Snap 4200 Issue
 

Hi, I've tried searching the forums and not found the same problem I have.

I've got a 4200 at work and my predecessor didn't document the admin password so I couldn't migrate it to our new domain.

Anyway, I tried the reset button thing to clear the admin password and since then it just won't start up. I've plugged a monitor into the back and it seems to be hanging where it says booting kernel. Have I inadvertantly bricked it? Can I find a disk image to restore from? Is there a Linux alternative like FreeNAS that I can install onto it instead? Or is it something way simpler than that? I cant restore from another 4200 because it's our only one and our other ones are really old so are probably only running SnapOS.

The only notice I get without plugging the monitor in is that eventually the 2nd light (the heartbeat type thing) stops flashing green and starts alternating green/orange.

I've already tried taking all the disks out/swapping them round and just using 1 disk.

Also the data isn't important, it was all backed up as part of the migration

Re: Snap 4200 Issue
 

Sadly, this one is easy... I have seen it a number of times. It's a blown OS.

What OS version was it running? What OS version do you have available to you (full install file)? Can you swap drives with another unit 4200/4500 unit?

Yes, you could use FreeNAS, but what a waste. The Guardian OS is so much better than all the others, more secure, more efficient, etc etc etc. If it is that bad, just sell the unit.

Feel free to contact me in e-mail (phoenix32x@hotmail.com) for quicker responses (I check that more often than I do here).

Re: Snap 4200 Issue
 

If you have a working GuardianOS units, you can transfer the OS if needed. Phoenix32 is the hardware expert. He has worked on many units and can help you out.

Re: Snap 4200 Issue
 

Success!!! It lives. Not sure what fixed it, I just put a blank unformatted drive into the first slot and rebooted then there was no more orange light. Then I traced its IP address from its MAC address on my DHCP server and it connected, let me run repair and I just added the original drives one at a time and it seems quite happy. Thanks for all the help :)

Re: Snap 4200 Issue
 

That means it booted from and copied the OS from one of the other drives.

Now wait a second, didn't you already say your tried each drive one at a time in slot 1? This is what I would have told you to do, but you said you had already done it.

Putting a blank drive in slot 1 and booting (other drives in their normal place) is no different than putting each drive in the slot 1 position (in this case, drive 2).

My apologies for not telling you to do this in e-mail, but I believed you had already done it.

Re: Snap 4200 Issue
 

I had done that, I alternated every existing disk in the server but each one came up with an orange light even when in on its own. So I put in a disk that I found in our stock cupboard, the disk light was orange but the one next to the power light wasn't flashing orange anymore so I tried to connect to it again and got into recovery mode. First thing I did when I got it up and running properly.... Imaged the OS so I don't have to panic about losing it.

Re: Snap 4200 Issue
 

Sounds like the OS was not loading well, but it got enough to load once and make the drive. Meaning, you got damn lucky. Be happy... :nod:

David?

Re: Snap 4200 Issue
 

I agree Andy, Something got damaged/corrupted in the OS. And was lucky that he was able to boot the machine. It would have been nice to see what the log said if anything. This is one case where the null modem cable may have been usefull.

Re: Snap 4200 Issue
 

Yeah, but he does not have a .GSU file, so in his case, no on the null modem cable other than for the full log...