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.
EM Blog: High tech: QNAP desaster recovery for models TS-109, TS-209, TS-110, TS-119, TS-210, TS-219, TS-219P, TS-4… http://bit.ly/cpPJlz
Hi I just wanted to say thank you. I looked all over and I couldn’t find any information on restoring my TS-410. Thanks to your help and the links I was able to restore my NAS to working order.
Thanks for this very usefull info. Again using this info and links I was able to restore my nas to a working state.
Cheers
Andy
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). You can check the exact models for which an .img is provided in each .iso by logging in (root/root) and doing a ls -l /tftpdroot/
Hello. Just wanted to say hello and thank you. You are a life saver … or perhaps a Data saver
Regards, Lars.
Hi i download iso to ts410, enter root/root, power on ts410 with reset push and power. When i heard 2 beeps release buttons, but dont send nothing to nas.
Please help
@achipa: Sorray I did not try this with TS110 so far. I will add this to the article.
First tnx for an article.
I’ve got similar problem with my office ts-210 nas. I tried evrythin u suggested step-by-step but it seems to me dat the trouble is just a little more sirious: after bootin my ts210 with pushed reset button (no HDD inside)I hear rwo short beeps, status lights red and lan flashes, but few seconds after sounds single long beep and status flashes red, lan doesnt flash. Yhe iso file is exect for my ts210 and PC (or macbook) is connected straight to lan port of ts. Can you point me where I made a mistake?
Thanks for any replyes.
@Kotyara Tommy: As long as you have BOOTET into the linux OS from the iso you did nothing wrong. According to achipa you may also need the TS-410 iso instead! Must be the with TS210 same as with TS110, I guess. So please try it with another ISO. Best possible way. And please get back to me with the results.
seems to me dat ls -l /tftpdroot/ doesnt work- it says “no such file or directory” on both images i tried
There is another way to make ts work:
http://www.cyrius.com/debian/kirkwood/qnap/ts-219/uboot.html
Too bad I do not deal with rs 232 and serial console.
thank you very much
! I was one step before the technical support. My machine is a ts-210. I try first the 210.iso with no luck. Then the other 410.iso was work fine. Now my machine is back!! Thank you again 
“I looked all over and I couldn’t find any information on restoring my TS-410. Thanks to your help and the links I was able to restore my NAS to working order.”
Are you sure that this is so?
Hi I too have a TS 210 but have had no luck with either the 210/410 iso files. once I get to the login screen I then press and hold the reset button, press power once and wait for two short beeps about 6 seconds and release the reset button. The lan light flashes for about a second, stops then flshes again. After about 10 seconds the TS210 has one long beep, then the stauts light flashes re/re 0.5 second intervals, then nothing after leaving it for a long time.
On reboot the same red/green light combination returns.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Please try the other image. Tell me if this works…
SCR Robby,
Thanks for your reply.
I have tested the:
Flash_Reburn_live-cd-2009-09-24(TS-110&119&210&219&219P).iso
Flash_Reburn_live-cd-2009-12-09(TS-410&410U&419P&419U).iso
Both of which do not work.
I have also tried “ls -l /tftpdroot/” but it says “no such file or directory” on both images.
I cannot download the:
Data_Recover_live-cd_2009-01-15_TS109-209.iso as it times out, I am trying a dl manager now for it.
From Qnap support they have provided my with this “new” guide which I think reflects the recommendations from achipa:
http://forum.qnap.com/download/file.php?id=4278
it also contains this new file:
http://us1.qnap.com/Storage/tsd/live-cd-2010-10-08.(TS-x19P+_Recovery).iso
So far I am still stuck with the red/green flashing lights after std nas boot & the long beep and red/red flashing light after unsuccessful flash recovery.
I have just tried the new file with no success.
http://us1.qnap.com/Storage/tsd/live-cd-2010-10-08.(TS-x19P+_Recovery).iso
Also, I have tried running a straight / crossover network cable, & also through connecting both devices to an unmanaged switch.
With the download manager I am using it has boosted the speed for I will try this shortly.
Data_Recover_live-cd_2009-01-15_TS109-209.iso
I have finally got it working!
I have been using my PC (intel i7) and a notebook (intel i5) and neither have worked. I decided to try my very old notebook amd guess what it worked! I have no idea why or what is the difference with the ethernet ports / bios settup but just glad its working.
Thanks for all the prior hard work in this blog especially to SCR Robby.
For my TS-210 it worked successfully with the 410 iso img using a straight cat5e network cable
Flash_Reburn_live-cd-2009-12-09(TS-410&410U&419P&419U).iso
Thanks, that worked for my 210. I tried on two laptops, one failed.
So – I had the same problem with my TS-210. The second ISO file did the trick and I was able to get the unit up and running again.
Now, it would appear that one (or both) of my HDD’s is screwed up.
Initially these were configured as a single spanned volume (stupid me)….. now, from volume management they are both showing as Invalid. In the volume management panel it looks like it can see two volumes – with a file system type of Unknown (it was EXT3).
Any thoughts? I did find reference to ext2explore but when I mount the drives in a USB caddy it can’t find anything.
Any thoughts?
I have 419P and this procedure worked just fine on mine, THANK YOU for saving.
This saved me too! Thank you so much!
Hello
I’ve bought a new ts 410u but i can’t initialize the nas, i had only a blank page on browser
firmware was 3.3.8
With qfinder i can’t update the firmware, and configuration was not saved
With the good live cd (for ts410 & 419), i can apply the solution, and flash the firmware
After flash, i can use admin interface, but the TS410U is recognised as a TS419U ???
I can initialze nas, and prepare hard disk, but i cannot update firmware with qfinder version 3.3 and 3.4 and with firmware 3.3.5 and 3.4.0
When i ask for admin interface, i download a cgi file ? and don t see admin interface
What’s wrong ?
(i’ll try to reflah firmaware this nevening)
Have you any idea of solution ?
I ask for qnap support bau no response…
Thx
I cannot help you here as I have no 410U but a Turbo version (not a rackmounted version). Maybe someone else may help you.
For those not able to find the .img location directory in the iso with ls -l /tftpdroot/ the path on the image I downloaded was tftpboot as in ls -l /tftpboot/
I have a 410 unit and downloaded the firmware but when I boot from the DVD it seems to get stuck at the GRUB. I’m just left with a GRUB prompt and can’t seem to boot the iso properly.
Anyone else have this problem? I did burn to DVD cause I don’t have any CD’s but it shouldn’t make a difference. Tried both on my macbook pro and a generic PC with an older celeron chip.
No response from Qnap on how to fix my stuck 410.
TS-110 doesn’t boot after an update; so I think the flash image is stuck.
I’m following the steps above: Burned ISO files (tried both files). Reboot my pc and boot with the cd. It asks for a login (according to the steps I could ignore it and go to the next step), but everything I try, it still asked for a correct login & password…
Any idea?
I just hate http://ftp.qnap.com because it takes forever to download anything.
If you have to download any of these files use the following links:
http://us1.qnap.com/Storage/tsd/Flash_Reburn_live-cd-2009-12-09(TS-410&410U&419P&419U).iso
http://us1.qnap.com/Storage/tsd/Flash_Reburn_live-cd-2009-09-24(TS-110&119&210&219&219P).iso
http://us1.qnap.com/Storage/tsd/live-cd-2010-10-08.(TS-x19P+_Recovery).iso
Best Regards
Peter
Thank you!
The second image works! The Qnap wiki site does say if the first image does not work, try the second one.
Br Michael
pc won’t boot to the iso image, it just keeps loading windows, i guess it shouldn’t do this. Any suggestins?
Hi guys,
I got a TS-119 with the same problem I’ve booted the CD and done the flash. I just wanted to know if i should plug the HDD back in with it powered on, or if i should power it off first then plug in the HDD and then power it back on so it boots up with the disk available. I don’t want to lose the data on there because my backup is a bit old.
For those having problems booting the CD, make sure the boot order of your computer is CD/DVD first then the hard disk. Once booting if the flash imaging process doesn’t work and on reboot you still get the flashing red/green status light you should try a different computer/laptop. My newer one wouldn’t boot and it was because the ethernet port eth0 was not being detected. The default login is root/root and you can type ifconfig to display the network settings. If you don’t see an eth0 and only see an lo0 then your network card is not being detected and you need to try a different computer
Cheers,
Andy
@Andy: You should plug the Harddisk back in because TS-119 has only a small flash rom and will re-initiate the system from the disk. There is a small portion for the NAS operating system on a part of the disk. The NAS will not format the disk or something like this unless you tell it to. Webadmin console should be back at work after boot up.
Tried the procedure. Works fine on 419p+. Thanks for helping.
Thx Andy you helped me a lot, two of my pc’s didn’t detect my network card.
Now I have the following problem:
My TS-412 is back online but I can’t access my data.
I can access the web console, there everything seems ok..
If i try the filemanager it says that i dont have permission to access the share folder
If i try 192.168… I dont see anything.
Can someone help me please?
I filled in a support ticket on QNAP but they weren’t really helpfull the previous time. When I said that the firmware recovery not worked they just said try it again or return your nas to your local dealer..
Hi Guys,
I am wondering if anybody can help me with installing a QNAP image on a HP Microserver.
worked for me with crapyy TS-412.
Bought 3. 2 Working fine. One seems to be buggy.
As far as I see there is only a “Data Recovery” for the ts-109 and no way to flash, isn’t it?
Thx
Dear sir, thank you thank you thank you!
I had too the same problem with the TS-110 red light blinking and unable to start. I almost gave up last night, trying to boot with the Flash_Reburn_live-cd-2009-09-24(TS-110&119&210&219&219P).iso
And then reading your guide, i used the Flash_Reburn_live-cd-2009-12-09(TS-410&410U&419P&419U).iso with a CROSS cable, and voila!
Thanks!
I tried the same thing several times but I keep getting stuck at the red light flashing on my Qnap TS-110.
First few times were through the regular way using a boot cd. After that I tried multiple times using the VM method. In both cases I tried with both image files (A and B) all these times the results where the same:
- I hold the reset button and turn on the power of my Qnap TS-110.
- I release the reset button when I hear 2 beeps a few seconds after power on my NAS.
- The orange LAN light flashes and the red status light remains lit.
- A few seconds after that I receive a long beep.
- According to the manual the status led should be flashing green at this point and the NAS would reboot. This doesn’t happen, the status led keeps flashing red. The orange LAN light keeps flashing but not as heavily as it did before the beep.
So this is where I get stuck every time. To see if something happens or not I logged in with root/root and run the command “ifconfig”. RX increases on eth0, however TX stays the same at 468 bytes.
I tried this on 3 computers multiple times using the regular boot cd method and VM ware method.
@Maurice: Please check the reply above you this is maybe the problem and the right solution!