... Once the latest firmware was downloaded from the Linksys web site this problem got much better.
* Requires an external USB harddrive.
If hacking hardware is not your thing, or you consider yourself to be a techie novice then you may be better off looking elsewere. There are too many ... Read review
Linksys Network Storage Link lets you add gigabytes to the storage capacity of your ... more
network quickly and easily. You can connect a maximum of two independent USB hard drives, which can be accessed from any workplace in the network. Using Network Storage...
Linksys Network Storage Link lets you add gigabytes to the storage capacity of your ... more
network quickly and easily. You can connect a maximum of two independent USB hard drives, which can be accessed from any workplace in the network. Using Network Storage Link, your data storage devices can also be accessed from the Internet.
Advantages: Low cost, small size, low-power consumption. Very hackable for those of you who like to get more out of your toys. Disadvantages: Cabling can become a bit of a rats nest. Requires an external USB harddrive.
...firmware was downloaded from the Linksys web site this problem got much better.
* Requires an external USB harddrive.
If hacking hardware is not your thing, or you consider yourself to be a techie novice then you may be better off looking elsewere. There are too many things that can go wrong; particuarly with NTFS formated drives - which it did not support when I purchased my unit.
I have owned an NSLU2 Storage Unit for about 1 year now. I used it out of the box as standard for about 2 months before deciding to hack it. Mainly due to its instability. I then modified my unit to run at double speed and not only serve as a network storage device but also to run a simple web server and MP3 streaming server.
NOTE: Hacking this device is not for the faint hearted! This kit runs Lynux and hacking it requires you to be confident working with Lynux. It is more than possible to turn this kit into a £50 door wedge if you play and mess up! PROS:
Low-cost, can be found for less than £50.
Small size, almost too small.
Low-power consumption, about 1.5 Watts so there is no worries with leaving it switched on.
Easy to use, un-modified, straight out the box it's fairly simple to get working just be sure to follow the instructions.
Runs Lynux, this means it's open source and you're free to modify it as you wish. Making it a great experimentation platform for those of you so minded.
CONS:
Tips over, being so small and light, the weight of the cables alone is enough to tip it over.
Once you have connected the power, RJ45 cable and USB leads it quickly becomes a cabling rats nest.
Slow! This device uses a very basic micro controller. It works hard and barely cuts the mustard. Transferring large numbers of files can take a while.
The original firmware was unreliable and hung frequently. Once the latest firmware was downloaded from the Linksys web site this problem got much better.
Requires an external USB harddrive.
If hacking hardware is not your thing, or you consider yourself to be a techie novice then you may be better off looking elsewere. There are too many things that can go wrong; particuarly with NTFS formated drives - which it did not support when I purchased my unit. If on the other hand you're interested in hacking this device, then I would suggest a quick google for NSLU2. There are several very good and active user forums.
I'm giving this device a rating of Poor for it's original purpose, but for hacking I would rate it as excellent.
Product Information for "Linksys Network Storage Link NSLU2" »
Manufacturer's product description
Now you can quickly and easily add gigabytes of storage space onto your network with the Network Storage Link from Linksys. This tiny network appliance connects USB 2.0 hard drives directly to your Ethernet network. You can connect up to two stand-alone USB disk drives of any size, and access them from anywhere on your network. You can even plug a USB flash disk into the Network Storage Link, for a convenient way of accessing your portable data files. The Network Storage Link can also be set up so that your storage devices are accessible from the Internet - files can be easily downloaded via your web browser. Your files can be available publicly, or create password-protected accounts for authorized users. Installation of the Network Storage Link is simple - just plug it directly into your 10/100 Ethernet network, and attach your USB 2.0 hard drives or flash disk. It can self-configure to your network via DHCP or you can use the built-in utility to manually configure it. With the speedy USB 2.0 interface, you'll get quick response times with even your largest files. The Network Storage Link features built-in disk utilities, accessible through your web browser. You can format new disk drives, and scan drives for errors. The built-in backup program lets you schedule full, incremental, or synchronization backups of your network drives to the Network Storage Link, or vice versa. It will even send you an email message when a hard drive gets nearly full, completely full, or has an error. The Network Storage Link is a fast, simple, flexible and economical way to add storage to your network.
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