No Space Left on Device Firmware Update MyCloud EX2

Western Digital’s My Cloud EX2 is a popular network-attached storage (NAS) solution for home and small business users. It offers centralized data storage, media streaming, and remote access. However, users sometimes encounter the error “No space left on device” during a firmware update, which can halt the process and leave the device in an unstable or unusable state.

This guide explains why this error occurs and how to fix it safely.

🔍 Why the Error Happens

The error “No space left on device” typically means the system partition on the My Cloud EX2 is full. The NAS has a separate, small internal storage area (outside the user data volume) reserved for its operating system and firmware. When this partition runs out of space, firmware updates may fail.

Common causes include:

Accumulated log files or temp files filling up the OS partition.

Multiple failed firmware updates leaving behind partial files.

An improperly configured or corrupted firmware partition.

Root file system corruption due to improper shutdown or power failure.

🛠 How to Fix It

⚠️ Important Note

These steps involve using SSH access. Proceed only if you're comfortable with command-line tools. Incorrect commands may void your warranty or damage your system.

Step 1: Enable SSH Access

Log in to the My Cloud EX2 Dashboard (web interface).

Go to Settings > Network.

Enable SSH and set a strong password for the SSH user (usually sshd or root).

Step 2: Connect via SSH

From a terminal or Command Prompt:

Replace <your-device-ip> with the IP address of your My Cloud EX2.

Step 3: Check Disk Space

Look at the output for the / or /dev/root mount point. If it shows 100% usage, the root file system is full.

Step 4: Clean Up Log or Temp Files

You can manually remove large logs or temporary files:

cd /var/log

ls -lh

Delete unnecessary large log files:

rm -f *.log

Also, check /tmp and /cache directories:

rm -rf /tmp/*

rm -rf /cache/*

Be cautious and avoid deleting system-critical files.

Step 5: Retry the Firmware Update

After cleanup, restart the device:

reboot

Then, try updating the firmware again from the Dashboard or manually via the firmware file downloaded from the WD Support site.

✅ Prevention Tips

Reboot the NAS periodically to clear temp files.

Monitor storage health via the dashboard.

Keep only essential apps installed.

Avoid repeated firmware update attempts without cleaning up between tries.

📞 When to Contact Support

If the file system is severely corrupted or the issue persists after cleanup, contact Western Digital Support. In some cases, a firmware recovery via USB or full system reset may be needed.

Conclusion

The “No space left on device” error on My Cloud EX2 during a firmware update is usually caused by a full system partition. By cleaning up logs and temp files via SSH, you can often resolve the issue and successfully apply firmware updates. Regular maintenance and monitoring can help prevent it in the future.

Let me know if you'd like a script to automate cleanup or detailed instructions for manual firmware installation.