Silence your IX4-300D’s Fans

The fans in the Lenovo IX4-300d NAS tend to run loudly and constantly at a fixed speed, regardless of the actual temperature inside the device. This can be distracting, especially in quiet environments. In this guide, we’ll show you how to reduce the fan speed to make your NAS run much quieter, improving your overall experience without sacrificing functionality.

However, it’s important to approach these changes with caution. Lowering the fan speed too much can lead to overheating, especially during extended or intensive operations. Be sure to thoroughly test any new fan settings to find the right balance between noise reduction and safe temperature levels for your specific setup.

Requirements

• SSH Access (Guide Here):
  You must be able to connect to your NAS using SSH. If you haven’t set this up yet, please follow [this SSH access guide].

• Modified Startup Script (Guide Here):
  To ensure Transmission starts automatically after rebooting your NAS, you’ll need a custom startup script located at /mnt/system/opt/init-opt.sh. Set this up by following [this startup script guide].

 

Connect to Your NAS via SSH

1. Open a terminal or command prompt on your computer.

2. Connect to your NAS by typing:

   ssh [email protected]


   (Replace 192.168.1.2 with your NAS’s IP address.)

Navigate to the Fan Control Directory

1. Once logged in, enter the following command to go to the fan control folder:

   cd /sys/devices/platform/mv64xxx_i2c.0/i2c-0/0-002e/


2. This folder contains configuration files for the fans on your NAS. Although there are three fan connectors, only the first is used by default.

Check Current Fan Speed Setting

1. The fan speed is controlled by the file pwm1_auto_point1_pwm.

2. Open this file with the nano editor (or your preferred editor):

   nano pwm1_auto_point1_pwm


3. You will see a number representing the current fan speed setting. By default, it is usually set to 126, which corresponds to about 1600 RPM.

Choose a New Fan Speed Value

Use the table below to select a fan speed value that balances noise and cooling:

Step 5: Edit the Fan Speed Value

1. Replace the existing value in the file with your desired fan speed number.
   For example, to reduce fan noise, you might set it to 115.

2. Save the file:

   • In nano, press CTRL + O, then Enter to save.

   • Then press CTRL + X to exit.

Important Safety Note

• Do not choose the lowest possible value without caution.

• Setting the fan too low may cause your NAS to overheat, especially during heavy use.

• It is generally recommended to keep the NAS temperature below 70°C. Occasional brief spikes during heavy activity are acceptable, but sustained high temperatures should be avoided.

Make Fan Speed Setting Persistent After Reboot

The setting you just changed will reset after a reboot unless you add the command to your NAS startup script.

1. Open the startup script for editing:

   nano /opt/init-opt.sh


2. Add the following line (change 115 to your preferred fan speed):

   # Set custom fan speed on startup
echo 115 > /sys/devices/platform/mv64xxx_i2c.0/i2c-0/0-002e/pwm1_auto_point1_pwm


3. Save and exit the editor (CTRL + O, Enter, then CTRL + X).

4. Reboot your NAS for the changes to take effect:

   reboot


Monitor Temperature and Fan Speed

• You can monitor your NAS temperature through the WebGUI under System Status.

• The current fan speed can be viewed in the Fan tab of the WebGUI.