Fastest way to transfer files from external HDD to NAS server?

[Spartan Erik]

Hey everyone, I'm relatively new to using NAS, and I've got a question: What would be the fastest way to get files from my external HDD onto my NAS server?

To be more specific, I have an external hard drive, and I would like to transfer large media files from it to my ReadyNAS Ultra 2+ (specs/stats: http://www.amazon.com/Netgear-ReadyNAS-Diskless-Attached-RNDP200U/dp/B004A91100)

Here's what I have to work with:

ReadyNAS Ultra 2+ (with 1 TB Hitachi Deskstar)

WD external HDD (1 TB, USB 2.0, NTFS format)

Desktop PC with Atheros Gigabit ethernet controller

Router (Linksys WRT54GS; my Ultra 2+ is currently plugged in to this router)

Cat5 cables (of course)

If anyone could give me advice or a step-by-step guide in terms of what to hook-up to where would be greatly appreciated!

[EDIT]

I've enabled fast writing from USB drives in the NAS's settings, but the highest transfer rate I observe going from external USB output-to-NAS USB input is <980 KBps

[FiB3R]

Your ReadyNAS has a USB port, right?

[chconline Veteran]

  On 02/04/2011 at 19:41, DARKFiB3R said:

Your ReadyNAS has a USB port, right?

+1

Just plug it in and use some onboard copy functions on your NAS.

[Spartan Erik]

Yeah the NAS has USB ports, but the transfer rate from external to the NAS is incredibly slow. (There is a setting to enable faster writing, but surely theres a faster method)

Is there a way to transfer data through a faster means? e.g. ethernet cables?

[chconline Veteran]

How much data do you have? By the time you've figured it out it probably would have been faster copying immediately :p

The other option is to take apart the hard drive and plug it into the SATA port on your mobo, but you'll void your warranty, and it's a little more work. 1TB of data (Assuming it's full) at 30MB/s won't take you too long.

[DootDootMan]

Use the ethernet port?

[Spartan Erik]

  On 02/04/2011 at 20:37, DootDootMan said:

Use the ethernet port?

Care to explain how exactly?

I considered taking apart my external, but the case is made up with some rather brittle plastic.

I've got roughly 700 gigs of data to transfer

[FiB3R]

Easiest way, hook up your external drive to the NAS directly via USB

Fastest way, Take the drive out of it's enclosure, connect it via SATA to you PC, and transfer the data via you network.

I'd recommend using TerraCopy, to copy the data over, making sure everything copied correctly before deleting it from the original drive.

Maybe even do it in smaller chunks, so it's easier to manage if anything messes up. If you're in no real hurry, don't rush it.

Have you got all your shares set up on it already? If I recall, it's a pain in the arse doing it afterwards.

They are just folders but they act like partitions. I have these basic shares..

Backup

Media

Public

Software

Temp

[Spartan Erik]

Updated original post.

So I hooked up my external via USB to the NAS's USB port. In the NAS's settings I enabled fast writing from USB drives, but the highest transfer rate I observe is anywhere <980 KBps.

Oh, and yes I have my shares all set up (backup and media; folders "admin", "c", and "home" appear every now and then.. not sure why)

[lars77]

DARKFiB3R is right, the easiest way is to plug it into the USB 2.0 port & just wait it out while it copies.

You're just going to have to use whatever ports the ReadyNAS has to use. Usually I'd use eSATA or Firewire for large data transfers, but you don't have that option with what you've got.

That said, I think your ReadyNAS has a USB 3.0 port right? Perhaps try taking out the drive from your external hard drive case & installing it into an external hard drive case that supports USB 3.0, that's got to be faster than USB 2.0.

Or temporarily install the drive into your ReadyNAS & just copy the data onto the main drive? (not sure if the ReadyNAS would let you do that? I don't have one myself to test.)