Conclusion: After five years of continuous operation and experience with Buffalo- and Iomega RAID1 NAS storage devices we give this newly established Buffalo LinkStation 420 a strong buy recommendation, since they can be operated with little effort and special knowledge. The redundant memory must be called as a simple additional hard drive with us under a separate drive letter. That runs in the background a full network storage system, then the workplace is no longer visible.
=== Some Highlights & Details (incomplete selection) ===
= Positive =
+ 4TB (2x 2TB) capacity
+ USB 2.0 and Gigabit LAN interface
+ User-friendly setup interface in the web browser
+ Supporting RAID0 (complete memory of both plates) and RAID1 (both panels contain the same mirrored redundant content)
+ Plug - & - Play feature for external hard drives to expand capacity (no reformatting required)
+ Automatic or immediate backups to external USB hard drive possible (beginning and end of backups without computer use is email notification confirmed)
+ Very quiet operation
+ Simple initial setup and subsequent availability of memory under a drive letter
+ Remote control of media content via Android and iOS devices optionally possible
+ Read rate of 100 MB / s in direct connection with Gigabit network
+ Fast SATA 2 or 3 with 3 Gb / s for both hard drive bays
= = Mixed
o the "Auto" function -Start the on / off switch of earlier LinkStations was saved - shame
= Negative =
- Only a USB 2.0 port on the rear housing wall (not USB 3.0, not two USB ports)
=== === Facility
The device connected to the home network LinkStation 420 is searched using the available CD or the Buffalo server small program NASNavigator2 and found: the assigned network IP - network address, in our case 192.168.178.26 can then be entered in the Internet browser and with the ID "admin" and the password "password" it is in the user interface of the LinkStation. The factory RAID0 mode (both plates are used together as one large drive) is rapidly converted in the RAID1 mirror mode. . A simple folder, eg "My network storage", can then be created and be permanently connected to the computer as a network drive with its own drive letter: in "CMD" call under Windows "Start" is simple and enter only once: " net use N: \\ 192.168.178.26 \ My web store "(please note spaces!). In future, the LinkStation is in the Drive N at every reboot: callable.
More we do not use - even a web access we judge not from security. Everywhere available data we have on the dropbox. Our LinkStation is not for network access from outside - neither by us nor by unauthorized hackers - unlocked. But that is a personal decision. Buffalo enable external access via mobile devices, if you want to set up a "personal cloud".
=== === Hardly operating noise
The LinkStation 420 is at the home office right next to the desk, and should therefore be quiet. The old LinkStation Duo LS-WXL from 2010 was in operation already quieter than the same Iomega StorCenter procured, although cause for two next to the barely audible fan, the hard drives when starting and operating significant operating noise. The LinkStation 420 is very quiet after our feeling - and is directly connected via LAN connection with the Fritz! Box on the shelf!.
=== Manufacturer and disks ===
The new Buffalo LinkStation 420 is a relatively inexpensive product from the professional network storage Buffalo Technologies from Japan, currently next to Western Digital safely to the main network storage providers (including NAS -. Network Attached Storage) is one. Buffalo built for years, especially hard drives from Samsung, Seagate and Western Digital. In our LinkStation 420 two Seagate Barracuda 2000GB hard drives (model ST2000DM001) are installed.
=== Tip: Backup on USB hard drive for storage of physically different location ===
To prevent complete data loss for the unlikely cases of either a complete failure of the left station including both hard drives or the theft of the memory out of the house, the contents of the Link Station to an external USB hard drive is backed up. Not every (older) portable USB drive is detected at the station, we therefore have procured an external hard drive 6.35 cm (2.5 ") from Buffalo (1TB Buffalo MiniStation Safe), which was immediately recognized. A nightly backup of CA . 120 GB of RAID 1 array LinkStation 420 required about 1.5 hours, which is made from the e-mail notifications with reference "Start Backup" and "backup completed") easy to read. The computer was not required for Backup . The LinkStation 420 completed the self-employed. The backup is optionally logged to a log file on the LinkStation and on the backup media (USB hard drive) there is a, dated folder from which all data also be read directly in the mirrored directory can. The MiniStation external hard drive comes in a safety deposit box at a different location and the backup will be updated every few weeks ..
=== Tip: setting up the e-mail notification (via GMX) ===
The through the user interface to be set e-mail notification with our GMX account did not work right away because we did not find any clear statement. After some searching automatic notification ran with the following settings.
Address of the SMTP server: [smtp.gmx.com]
SMP port number: [465] (alternative: [25])
Authentication Type: [Login (SMTP AUTH)]
POP3 Server Address: []
POP3 port No .: [110]
SSL / TLS: [SSL / TLS]
Username: [ [email protected] ]
Password: [gmx-password]
Subject: [LinkStation Status Report]
Receiver: [ [email protected] ]
Report:
[X] HDD Status Report [00] lesson
[X] ventilation error
[X] hard drive failure
Finished [x] Backup
[OK]
=== === A Final Word
Sounds, text, images - critically, independently, often "on the run" - our motto. Should these lines be useful in orientation and possible purchase decision, thank the reviewer for an appreciative clicking on "helpful". For additions, questions and comments is the comment channel available.