HDD usage...

slicker55

My Reolink 8Ch NVR has:

1 x internal 4TB HDD
1 x external 4TB HDD (eSATA)

I am using the Mac desktop app to monitor usage of these drives and have noticed that after initialising both drives, they showed 3179 GB

The external drive was automatically taken into use, indicated by a steady reduction in available disk space.

I anticipated that once the external drive was empty the operating system would automatically switch to the internal drive.

However, when the external drive reached 2816.77 the operating system switched to the internal drive which is now steadily reducing in disk space.

Current readings:

Internal 0 3179 GB 3106.77
External eSATA 3179 GB 2816.77

Questions:

1. As these are 4TB drives, why is there only 3179 GB available after initialisation?

2. How does the operating system deploy available disk space across multiple drives?

Cynthia

Hi, the HDD storage depends on the HDD manufacturer, different manufacturers may have different standards to set the HDD storage. So, the available storage of a 4TB HDD won't be 1024*4 GB (the HDD system needs to occupy certain storage).

If you install 2 HDDs in the NVR, there will be volume 0 (generally the preinstalled HDD) and volume 1, the NVR will store videos to volume 0 first. When the colume 0 is full, it will save videos to volume 1. If both HDDs are full, it will overwrite from volume 0.

slicker55

Thank you Cynthia - you do a great job monitoring and answering all of our questions - appreciated

The information you have provided confirms what I suspected.

However, in my case, the external drive started first and later switched to the internal drive before it was full?

Both drives are Western Digital Purple Surveillance 4TB 3.5 SATA 6Gbs 64MB (WD40PURZ)

Splen

Hi Slicker55, did you find a resolution?

slicker55

... seems to be working fine, goes for 17 days and then starts over-writing the oldest recording

Splen

Thanks

What connection cables and external case over did you use for your esata

Splen

Thanks for the info, I found the Enclosure, S351BMU33ETG but instead I dropped the “g” S351BMU33ET on Amazon.com and found the same one for 1/2 the price.

slicker55

@Splen Dence
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Here you go mate...
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I managed to speak to StarTech.com via online chat.
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Here's the transcript:
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[06/04/2020, 22:42:55] Hi, I am talking to someone on a CCTV forum and I have recommended your e-SATA enclosure (S351BMU33ETG)... note, I am based in the UK... he says he has found a similar item on amazon.COM S351BMU33ET (Note G is missing). Is this the same enclosure ... maybe the G defines models for export?
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[06/04/2020, 22:44:33] Monica: One moment while I look into that for you.
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[06/04/2020, 22:46:34] Monica: Thank you for your patience. The S351BMU33ET from Amazon.com is the NA version of the unit which does not include UK/EU power adapter and the S351BMU33ETG includes universal power adapter for NA/EU/UK/ANZ

slicker55

...also, you may be interested one of my other posts...
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The spreadsheet has been uploaded - waiting for admin to make it available for viewing and download.

Splen

Thanks for everything Slicker55. The WD40PURZ x2 and the enclosure arrived and easy installed. I’m hoping the firmware on the WDs are updated since the manufacturing date is Feb 2020. Will check put your other posts.

Splen

I use windows.... Reolink 4K PoE Security Camera System with 6 B800s and 1 422w. Debating on purchasing 2 D800s. Not sure if I need them...single level home.

derek johnston2

I’ve got that enclosure and that drive, like yours, but the client fails to format it. It states format failed. I even tried a different esata enclosure, but the result was the same. I have no idea what the problem is.

Did yours just work?

Splen

Hi derek are you in the USA or another country. The one I purchased on Amazon is for the USA: S351BMU33ET the other is S351BMU33ETG (note the G on the end)

Splen

Oh Derek, mine worked out the box, I just plugged my harddrive into the box, attached the cord to both the esata box and the NVR, and it worked. Then I formatted the harddrives.

Splen

Maybe the firmware on the WD drives need to be formatted or updated.

derek johnston2

Swapped the drives. The WD worked fine inside the NVR. I’m suspecting the esata port on the NVR.

Cynthia

If the HDD can work inside the NVRbut cannot work with the esata port, please contact the Reolink Support support@reolink.com to troubleshoot.

derek johnston2

My investigation is complete. The suspicion that the esata port or the esata cable might be faulty was incorrect. I received today an esata to sata cable, so could connect my external enclosure directly to the second sata port (for esata drives) on the NVR motherboard, bypassing the esata port and cable. The drive would not format, as before!

On to plan B. I connected the esata enclosure to the first sata port (for the internal drive). The external drive now formatted and worked perfectly. Conclusion – the second sata port on the motherboard is faulty. To confirm, I plugged the internal drive into the lower sata port, and it would not format either. I presume this can only be rectified by a replacement NVR.

Cynthia

Please submit this problem to https://reolink.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new. And our support will help you deal with this issue.