NASLite Network Attached Storage

I am looking for a solution and/or a way to swap my USB version for the CD-ROM version. Basically, I have reviewed / tried almost every possible sugguestion as provided within this forum:
1. removing non required hardware
2. upgrading the BIOS
3. Deactivating power option
4. swapping / adding memory
5. reordering the boot options
6. Kicker floopy
7. etc.

Bottomline, nothing works.

My environment:
COMPAQ Deskpro EN; (256-RAM, 250-GB, floppy drive, CD-ROM, USB ports)
COMPAQ EVO 510 (SFF)l (512-RAM, 160-GB, floppy drive, CD-ROM, USB ports)

I currently use NASLITE+, and things work great, however, I am attempting to upgrade to v2.x to take advantage of the mirroring technology. You assistance is appreciated.

1plus3,

Sorry but need a bit more info on your problem,
where is it all going wrong?
are you able to program the usb device?
tell us what actually works and where it fails.

Sorry ... I got ahead of myself.

1. I currently use NASlite+ (CD-ROM boot) on a COMPAQ Deskpro EN; everything works great.

2. I am attempting to upgrade to NASLITE-2 v2.x (USB boot); primarily to take advantage of disk mirroring.

3. I purchased the new software, created the required CD-image disk, USB flash disk (Memorex thumm), and attempted to load the software.

Then the issues …

4. My computer would (still does not) not recognize the drive in the USB port.

5. I attempted to fix the problem by using the tips/tricks described in my previous post … nothing worked.

Next steps

6. The USB boot version does not work on my computer, therefore, I a simply want to swap the USB version for the CD version.

when you boot the CD can you actually program the usb device?

Understood. I have already programmed the USB device. In fact, I attempted to program three different devices (thumm drive, 256MB, 512MB, and 1GB.)

When I attempt to boot from the USB device, my computer does not recognize the thumm.

When I attempt to use the kicker drive, I receive the following error message "Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 01:00", and the computer does not process past this point.

I've just gotten started with nas, mostly using it with clients that are linux boxes, and am currently running Nfsg version 1.x via the floppy i created, also am running Freenas .68, the hard drive version. I was also looking at the Naslite Usb v2.3 as a possible upgrade, but as far as i can see, none of my Pentium 3 boxes i'm using for a Nas will boot from a flash either. I tried the usb version of freenas and if i use the kickers suggested elsewhere on a thread on the forum here freenas will program the usb but it won't boot from the usb. I also tried a usb pci card, i read somewhere here where someone suggested trying that, and the usb on that wouldn't boot either, So i'm reluctant to order the Naslite usb v.23.

I will probably wait for the Naslite Hdd version.

Meanwhile, is the Naslite CD version also version 2.3 and includes the mirroring features? I couldn't tell for sure by reading the announcements.

Did you program the USB flash on the same machine you are trying to boot? If so you may need to try another kicker. Gaiden has some alternates available on his site. I'd spend some time with the USB since it is a pretty nice solution.

As far as booting freenas with a kicker, freenas uses freebsd, while the kicker is designed for linux. You can't boot anything but linux using the naslite kicker.

infact your usb device is seen by the computer.

When you use the kicker if a usb device is not seen you will end up at the prompt.

take a look at this thread http://www.serverelements.com/phpBB2/vi ... php?t=1041

make sure you use the super floppy option where you program the usb pen. when using the kicker

Yes.

I programmed the thumm drive on the same machine, and my primary machine. Same results.

Important observation ... I can boot the primary machine (Dell 4600) with the thumm drive, and the NASLite server loads. However, the thumm drive is not reconized on the target environment (Compaq Deskpro EN).

NOTE: I cannot use my Dell 4600 computer for a NAS; This is Windows-environment computer.

For me, the simpliest solution is the abandon the USB boot version and swap it for a CD-boot version. It is very likely that the COMPAQ Deskpro cannot support a bootable USB device.

Hello dimension. Thanks for your help with the mounting command line to get my Naslite nfsg going (in the thread re that). I downloaded the kickers on the page you mentioned and this much i learned from them. First my P3 nas boxes wouldn't recognize the usb drives at boot. Using freenas which i'm also running as a test, the kickers worked in so far as they recognized the usb and let me program it. That much, but like you say freenas is not linux which explains why the programmed usb won't boot even with the kicker since it ends with the same message 1plus3 gets at the end.

As far as that goes, i prefer the hard drive boot that freenas offers anyway and apparently it won't be too long before Naslite offers the same. If i decided to use one of my newer pc's that boot from usb, the usb route might be worth it but the idea as i read it in both freenas and naslite was the ability to use legacy machines for the nas.

Is the current Naslite Cd version also version 2.3 if i may ask? Not sure i understand the hassle between the Cd and the Usb versions as far as ordering goes or why a customer must pay for both and or end up with 1plus3's request for a swap (unless there's no way of insuring only one version of the bundle can be key locked).

I'll wait for the hard drive version unless the CD version is also 2.3 with the same features as the 2.3 usb version.

linwing,

The versions V2.03 are the same as in the options, the only difference is the method of boot.

Some boards and usb pens wont boot no matter what you throw at them,
if its the board then you can always purchase a USB pci card these often work.

If you choose to go the USB route and your motherboard does not support direct booting from the usb then you will need to create a superfloppy naslite usb, then you need a kicker there is one supplied on the ISO or you can download a couple on my website the iomega often works where the panasonic dont.

I just remembered something, but my memory is lacking. someone will need to jogg it, it was to do with the way compaq machines handle the hard drives...... bios some thing like that....

Thanks gaiden. I meant without the kicker there is no provision on my P3's to boot from usb. And yes even though i tried it with freenas, since freenas was able to program the usb, yes with the kickeer it sees it even though it won't boot freenas with the programmed usb. I thought it was worth trying your kickers, on my nas boxes the panasonic worked best, freenas saw the usb and programmed it but the final result was 1plus3's for most likely the reason dimension gave and or that it's possible my P3's just won't boot from a progammed flash either (maybe i should try progamming the usb for freenas on one of my usb booting newer machines (but that's a thread for freenas, not here).

But to me, the programming seems excellent here on Naslite, but the marketing regarding having to make a catch 22 choice with the usb which is the same version as the CD, the marketing makes me wonder (thanks for saying the CD version is the same now as the Usb version 2.3, i wasn't sure from reading).

Anyway i was at the same point 1+3 was except hadn't ordered the Usb version 2.3 yet so thought i'd comment and ask about it. Thanks. .

Interesting observation here, people that seem to have a hard time figuring things out for themselves seem to always attack the Server Elements marketing approach. Why is that?

And as far as the try before you buy argument, you don’t do that with underwear do you? So why is a $30 software purchase such a big deal? There is plenty of docs and a great bunch of helpful people on the forum to back it up. Yet people still make a mountain out of a molehill. Why is that?

Just an observation

Come on dimension, lol. This is about LINUX, not MACY'S!....

I've been through my share of linux distros and run quite a few concurrently on a few machines into my linux IPCOP router/firewall. I'm also not one to knock distros and i am running Naslite nfsg v.1x free, thanks for your help with that. I had no problem creating the floppies for version 1.x using linux, installing it etc nor freenas. However, i did need your help with the mount command in Naslite, me not being a programmer or a linux cli expert and also new to nas.

If there's a weakness, it's not so much in the Naslite Pdfs or the freenas pdfs, more in getting them to work in all the distros...so far i have nfsg working on both freenas and Naslite in two linux distros and i've only been with it since late last week. Long way to go but so far so good.

And i don't see this as a try before you buy vis a vis the Naslite CD 2.3 vs Usb 2.3 version, why should a customer face the catch 22 of buying the latter if it may not work and or why aren't they bundled anyway so you can use whichever is preferred when you get it? That's not good marketing to me. But at any rate i'll settle for the hard drive version when it comes out. Meanwhile i'm not sure what i'll buy yet, i'd rather be sure than sorry.

As for the $30 part, i try new linux distros practically every week, a few i buy, a few i donate to, some i get off magazine covers, most are Oce downloads. When you put the big picture together, and i build my own boxes, it all adds up so it matters..

And Merry Xmas!...