BlackArmor NAS Network Storage Server

[distantbeats]

I've had this drive for 30 days now and I've already pulled the data off and backed it up because I can't tell if it's about to die, or if there's a real problem with the configuration. But here's the quick facts.

Over wireless G I get  13-14 Mb/s (about 25% bandwidth)

Over 100Mbit LAN (same router) I get 0.5 Mb/s  (0.5% bandwidth)

The drive clicks like crazy on wired connection, less so on wireless connection. I get somewhere between 43kB/s and 5 MB/s depending on connection, alignment of the moon, etc. It's all over the place, but one thing I have noticed is that it is almost always *worse* on the 100Mbit wired connection (I have an IBM T42 laptop that only does 100Mb)

The computer freezes up quite a bit when the NAS is clicking away like a clock, and sometimes the transfers simply fail and I get a "data lost" message from windows.

The router is a D-link  DI-624 with the latest firmware (still old as they don't update it anymore).

I backed all my data up onto a USB drive I trust and blew away the volume and am now resyncing all data back to it while I'm at work. 

My question is many people are complaining about clicking and slow performance, but how many have actually experienced a failed drive? And if you've found issues with networking or recreating volumes, etc. PLEASE post here. I will probably send this drive back soon if there is no resolution as I cannot trust this drive right now!

Message Edited by distantbeats on 02-03-2010 04:04 AM

Message Edited by distantbeats on 02-06-2010 07:38 AM

[distantbeats]

Update: Pulled all the data off, blew away the volume and recreated everything from scratch. Now I'm putting all the data back on but leaving a copy!! Drive is purring along but still gets less throughput over a wire than wireless.(???) The USB to NAS backup feature is normal speed for 2.0 USB. I'm not sure if anyone from Seagate even reads these anymore, but I suspect there's issues with some routers, but also issues with filesystem degradation. Is there a planned firmware upgrade?

[dennis7of8]

Hi, I've got the NAS 110 2TB and I am having the same problems.
Even in power safe mode the NAS is clicking.

To be sure, I am backing up my files on an external hard drive.

I'll think it is the "click of death".

Dennis

[distantbeats]

FWIW, the creation of a new volume and rebuild of the shares has solved everything, except that I still get slow performance from wired connections, and decent performance from wireless. Drive doesn't click anymore (or enough to notice.) I'm still keeping backups for now...

Will probably try different cables and such. But the "click of death" doesn't seem to indicate that the drive is actually dying, just that teh filesystem is fubarred. How that happens is anybody's guess. 

[distantbeats]

Here's the lowdown on guys that are down on the BlackArmor drives. Most drives appear to come with a few bad sectors. If you recreate the volume and scan for bad sectors, then the rest of the drive should work perfectly. I did this and now the drive performs beautifully.

I also had a strange issue with wired connection being slower than a wireless conection. I tried another laptop and the transfer speed is 50-60 Mbps. So I would say if you're getting the so-called "click of death" backup your stuff, reformat the drive, and load it back up. Just keep a backup (which you should be doing anyway right?!?)

I'm back in love with my BlackArmor now!

[lamp22]

Hi, i have the same problem with the clicking noise and have just recreated the volume, but how do you scan for bad sectors? does it do this its self whilst it is reformating?

[RAsg]

Hello,

With a 110 all you can do is rebuild the volume and use the Manager Webpage and go to System, SMART manager and run the test.  Others that have the 220 and 440 models could remove a drive, as the drives are field replaceable. They could connect it internally to PC and run a Seatools for DOS full scan on it.  If it reports bad sectors they can be repaired.  You wouldn't want to open a 110 and void the warranty.

The 110 we have around here, I have never heard a click out of it. I would replace a 110 that does intermittent clicking and causes hang ups.  However, I am not referring to noise the device could make during normal access but referring to clicking that probably occurs do to a catastrophic read or write error.  

[dennis7of8]

Hi, you have to create an new volume which is smaller then the original. You can't fix bad sectors. By creating an new volume your HDD is formatted.

By the way, this solution worked for 2 months, now the HDD fails and I have to send the NAS to Seagate.

[arpagenx]

 SOLVED I have seen this issue in the other forums.  I found that the Seagate NAS does not play well with DLink routers and inserted a switch.  I get 20 MB/s transfer rates with Windows to the NAS now.  I blogged about my own experience at http://wordlinks.wordpress.com/2010/09/12/slow-seagate-nas-speed-solved/

[dennis7of8]

Hi

The drive is gone fail in a few weeks.

Back up your files

And get a RMA from Seagate

I 've got a brand new one, which is not clicking.