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Buffalo Technology LS-500GL 500GB LinkStation Pro Shared Network Storage (Black) | List Price: $371.70
Discount Price: $177.99
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Brand: Buffalo
Binding: Electronics
Features: - LinkStation Pro; Setup CD-ROM; Quick Setup Guides; Ethernet Cable; Power Cord; Warranty Statement
- Simplified File Sharing For Home or Small Office Network
- Active Directory Support: Works as a client in an Active Directory domain allowing LinkStation Pro to utilize the domain users and groups.
- High Speed Processor and SATA Hard Drive Provide Ultra Fast Transfer Rates.
- Control Access With Group and User Level Security
Compact and silent [Posted on 2008-09-09]
The best is that it is very compact, with multi-voltage power supply integrated inside, so it takes little space. It also looks nice and seems of good quality.
I have bought two units. The first one came with a Samsung HDD which is extremely quiet. The second unit came with a Western Digital HDD which unfortunately is more noisy.
I use the second unit for backup purposes. The unit allows to do an automatic backup from one unit to the other, without the need of the PC being connected. I have programmed the first unit to perform a scheduled differential backup (which copies only the changes) of everything in the first unit to the second unit every night (while I am sleeping).
The backup functionality built in in the unit is quite limited and somehow confusing but you can find something that will work for you if you are not very demanding. The unit can backup to an external USB HDD or to another buffalo network unit. It doesn't support backup of multiple versions. If you need more, you can probably use the MEMEO software which is included but then you will depend of your PC for backup purposes.
The Web Server allows to program the unit. It is good enough although I would expect more perfection for a Japanese product. It allows to create/manage network folders, users and access permisions and Backup policy.
I use the first unit for all my documents (so that I can access them from multiple PCs) and for all my media (photos, music and video). It is fast enough to "stream", through SMB, standard definition video to a media center PC located in the living room. Overall the unit works well and I am satisfied with it.
not bad!! [Posted on 2008-09-21]
a really good product i think. pretty easy to setup (im using a mac) it has minor drop connections at first but give it a few hours and when os X locks on its easy peasy! speed is not quite what i hoped for, i think this products need an N connection all throughout.
but overall gets the job done. backs up everything you need backed up in a small package.
Very poor reliability [Posted on 2008-09-25]
I installed this thing OK, but then it kept giving me these random alarm beeps, very loud and very annoying. And everytime it did so it would reset the static IP address I'd put in there to a dynamic one, forcing me to go in and change it back to make it useable. I called tech support, but all they could do was suggest I update the firmware -- the updater didn't work, and the firmware was the latest version anyway.
THEN GRADUALLY THE BEEPS GOT MORE FREQUENT AND THE DISK JUST FAILED!
JUNK JUNK JUNK
Great PC/MAC NAS [Posted on 2008-11-20]
Works as advertised. I have had this unit installed for over a year now. I needed NAS storage that would work on my home network with both a MAC and a PC. The unit arrived quickly, installed easily and has been a solid addition of my home network. Since installation, I have even updated my network (new router and the addition of a giga-bit switch) with no issues. The LS500GL properly shares the network with a PC (XP), MACs (Tiger) a 10+ year old laser printer, router and switches. I have encountered no issues with this unit during installation or throughout my network upgrades.
Six months ago, I attached a USB 500GB HDD to the LS500GL USB connections. The unit properly recognized the attachment and the internal backup was easy to setup and schedule. It now performs a backup automatically to it's attached USB 500GB HDD. It performs this backup even standalone with my computers and network turned off.
I have been very pleased. The unit is quiet and just works.
So why not 5 stars? - Over the past year, I have carefully distributed my databases on the NAS drive to allow my wife and I to access the NAS data from both the PC and MAC at the same time. Generally all is well. However, we have had two database sharing issues. No corrupt data. I have isolated these issues to one particular application that we use on both the PC and the MAC (Using a PC Window). These issues could be application related, but the application was not using the same database on the NAS drive when in use on the PC and MAC. Provided we do not utilize this one application at the same time, all is well.
Buffalo LS500GL, Solid Performance [Posted on 2008-11-29]
Been using the Buffalo LS500GL after having bad experiences using the NetGear SC101. The Buffalo is a very solid performer. Does just what it advertizes. I use it for all MyDocuments between a wireless laptop and a wired PC. It plugs into one of the ethernet ports on the wireless router. Set-up was literally a 15 minute snap between the 2 machines both running XP. I just simply mapped the Buffalo drive to both machines and use its IP address to get into the user interface. You really dont need the install disk unless you want to use Memeo. Its very fast. Simultaneously I can have streaming music playing on the PC while uploading and downloading pictures from my camera on the laptop with no apparent degradation in performance. Highly recommend and would buy another without any hesitation.
Oh and just in case anyone is tempted to buy a NetGear SC101 - dont. Aside from keeping your coffee or food warm, its useless.
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