D-Link DNS-323 2-Bay Network Storage Enclosure - Retail

[ncage]

http://www.microcenter.com/sin...tml?product_id=0245672

 

[OctaneZ]

After $40 MIR
Looks like there is a hacking community for it: http://wiki.dns323.info/

SmallNetBuilder and ExtremeTech seem to like.

An alternate image for the box that allows SSH/SFTP/RSYNC.

 

[dajeepster]

I just bought this... i've been waiting for the longest time for the price to come down. I work at MC part time and didn't know about this deal til now...
thanks OP

I'm putting in two 500Gb and setting up as raid1

 

[OctaneZ]

Originally posted by: dajeepsterI'm putting in two 500Gb and setting up as raid1

Can you let us know what firmware it came with, and if you had luck upgrading to the new official image?

 

[dajeepster]

Originally posted by: OctaneZ

Originally posted by: dajeepsterI'm putting in two 500Gb and setting up as raid1

Can you let us know what firmware it came with, and if you had luck upgrading to the new official image?

It came with firmware version 1.03
I upgraded it to firmware version 1.04 with no problems at all.
I'm running Vista Ultimate 64bit with no problems accessing the drive. I have the drive mapped on two different computers and can access from both computers. I'm accessing from computer -> DGS-2208 -> DIR-655 -> DGS-2208 -> DGS-2208 -> DNS-323

everything is working fine. i'm running gigabit ethernet on my lan.

 

[OctaneZ]

Well I bit, hopefully the rebate will come through, looks like a good $100 toy

 

[OctaneZ]

Well I bit, and a couple hours later got a backorder notice:

*****************************************************
Order Summary - Backordered Items >>

Item SKU Quantity Description
760769 1 DLINK 2BAY SATA EXT NAS ENCL .

*****************************************************

Still says "Usually ships in 1-3 business days." on the website, rebate is good until March 2 so not worried yet.

 

[dajeepster]

Originally posted by: OctaneZ
Well I bit, and a couple hours later got a backorder notice:

*****************************************************
Order Summary - Backordered Items >>

Item SKU Quantity Description
760769 1 DLINK 2BAY SATA EXT NAS ENCL .

*****************************************************

Still says "Usually ships in 1-3 business days." on the website, rebate is good until March 2 so not worried yet.

I got mine at the store in Rockville, Maryland last night. There were 7 left that I could see.

 

[LoverBoyJ]

Does this need additional software for accessing the data (i.e. like a proprietary NAS systems)?

 

[OctaneZ]

Originally posted by: LoverBoyJ
Does this need additional software for accessing the data (i.e. like a proprietary NAS systems)?

No it's a SMB/CIFS/FTP server though you can mount it as a drive letter if you want.

Being based on linux though there are alternative images that include other protocols like NFS/SSH/RSYNC/HTTP as well.

 

[NeoV]

is there anything like this for IDE drives? I've got 2 750gb's sitting here!

 

[AkumaX]

I have one of these, they are nice. Any questions on it?

 

[OctaneZ]

Just got an email from customer service, they expect to ship the unit next week.

 

[Averox]

Just got a backorder notice with no updated shipping estimates

 

[pmark]

Originally posted by: AkumaX
I have one of these, they are nice. Any questions on it?

How is the noise factor on this? Does it spin down the HD when it isn't in use?

 

[Uhtrinity]

I also have one of these setup as RAID 1 mirrored (Seagate ES 500GB X 2) for nightly server backups. Been using it since November with no issues. I like that the drives shutdown after 10 minutes of inactivity, and they only take about 10 seconds to spin up when needed. We're not using any of its other options atm. I believe it was around $170 when we purchased it, so $120ish is a steal.

 

[OctaneZ]

Microcenter shipped the DNS-323 I ordered on the 4th of February this afternoon. Looks like they have them back in stock.

 

[FreedomGUNDAM]

just got my DNS323 up and running using (1) Seagate 7200.11 500GB hdd.

Pretty sweet unit. Will hold me until Windows Home Server (WHS) gets their data corruption problem under control

 

[StarTech]

What kind of timings can you get with this type of devices on a 1000MHz network?

 

[Uhtrinity]

Originally posted by: StarTech
What kind of timings can you get with this type of devices on a 1000MHz network?

Are you talking about transfer times? Mine peaks at 200 - 300 mbit/s on a 1G bit / sec network. Seems to be a limit of the hardware, but for NAS backup it is fine for our use.

 

[JackMDS]

This device write speed is about 8MB/sec.

Which is similar to the functional transfer of 100Mb/sec. Network.
A real Entry Level Giga Device should yield between 30 to 50 MB/sec.

This is a common problem with all Entry Level NAS devices due to their OS/Firmware.

That means that if "Speed" is important using any simple computer (like an old P-III) with Giga Network card, and decent Hard Drive, provides better transfer "Speed".

However if the "Speed" is OK by you, NAS makes less noise, takes less space and consumes less electricity.

 

[StarTech]

How does it compare to USB attached drives? What kind of delays does the network trip add?

 

[alex50]

Using a 300mb sata drive (single, standalone drive) in the DNS-323, I got write speeds just shy of 15MB/sec over a gigabit lan. Not a speed demon, but still faster than anything else in this price range.

Originally posted by: JackMDS
This device write speed is about 8MB/sec.

Which is similar to the functional transfer of 100Mb/sec. Network.
A real Entry Level Giga Device should yield between 30 to 50 MB/sec.

This is a common problem with all Entry Level NAS devices due to their OS/Firmware.

That means that if "Speed" is important using any simple computer (like an old P-III) with Giga Network card, and decent Hard Drive, provides better transfer "Speed".

However if the "Speed" is OK by you, NAS makes less noise, takes less space and consumes less electricity.

 

[dakata24]

Originally posted by: OctaneZ

Originally posted by: LoverBoyJ
Does this need additional software for accessing the data (i.e. like a proprietary NAS systems)?

No it's a SMB/CIFS/FTP server though you can mount it as a drive letter if you want.

Being based on linux though there are alternative images that include other protocols like NFS/SSH/RSYNC/HTTP as well.

So there's no special formatting that is done to the drives? So if i wanted to pull the drive out of the Dlink and put it into my desktop, Windows will recognize it?

just worried if the D-link would to ever fail, i would lose all my data.

Thanks

 

[JackMDS]

Just to be clear I am not against buying NAS'.

However there are few limitations to the Entry Level NAS' that people are Not aware of.

Beside the fact that the "Speed" is Not reported in a functional way, almost all of the Entry Level NAS' can not deal correctly with NTFS.

To some people NTFS support might Not be a problem, but if One do need NTFS support One should be very careful.

As for the difference between NAS and an Exetrnal Drive.

Good External USB2 drive would work 8 or more times faster than an avarege entry level NAS.

However External Drive does not provide the flexibility of a NAS. So Speed is Not always the consideration. Needs and working

Habits might be more impottant.

Ferrari is a very fast car, but if you are in the construction business you better of with a Truck.