Slow Performace with Firmware 2.2.90, downgrad back to 2.1.92

Community Archives WD ShareSpace
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I have a WD Share Space 4TB since 2 years. My experience with that device is very blended. The Marketing of WD selling a cheap NAS with a better Performance than a USB 2.0 drive. Big Fake!!

I have done every Firmware update since I have the device in the hope that the Performance will be better.

Since the Firmware release 2.2.90 it was the dead end.

Transfer rates around write of 3-4 MB read up to 4-5 MB. The device is not usable anymore with this kind of speed. the Patch released helps a little bit but not significant.

I have found out that the Firmware 2.1.92 was having the best performance, and found the Firmware on " http://download.wdc.com/nas/wda4nc40000-02.01.92.img" , but downgrade of the firmware is not allowed.

You can access the Device via SSh, there you can change the /etc the file Version, just modify 2.2.90 to 2.0.90. (Using VI) after that you can Update the Firmware to the version 2.1.92.

As well have I disabled some Services where I do not need (Twoonky, MiloNet and DNS) After that the write speed is up to 11-13 MB (That is the limit of the CPU on the NAS) and read speed between 27 - 35 MB.

The device is now usable for me, but still the write Performance is not the best. What I have Laernd again is:

When you buy cheap, you buy twice :slight_smile: And the next will not be a WD.

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Dont suppose you can tell me how you did all that ? it would really help me…  I don’t regard £800 as cheap it was all I had and now I’m screwed.

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800ÂŁ is grand larceny!!! Here in Switzerland I have paid SFr 680, this is a low price for a 4 slot NAS.

But anyway I was never happy with that device and sooner or later I will replace the NAS.

But I try to explain to you what I have done.

1.       Enable Root access over the WEB interface from the NAS (Advanced mode / System /advanced)

2.       Use Putty to access the NAS via Linux Root access (Check Google for Putty when you not have the tool)

3.       When you have access to the Root of the NAS type “VI/etc/version” (VI is an editor used under Linux, the commands are not very easy but ask Google for VI Commands) Change the value in the file to 2.0.91 (in my case it was 2.2.91) The value must be under 2.1.92.

4.       Download the Version 2.1.92 from the link http://download.wdc.com/nas/wda4nc40000-02.01.92.img

5.       From the WEB Interface (Advanced mode / System /Update) and choose manual Update and select the File you have downloaded.

After that your Device has been downgraded to version 2.1.92. But I can’t take any guaranty that it will work in any status. I have done this one my owned frustration and risk. I was on that point work or die.

To disable some Services that are not needed, does I used an easy way to disable them.

1.       Check what kind of Services you need and what is running on the device. In this case go back to the Root of the Device and run the following command “ps –aux”. This will give you a List of Services running.

2.       In the Folder /etc/init.D you have all the Services which are installed on the NAS. All not running services has an underline in front of the Service. (Example “S97twonkyserver” is a running service  or “_S97twonkyserver is a disabled service”)

3.       To manual stop a Service you can run the command “/etc/init.d/S97twonkyserver stop” When you would like to Disable the Service rename the File and put a “_” in front of it. (Command “mv S97twonkyserver _ S97twonkyserver”)

4.       Reboot the NAS when you have changed and check on the Console with “ps-aux” that the Service has not been started anymore.

5.       Enable the Service again just remove the “_” and restart the NAS.

I am not a Linux expert, maybe there is another way, but in my case it works.

I hope this will solve your Problems as well, but as I have written, the Performance of the NAS will never be very fast. I have canceled the hope in that.

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does someone have link for latest img firmware relase?

thanks

l.

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For the latest Firmware you can do Online Update. Latest version is 2.2.91.

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Thanks Merlin69, I followed your procedure and changed back to 2.1.92. So far no problems, rollback saved all of my settings and data. Got rid of the CTorrent client that to me was a waste of resources as well. I’m no Linux expert, but I followed your steps and just needed to type “vi” instead of “VI” to edit the version file. Great job :smileyvery-happy:

Happy holidays and all the best for the New Year.

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Hi Badmen

Sorry for the “VI” I forgot that Linux is straight case sensitive :smiley:

But thank you for the positive feedback. But can you tell me what the name is of the ctorrent Process? Maybe I have still an active component that I am not using.

And I wish you as well Happy holidays and all the best for the New Year.

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The nice thing is that is that CTorrent isn’t in this version of the firmware, so there is nothing to disable:smileyvery-happy: CTorrent was one of the features that was added to the firmware before the latest. I upgraded the firmware to that version because I thought CTorrent would be useful. Found out after the upgrade that CTorrent was basically useless and the firmware slowed the transfer speed down to 4 or 5 Mb/s :cry: I was under the impression that you could not rollback to an older version of the firmware. When I found your post and the rollback worked I was very happy :smileyvery-happy: CTorrent was gone and the transfer speeds were back to 10 or 12 MB/s Best Xmas I’ve had so far :smileyvery-happy:

I only use my Sharespace for storage - I backup to it and play media from shares. I just use the basics and so far I have not missed any of the features from the latest firmwares. I hope I will learn from this and stick with what works :smileyvery-happy: But I probably won’t :smileyvery-happy: At least I know it’s possible to rollback now.

By the way I put a suggestion in the IDEA LAB that WD should make the Sharespace firmware modular. Concentrate on making the core firmware reliable and fast. Make things like CTorrent and Media Servers add-ons or plugins that are optional that you can install and uninstall without effecting the main function of the NAS. If you agree maybe you can a vote to my suggestion.

Thanks again

1 Like