BUFFALO LS-WX2.0TL/R1 2TB (2 x 1TB) LinkStation Duo Network Storage

Pros: Cheap.

Cons: Customer service response from Buffalo was so slow we had actually received the refund from Newegg before Buffalo replied to our support requests.

Pros: Raid, Media Server, web server, itunes server, 1000M nic, time machine and user account creation. Not sure about other reviewers but the time machine is simple to set. Create a shared folder with apple support and enabled time machine with the target folder being the shared folder you create. My Mac Book Pro picked it up without issues.

Cons: The only issue I have is the vibration noise from either the hard drives or the fan. Good thing its in a guest/computer.

Pros: Cost less than the other 2-bay nas enclosures

Cons: Really slow. Average less than 18 MB/s.
I have another Linkstation duo with my own 2x2TB hard drives in it. They both are 5,400 rpms hdds, and the average writing speed on this is 45~50MB/s. I am planning to backup/upload my ~10TB data to the nas, and it would take forever. I'd probably have to buy my own hdds instead of using the ones that comes with it. THEY ARE TOO SLOW.

Pros: My intended use: Local back up of photos, music, and documents from both Windows 7 based PC and Mac Book Pro connected via my router

It supports both Apple and Windows including TimeMachine. I like the fact that I can have a separate directories for Windows based files, Apple based files and or a combination of both.

Looks great and is quiet.

Cons: This is not Buffalo's issue so much but getting TimeMachine to work with my MacBook Pro took some digging and flipping of many switches. Getting TimeMachine to work with a non Apple HDD is not without a head ache or two.

Any file set over 10Gb you would be better off being connected to the router. Wireless transfer for large files is very slow. My initial TimeMachine back up is 300GB in size and would take over 2 days via wireless.

It auto updated the firmware 1.52 to 1.54 automatically and rebooted. Only by looking on Buffalo's website did I realize ,accidentally, there is firmware update 1.64 which was not automatically recognized. I had to manually download and install. Not a big deal but it should have updated to the latest version.

Other Thoughts: I like the fact that you can switch HDD easily, mounts like a normal directory. I have no need to use this as a personal cloud device but rather a back up my images and music for my home computers.

Just because you create a new shared folder doesn't mean the local admin account automatically gets Read & Write access. You have to explicitly define permissions to newly created shared folders outside of the default 'share' that comes already created.

The device takes a minute or so to wake up from sleep when in Automode. I first thought it was broken but one has to be patient.

Pros: Looks nice, has good set of options and more or less logical interface. Price. Support on Buffalo forums is ok.

Cons: Unit came with a defective hard drive and drove me crazy. Array reformat failed half way and I spent many many many hours trying to figure out whats wrong with it and fix it.

Tech support is pretty much going on their forums and trying to fish for information, there is basically no real formal guide to do anything on this thing.

THE FIRMWARE RESIDES DIRECTLY ON THE HARD DRIVES, so if there is a problem with the hard drives you have to jump all kinds of convoluted hoops to get the unit functioning again.

I wouldn't deal with this unit again...

Pros: This product is shipped with two 1TB WD green drives (2nd gen I believe), which can reach temperatures of 90 degrees Celsius under constrictive conditions. As such, I’d recommend swapping the drives out on your own. I purchased two 3TB WD red drives which have a significantly lower rate of failure. In addition to this, the LinkStation itself has failsafe commands. Upon hard drive, fan, or power failure, it can send you an email or text message alert, and then shut itself off. Considering I have more than 5TB of important data, I chose striping over redundant array, with an external drive connected to the LinkStation’s USB port to intermittently back up crucial data folders every 24 hours.
Remote Access availability and accessibility depends greatly on your router. Port forwarding is necessary, “println()” IP output is also necessary unless you have a static IP or DynDNS-like service. To clarify, even if your ISP serves you a dynamic IP, you will still be able to access your WebAccess interface. In two months, I have experienced 100% availability through http, https, and android application. Currently the android application does not support https, but the development team has expressed interest in implementing the service. The android allows http audio streaming and http file downloading. The WebAccess interface is similar to any offline file browser, with a slight but noticeable lag. Current capabilities (via http or https) include upload, download, share (send someone a download/stream link for a determinable time), delete, move, and play (stream audio over the web interface).
Remote file transfer rates appear to cap around 400kbps (bits) for both upload and download and the system currently bundles multiple file transfers in zip folders by default. Inside the NAT, you can expect to see transfer rates of 12mBps (bytes), or about half the actual speed of USB 2.0, allowing extra processing time for data redundancy. In stresstesting the unit, I found I was able to stream 2 simultaneous uncompressed blu-ray rips without buffering.
Network security both local and remote is ostensibly flawless. With every pentest tool in my arsenal, I could do little more than bring the system down temporarily, at which time the system alerted me of such. I found no exploits save for the standardized “admin” username which cannot be disabled. As with every internet portal, however, your data is only as safe as your password is complex. Local and remote User Access Control (UAC) lists and groupings allow complete control over your data; that is, who can access what? How much total data do you want them to have? And how fast should they be able to get it?
DLNA, bittorrent, PS3, Windows, Linux, even my finicky WDTV live unit all ‘just seem to work.’ Plug it in, set up UAC, and your data is instantly available through all mediums.

Cons: No android HTTPS

Other Thoughts: Would you rather fight one hundred duck sized horses or a single horse sized duck?

Pros: Love the form factor

Cons: Fan failed and caused hard drive failure

Pros: Supports just about everything - DNLA, iTunes, Time Machine, Windows Domains and Active Directory, RAID 1. Of course, they are only available when the Link Station is working - which is not very often!

Cons: This unit has a major firmware bug (confirmed with Buffalo Tech Support) that causes it to drop off your network after a while (hours to days). A hard restart is required to restore network connectivity. Don't even think about one of these until they resolve the issue or you will spend hours (like I did) trying to track it down only to have it keep failing.

Other Thoughts: Very sad that Buffalo is not owning up to this proactively. I have a number of Link Stations, but I will surely have no more of them.

Manufacturer Response:

Please send me an email so we can trouble shoot your unit. There is no firmware bug on this unit. It sounds like you are using the power save mode on the unit and it is going into sleep mode. The power save mode will put the unit to sleep when there are no PC's on the network running the included software "NASNavigator". When ever a PC with the software is on the network, the LinkStation will sense it and power itself back up. If you don't want to use the Eco mode, or install the NASNavigator software then you just need to set the switch in the back of the unit from "AUTO", to "On". In "ON" mode the unit will remain on at all times and wont go to sleep.


thanks!
Marco
newegg@buffalotech.com

Pros: - Price
- Easy Setup
- Good Tech Support

Cons: - One Drive Failed in RAID1 Array after 5 Months
- User can not change failed drives themselves. If one or both drives fail after warranty, you are dead in the water!

Other Thoughts: RMA Process

Option 1: Send the defective unit back and wait for Buffalo to repair and retun it.

Option 2: Advance Exchange: Buffalo charges the price of the new unit plus $30.00 return shipping upfront. Unit price minus shipping charges will be refunded upon receipt of defective unit!

Why can't Buffalo let the user ship the unit back themselves? It will cost a lot less than $30.00 that Buffalo charges for prepaid shipping label.

Manufacturer Response:

Fraisal, there is a misunderstanding on this. the previous version of this unit (end of life 2-3 years ago) was not set up for easy drive replacements. The unit you currently own is set up for quick and easy drive replacements. the front bezels comes right off and will reveal your two drives with a quick release pull lever to eject the failed drive so you can replace in under a minute. RMA dept can send just the drive. A full unit replacement is not needed. please email me if you have questions.

thanks
marco
marcor@buffalotech.com

Pros: These devices are great! I do not personally own one, but being in the IT industry I have deployed several of these to my clients, every one of them WORKS!

They are very simple to set up, they make it known right from the beginning that they are default to RAID 0, which is good and switching to RAID1 couldn't be simpler.

PErformance on these is no worse than making a folder shared on a server and mapping the drive in that fashion. In fact, the software automatically maps the drive for you!!!! Best if you make the necessary changes to make the device a static IP address though, but the software uses NetBIOS naming and doesn't require the IP.

Once you configure RAID1 you never have to worry about the drives again. If one goes bad you simply replace it, AND the drive cage is hotswappable!!!

Also, Buffalo's responses to these reviews do not go unnoticed. This kind of behavior has not gone unnoticed. WELL DONE!!!

Cons: Needs optional flame decals for sides!!!

Other Thoughts: Honestly well worth the money, you get the functionallity of a fileserver in a box that takes up less room than 2 textbooks. NOT TO MENTION the fact that in RAID1 you add 1TB of centralized storage to your network, with redundancy in case of drive failure at only 2 to 2.5 times the amount of 1 hard drive. This kind of feature is WELL WORTH the extra money.