I have a 12 bay Synology NAS that I am fairly certain could run unRAID. If I wanted to test it, could I power down one of my unRAID servers that has a pro key and pop it in the Synology to see if it would work, or is that pro key bound to the hardware of the server its been running?

The key is bound to the USB flash drive -- NOT the system it's running on.

 

So there's no problem trying it on the Synology.  I'd save a complete copy of the flash drive contents before you try it, so you can restore everything the way it was on your current system when you're done testing it on the Synology.    Stop the array;  then copy the entire contents of the flash to a folder on your PC -- and then you can shut down your array and move the flash drive to the Synology.

 

Thanks Gary

Second question, the NAS has no VGA port so I can't connect a monitor. If I boot it up with an unRAID USB drive, how can I find it on the network other than doing a network scan? Is there a way?

Second question, the NAS has no VGA port so I can't connect a monitor. If I boot it up with an unRAID USB drive, how can I find it on the network other than doing a network scan? Is there a way?

Assuming because of the way you asked the question that you have your network settings in unraid set to DHCP. If that's true, easiest way is probably to log into your router and look at the DHCP assignments, the one that just got assigned after you booted the machine should be it. If you have a static IP defined on the USB key, it should just use that address.

 

Troubleshooting a no boot condition would be problematic. Does this unit have a serial console?

The unit is a Synology DS2413+ it does have a 9 pin serial port.

The unit is a Synology DS2413+ it does have a 9 pin serial port.

Quick googling doesn't give me a warm'n'fuzzy about using that port to get a console.

 

Good luck, hopefully someone has blazed the trail before you!

I'm wondering if a USB to VGA adapter would work.

Before you boot it on the Synology, boot it on your "normal" server (or any other system that it boots on okay); and do the following:

 

(a)  Be sure it's set to use DHCP

 

(b) Change the identifier string (Settings - Identification) to give it a unique name -- I'd think you already had this, but you can change it to whatever you want).    e.g. if you call it "synologyserver", then you should be able to access it with http://synologyserver/

 

One significant issue, however, is how you can be sure the Synology is booting to the USB flash drive.  If that's not the case, then clearly UnRAID isn't going to boot.  What video ports DOES it have ??

 

 

I can't be sure it will boot to the USB drive, if I have to, I can open the Synology and unplug the LOM that it may contain, then it should boot to the USB drive. It doesn't have any video ports at tall.

Agree -- if there are NO other bootable devices it SHOULD boot to the USB flash drive ... but clearly it's difficult to confirm that without any display.  Does your USB flash drive have an indicator light that "blinks" when it's being accessed?  That would at least be one way to confirm the system is booting from it.

 

 

I have so many, lol I'll have to dig around and see if I can find one that has that feature, good thinking.

I have so many, lol I'll have to dig around and see if I can find one that has that feature, good thinking.

 

Of course an arbitrary USB flash drive won't match your UnRAID key -- but you can still load it with UnRAID and see if it's booting.  If you can get the system set to it's booting to the flash drive; then you can use the "real" flash drive with your key.