LinkStation 160GB Network Storage Center
1 Fair, not great
The Linkstation works pretty well at home, but the setup is a problem. Novice users will find it confusing; experts will find it confining, almost doing what is needed. Managing the disk is tedious, the extra printer support didn't work for my printer (HP 1210).
As a disk server that is already running, it works reasonably well. It has a problem with power failures -- unlike everything else that knows how to turn on again, you need to walk over and manually use the switch on the front.
I would recommend you consider instead the SimpleTech SIMPLESHARE that was a lot easier to run, though slightly slower than this device.
2 Poor Software Design
This product was easy to install on our small office network, but then we hit the following snag:
We wanted to set up seperate secure folders for each user, so that one user cannot access another user's folder. I checked that the Buffalo has this feature before buying it.
The problem is that this rather basic function only works if the username and password for the Linkstation are the same as the username and password for Windows XP login. While this doesn't sound like a big problem, three factors make this a real pain:
1) this is not mentioned anywhere in the product manual or website;
2) Linkstation does not allow all XP usernames and passwords; ie, most windows XP user names are, well, the user's name ("John Smith"), but the Linkstation does not allow spaces in user names, so you have to change all of your XP user names to use secure directories on the Linkstation. Also, the Linkstation only allows passwords of up to 8 characters, while XP allows much longer passwords/phrases.
3) In order to back up your computer once a month on the Linkstation, you've got to create an XP login and use it every time you boot up your computer.
Looks like a good product for single users, but beware of the issues above if you plan to use the secure folders feature.
UPDATE--January 25, 2005
After trying to use this device for a couple of days, looks like I'll be sending it back. In addition to the problems identified above, the Linkstation keeps disappearing from the network and periodically does not allow users to log in to their secure folder (all of this even after a firmware upgrade). Very disappointing.
Tom
3 Great product; Horrendous support!
Advantages:
1) Easy to configure
2) Fast and reliable
3) Print Server
4) Runs linux; Allows hacks and new features
5) Yahoo user group where people share information.
6) Tried netdisk by Ximeta; shouldn't have wasted my time and just bought this.
Disadvantages:
1) Shipping firmware 1.43 didn't work for me.
2) Support took a week and a half to let me know (that is the advantage of the Yahoo user group got the info in 10 minutes)
3) A little more expensive than similar NAS options.
4) Included connection software looks like it was written for Windows 3.1
Bottom line is once it is working it is pretty impressive and flawless. There is alot that can be done with it and alot of support beyond Buffalo making more information available!
4 Easy to configure, worked no problem
I read the other reviews and haven't experienced any of the same problems, but I'm running firmware 1.44 and haven't used the device more then a few hours.
I received the LinkStation tonight and was eager to get it working. I usually don't read instructions, so I quickly hooked up the power, ethernet and a USB printer (rear port). Plugged the ethernet cable into my linksys wireless router using the default straight through cable setting. I downloaded from www.buffalotech.com the latest manual and drivers. You really don't need any drivers or even the installation disk if you know how to check for a leased DHCP address from your DHCP server (in my case the linksys router). Just simply type in a browser http://assigned-dhcp-ip-address. The user name is equal to root and password is blank.
Next, I went in to configure the date and time, configure a new static ip address (I don't recommend ever using a Dynamic IP on a network server). Then change your administrative password. If you are going to user the product as a FTP Server, enable this and set up some more shares. For security reasons I recommend disabbling anonymous log on. Configure user authentication and user group permissions. I didn't try the support for PDC Windows type authentication, but it looks easy to configure. If you are not going to use a windows domain, then make sure you configure your "workgroup" to match your home machines. The default on newer machines is mshome, but you can change it to anything as long as you are consistent.
The printer which I had seemed to configure itself. The most difficult part was installing the local print driver, which in Windows XP Professional was fairly simple. I pointed to the manufactures driver, which I downloaded from Brother.
My only complaint is that the LinkStation does not support Dynamic DNS. This would be a great feature for those of us that cannot afford a static IP address from our ISP's.
5 Best in class - superior to Linksys, Lacie, others
I purchased this product to replace a Linksys Network Attached Storage Device. It's an amazing product. Key advantages:
1. Size. Device is small, not much larger than a paperback book. The Linksys comparable devices are sized more like a large shoebox or even bigger.
2. Print server. With a built in USB print server, most any USB printer can be networked. My Canon inkjet works perfectly. The Linksys devices still support only parallel port printers...not many people have these...I haven't seen one in years.
3. Quiet. The device is virtually silent.
4. Price. Price per megabyte better than many others.
The only criticism I would offer is that the documentation could be stronger. I had some trouble figuring out how to get my computer to recognize it on the network. However, not too much trouble...and once I got it working initially, it has worked flawlessly ever since. Also, the one time when I called technical support, the line was answered immediately...what a refreshing change from the usual 45 minutes or more on hold from various other vendors.
6 Will be a great product when Buffalo fixes the firmware
Certainly an economical way to add network attached storage to any SOHO environment. Plus, on-board SAMBA implementation allows device to participate in Microsoft Windows domain security.
Buffalo made the financial decision to ship LinkStations with version 1.43 of the device firmware KNOWING FULL WELL THAT IT IS BROKEN. In fact, they tried to fix it by releasing 1.44, but that version was also buggy so they removed it from their website. Problems include: [1] HTTP server on device stops working after an hour or two (need to reboot to get it going again)... which means you can't configure the device!; [2] after same period of time one can no longer browse the device in Network Neighborhood and sometimes can no longer access file shares on the device (until it is rebooted.)
Spoke with Buffalo customer service and they confirmed these problems are with firmware version 1.43 and they are confused as to why their management continues to ship devices with known problems.
It would be a great device if the firmware worked - however, I find it very hard to trust Buffalo as a company knowing what I now know.
7 Just plain terrible
I bought this hoping it would solve my problems needing a print server and file server.
The print server has no setting besides changing the name of the printer. No documentation on it as well. I bought a linksys print server and was able to customize it so everyone in the office was able to connect with NO problems using windows, mac osx, mac os 9 and linux.
As far as the file server, the permissions are limited to folder level. I bought it to ease my pain trying to work with windows 2003 woes and permissions. When I called tech support asking how to set one user with read/write permission and everyone else with read only....they said it wasn't possible. I tried for hours thinking there was a way around it. Nope.
Use the linksys nslu2 system if you want something that is SO easy and effective. The speed may be higher on this unit due to ide vs usb2 but the interface is years behind a well polished company like linksys.
