860.34 GiB 1997.52 GB)
Used Dev Size : 1950707904 (1860.34 GiB 1997.52 GB)
Raid Devices : 2
Total Devices : 1
Preferred Minor : 3
Persistence : Superblock is persistent

Update Time : Wed Feb 2 14:56:28 2011
State : clean, degraded
Active Devices : 1
Working Devices : 1
Failed Devices : 0
Spare Devices : 0

UUID : 1527aef2:79ba48fd:0b605f5f:46fb0873
Events : 0.223346

Number Major Minor RaidDevice State
0 8 4 0 active sync /dev/sda4
1 0 0 1 removed

[/code]

So would it be possible to mount /dev/md3 by using /dev/sda4 directly, without having it run in raid mode?

Has anybody tried this yet? Would it increase performance?

I have a simular device from called Seagate FreeAgent Dockstar, with Debian squeeze installed, and this device has much more performance but almost the same hardware as the NS110.

regards

[Hajo]

deltaray,

there should be no problem formatting and mounting /dev/sda4 directly. One owner of a BA110 mailed me by private email and told that he is using the NAS with XFS and no RAID. No word on performance, though.

Hajo

[deltaray]

Just one question before I try it, will the data on the sda4 (md3) partition remain untouched when installing debian using your update files?

Or should I create an backup of all my data just in case?

And if I understand your description correctly, if something goes wrong, I can open my NAS, plugin the HD to my PC, erase all content, plugin the HD back  int the NAS, and get the original system from seagate automatically restored?

best regards