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I have had one of these for nearly a year now, and apart from some early glitches it has never let me down. I use with Linux and XP via CIFS. It has 2 500GB WD drives configured as RAID 1. Both the iTunes and Ftp servers work like a dream. Early problems in accessing in windows where drive kept disappearing from the network. This was solved by 1. editing windows>system32>drivers>etc>hosts to add the host name and IP address of the DNS323 and 2. binding the DNS 323's MAC address to an IP address. Some routers call this assigning a static IP address. No problems since I did this. I updated to firmware 1.03.
I had some initial problems with this drive, it used to hang and randomly corrupt file locations so you couldn't delete them. But after the firmware update it's been 100%.
I have now had one of these running for over 3 months with 2 Seagate 750 gig drives. Runs near silently if stood on some foam. Has performed without a hitch, even after a couple of powercuts.
Now beginning to look expensive compared to other options, however having experienced failures from both Maxtor and Buffalo NAS drives(one did a self test and pronounced itself dead, the other defaulted its menu to Japanese and could not be sorted by the on-line help) I will stick with self build.
Worked out of the box, once I read the instructions.
Using 2 x 500gb drives from different vendors, not point using drive form the same manufacture's batch as they will fail at the same time.
Very fast access time over 1gb network, much faster than PC to PC. Works with Vista and XP.
This is a superb NAS. Got it + 2 Samsung 500Gb drives. put the drives in, connected it to my gigabit lan, powered it up and it was working like a dream. then, having discovered that it is a full fledged linux box i started having fun. oh, it is also very fast, quiet and reliable. great value too.
Bought this back in July i am using it with a 500Gb and a 250Gb drives, before configuring i updated the firmware to 1.03 easy to set up users etc and am running the FTP server so its on 24/7, well pleased.
Amazing little bit of kit. First of all, it's tiny - barely larger than the 2 SATA drives it holds. Attaching the drives is completely tool-less, just lift the front panel and they slide in to place. Happily takes up to 750GB drives (and beyond). Plugs straight in to the network and you are up and running - just use the web interface or the supplied software CD to do any extra configuration you want for the extras like the print server, FTP server or media-streaming server.
Got one of these the other day as a stand alone Media Server.
Got 2 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 500GB S300.
Tested:
Setup:
Install Disks - Open front slide disks in (observe connections line-up). Replace front. Connect to network and power up.
Configuration: Connect via IE using 192.168.0.38 or your assigned IP address. Setup is down to preference - users/groups/folders, etc.
Write speed: 2.4 MBps
(wireless connection)
User/Group Setup: Easy (users in groups) Can assign users or groups to access folders.
Read Speed: MP3 and Movies stream well (again wireless connection)
Firmware: Upgraded to 1.03 from website (sometools are not carried forward from v1.00 to v1.03)
Untested:
UPNP AV server
iTunes Server.
Will update when I have tested more features and uncover any issues.
Good product, does what it says on the tin.
I got one of these and found that files were vanishing randomly and sometimes it would stop responding to the network completely.
However, for me all the problems I had were resolved by installing the latest firmware from the dlink site.
Niggles are:
The AVuPnP server is not compatible with the Playstation3, but that's just a small thing. D-Link has said that this is 'as designed' and have no plans to change it.
It's a bit pricey when comparing it to stand alone usb drives, considering it does not come with disks. But cheap when you compare it with something like an "Infrant ReadyNAS NV+" which are around £500, but supports up to 4 disks.
It arrived in the blink of an eye, I dropped in a pair of matched 320Gb drives, fired it up and failed to find it with the supplied tools :( Located it via a direct request through iExplorer, updated the software and formated the drive as a mirror. Sweet as a bell, attatched XP, Vista (with a registry hack) and linux (Fedora). Still can't be seen with the suppiled tools but it sits there and does what it says on the tin, it has never dropped out and now has it's own UPs too. It's got my vote, think I may have to treat it to larger drives though.
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