Linksys Storage Link for USB 2.0 Disk Drives NSLU2

Manufacturer: Linksys Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours List Price:$190.00 Our Price:$76.84 Features: CD Connects USB 1.1 or 2.0 hard drives and flash drives directly to your network Share music, video, or data files with managed access by user name or group Integrated file server -- access your files from the Internet Built-in disk utilities -- format, backup, and scandisk Connects directly to a 10/100 Ethernet network for throughput up to 200 Mbps Description:

Reviews:

Amazing find
It has been awhile since I had a dedicated PC for my files and always just seemed too wasteful to keep it running just for that purpose, so when I found this, it seemed too good to be true. I'm sure, in time, they will have a faster model with gigabit speeds, but my Maxtor USB drive plugged in works pretty well as is. It is a bit slower loading video, but once playing, it doesn't skip like I thought it might. As for other data such as music, its no problem at all. Documents load a bit slower as well, but who cares if its four seconds verses two?

The point is, this thing is very inexpensive for what it does, and it just works.


Dont waste your time
Where do I begin? First off this is a Linux device so it presents several problems when used on a network with Windows machines.

File names on NTFS drives may not be compatible.
Drives formatted as NTFS or FAT32 can not be set for private access
The NSLU2 will format the drives as EXT3 but you loose the ability to plug the drives into your PC if it is Windows.

Probably the main reason I returned the NSLU2 is because it is too slow. You would think that you would get near 100mbps speed, which is the speed of your network. Not true. The fastest through-put I could get was 32mbs. And an average speed of about 25mbs. This is just too slow for a network drive.

I set up a file server using XP and get easy 90-98mbps transfer on the drives.



Cisco's Slug
I bought this as a low power server to run my weather station - and it's great. It comes at the right price, and once you install a more generic operating system you can use it for pretty much anything. I'm using it as a disk-server, web site, and weather station monitor. Now my only problem is thinking of reasons to buy more!

The only downside - it doesn't automatically power back on after an outage.


Long live the SLUG!
After beta waiter at the house of test of Windows and being underwhelmed by the need for customer and full puffed up computer I really wanted a device of storage at the house of network which did not require either. I also employ the operating softwares of not-Windows and AM rather comfortable with Linux thus the capacity to replace the operating software Linux-based of Linksys with one more related with a full puffed up waiter of Linux was something than I was rather excited about making. I upwards did not finish improving the software because the standard software did what I wanted, capacity specifically to employ INCURSION 1 between the two joined discs. The only complaint that I have is that the device does not detect an external end of drive I bought separately for a hard order which I had the installation around. The fence was rather cheap however thus I cannot blame the ingot. In a general way I am very happy. The device makes any I thought that it at an exceptional price. It is small, peace dead and extensible when I am ready or if it does not do something I need has.


Unlock it's potential
It is my second ingot used to reflect remotely. On the two ingots I installed the software packages of Unslung to allow other utilities such as the ssh, the nfsd, and the rsync to be installed. I employ the rsync above the ssh to firmly reflect my protections at another place and to reflect remote protections at my place. The ingot is not there the device the fastest outside, but it does what one invites to him to do and the fact rather well. I have the occasional exits that the shares of CIFS become inalienable and the ingot must be reloaded. Consequently I make be sent my software of help an email all the times that there is a problem.


Neat-o
This product is full a capabilities to do more with 3rd party firmware.
The only caveat is that although this is a great product to use for external drives, it is not intended for NTFS formatted drives, so you must FIRST format to Ext3 (let the device do this).
Otherwise, it works great


Great Network Addition
This network storage link allows you to plug in two additional storage drives or one drive and one usb memory stick. Since it is attached to your network it is easily accessed from outside your network. Using the ftp rathar then http address of your router allows access from anywhere. I have all my documents backed up on a 200gig drive that is plugged into the Storage Link. I simply type in my routers address and I have all that data available to me while I am on the road. Although the speed is not superfast, it is very typical of the speed seen in other programs that you have to pay a monthlly fee for to access your computer from outside your network. Setup is simple using the included Linksys software. A definite must have for the business traveler.


Great for Network Filesharing / Drives
That functioned once well that I obtained it installed. I think that it carries out about as you will obtain about the radio or from Ethernet of surplus of access of drive. The establishment of him, although, was little a crafty one. Some of the turns are: You must place the name of the network on your computer and the name of the network on the NSLU2 the same ones. On my system of XP I left the computer of defect name chosen like: Mshome I have utilities of system of Norton including/understanding the wall fire resistant of Norton. You must allow the file dividing in the wall fire resistant of Norton or you will not be able to obtain the NSLU2 to function. Before I installed the wall fire resistant of Norton I do not recall any change of necessary arrangements in the wall fire resistant of Windows posing of the problems, but the wall fire resistant of Norton must have this change. The support of technology of Linksys was rather friendly and knowledable, but after one period very prolonged last with the telephone that I obtained makes the shuttle with far and was promised a call return. It never came. Finally I obtained the thing to function beside me. I think that perhaps my PC was dirtied enough upwards. I restructured the hard order and started more from it. Finally I had success and that functions better now that never, and I obtained the NSLU2 installed on initialization. Moreover the device currently supports made up orders for your PC (NTFS


Great for Linux hobbyists
It is a small marvellous box because you have the option to run your own software on top. There is a community of the people on the Internet who put in communication full regular Linux at it. If you seek a box of NAS and project to run the software packages of Linksys, I have to say little on this subject. I do not employ the software packages of Linksys. You must know about it Linux, but easy to install the distribution of Debian on a NSLU2. You can then employ it for something which you want. I employ mine as a waiter of media and a waiter of DHCP for my network at the house. I needed a waiter of DHCP which could also function with TFT to provide images of initialization. That all functions rather well. Google right "NSLU2 Linux" to see how it can be employed.


Does exactly what it promises. Great product.
I do not obtain the negative reviews completely. I am not sure how these people where able to write their reviews when they could not so much obviously read when it comes to the copy in the sheet from Quickstart and the handbook declaring that this product is not compatible with windows and that it must compose your hard order. Yes, I know, Linksys made a levelling of software package in which it tried to also give the access to the orders composed by windows, but I am completely sure that that was never meant while the principal ordering of operation, and they took the support support following levellings of software package, because people tried to employ it as full-time solution, and then where trashing this product after it did not run the trouble freely. Disappear the figure! ! ! Once that you make your external order (the device composes it with EXT3 based by Linux), this thing is FULL ROCK and does not hesitate, anyhow much substance you copy/move. I also did not have an exit with it becoming hot; I wonder whether it is worse for people who extend it apartment. I employed the little stand which it came with and A rising. Finally there of the lack speed once is the alleged question used in an environment of wifi. Yes, speed sucks, but it is parce which you (the user) chose to employ the wifi for suitability rather then a cabled solution of Ethernet of output much higher. There is a cost not to have wire everywhere... and this cost is called speed. Do not have to await you for always by putting all my music and photographs on the joined order, I just downloaded a free driver of format of ext. for windows (after the formatting of drive was made, google and will find possibilities multiple of remote loading), actuated in bottom of the bond and hung the support of drive directly to my portable computer. After data much faster write, I hung them help with the bond and restarted that. Now I can read the data of everywhere, and for media to run speed available is simply good. That says, I think myself will improve my knife of wifi rather soon in any event. 54Mbit on my newer book is only half of than the bond can make, and never occupies itself of my old chart of G in my ancient portable computer which is connected only to 11Mbits... A new generation N (against old G) knife with the corresponding charts of receiver of book will use thereafter entirely the duplex this device 100Mbit can make; naturally which will place me behind approximately 100 males additional, but there is no. It could be only 50 males in 6 more months or thus. On the whole, particularly if you really read to the top on top before hand, this was a perfect experiment near to the consumer for me. The bond delivers exactly what it promises. PERIOD.


Good product for the low price.
I purchased the NSLU2 to avoid the expense of buying a network drive. The NSLU2 allows an external USB drive to connect to a network router ethernet port. For that it works just fine. The down-side is the terribly low data transfer rate. If speed of file transfer is an issue spend the money and buy an ethernet drive that can connect directly to an open port on your router.
Apparently Linksys uses a 266 Mhz chip to drive the device, but then uses a resistor to under clock the device to 133 Mhz. Note: There is a kluge to double the speed, but it will void the warranty. Search online for NSLU2 underclocking or similar searches. I made the alteration and it did make the speed satisfactory, not great, but OK for the money. There are also several Linus hacks available to boost performance, but I'm not a Linux user.


Perfect file/music/movie server for your home network
This is my second NSLU2. My first, with 2 mirrored LaCie F.A. Porsche 320 GB External Hard Drive drives, has been up and running flawlessly as a file/music server for a couple of years. I have recently networked my TiVo TCD648250B Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder, so this new unit along with 2 mirrored LaCie 301103U F.A. Porsche 500 GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive drives has become my movie server.

The NSLU2 along with dual LaCie F.A. Porsche drives make an amazingly inexpensive network storage solution.


A great deal!
I had mine during more than one year now. It is in value the price right like a waiter network-based! Seek the unslung with your preferred Search Engine, and see how you can make the current functions of waiter of filing as well as of the hundreds of other packages.


Not Ready for use with an NTFS drive
The new software package claims to support only one order composed by NTFS; but that does not function very well. I tried during several days to support data files. Work would start and would never finish. Aucuns error messages in the notation. No index. Very often the system completely would hang and would not be accessible from the interface of sequence. This necessary disconnecting the power to give to zero the box -- the button of handing-over was useless in these cases. After much of days of destruction, I tried to restructure the order in indigenous Linux ext3. That is functioned automatically without problem since. The exit here is if the device fails, the order is illegible of a machine of Windows. Thus my recommendation is if you are strictly windows operation, look at elsewhere. In addition if you have a mixed environment this could be a very profitable system of NAS for you.


Space saver
My situation was that I wanted to share two existing USB drives on my home network. I didn't want a full Samba server running due to the electric bill and space required. This box has been the perfect answer to my requirements.

The setup instructions are weak, and there seems to be an overlap between Groups and Users in setting permissions. If you understand the general concepts of a Samba server, it's easier to setup. The setup is from a web page, and is spectacularly easier than setting up a full Samba implementation. Also, it seems to require a re-format of the drive to the Linux format. That means the USB drive will not work directly with a Windows box after the re-format, but it will be mountable on a Linux box.

My Win98 box can't find it at all, but on the XP boxes, the files are only visible to my login. Other logins on my computers and the other computers can't see inside the root directories or lower. Obviously, any user with the user name and password of the unit can access the files from any machine on the local network.

There are existing network drives that would be cheaper if I didn't already have the USB drives, and it's somewhat slower than a Linux Samba server. The speed issue only shows with very large files or a large quantity of files.

There is considerable information on the web about how to use this platform for many other network projects. I plan to buy another purely for use as a project platform.


Performs well with the right firmware
I've been using this product for about a year. I bought it specifically to use with a single drive for backing up my main PC.

Taking it out of the box and getting it set up was very easy and straightforward. I had it working within a few minutes. Everything seemed to work the way I wanted it to. A couple of days later it got very slow and un-responsive. I would try to connect to one of its network shares and it would literally take 5 minutes to refresh the folders in any directory. This was obviously unacceptable, so I made sure I had all the latest firmware and contacted support. After exchanging numerous e-mails, they determined that the hardware was bad and I should send it back to be replaced.

In the meantime I had discovered a 3rd party Linux firmware for the device called Unslung (NSLU2-Linux). Since Linksys had said it was hardware, I figured I'd give the Unslung firmware a quick shot just to make sure. I installed the Unslung firmware and it started working great and continues to work great until this day. The basic Unslung firmware has all of the same web configuration pages that the stock Linksys firmware has, but it actually works properly. Linksys may have released better firmware since, but I've been using the Unslung firmware ever since and haven't looked back.

In summary, it's a really nice device. It's small and convenient, and is easy to set up and get working very quickly. You can do full or incremental scheduled backups from windows/samba shares without any software on the PC. The only thing holding me back from rating it 5 stars is the performance problems with the stock firmware. If you buy this, I would highly recommend updating to the latest Unslung firmware.


Not what I expect
Had problems keeping linked up. Impossible to backups of the Drive. At least for me.


Almost what the doctor ordered
The good side? That functioned very well with my impers and rather old knife of radio of Belkin. The bad side? I did not expect fast speeds of buckling of transfer above Ethernet (much less without wire), so that was not an exit. That it does not indicate on the box: "INFORMING: YOU MUST RESTRUCTURE YOUR HARD ORDERING Of External Initially!" is an exit, although I would have managed to find enough memory temporary to leave with the format without losing anything crucial. It is also unhappy that it does not come with instructions to install it on anything but Windows. A fast search for sequence will address that enough quickly. Since it restructures the hard order with format EXT3, I suspect that it is built-in Linux running under the cap, which is fresh but neither here nor there in the large arrangement of the things.


Easy to expand.
If you look around the Internet you can find some levellings of software which will enable you to increase this unit. I have an order of usb of 100 GIGS on a hub with a printer. The software package resides now on thumbdrive.


Works BUT..................
This article, its special. At the beginning I obtained the article and was very disappointed because it froze to the top so much often, I really wanted to throw it in the refuse. BUT... after the weeks of a couple of the direction to him on the thought of office I let me do this work of thing. Thus I googled of the forum of a couple on the NSLU2, discovered that there was a new whole world, that I was not been willing to go under the whole substance of Linux. Thus, new the forum required and noted that there are new software packages made by linksys, unfortunately could not find it on the site, thus I obtained a bond of one forum to the site of linksys where the levelling was stored in its hidden place. With fact of updating the software packages and in more of this composed the orders in the format ext3 rather than my NTFS which I believe can have been the reason of the device freezing to the top of the day one. Synopsis: Obtain the new update (glance outside in some forum for it) and make your HDD in Ext3. It will stick never yet. Amen. Additional comments: The article functions as quickly as any remote storage on one 10/100 standard Ethernet network of Mbps. If your USB envisaging 2.0 dispatches of this device, a your idiot. :D.


Good simple system with small footprint
Aime him much. He is small and has a small food of energy. Work with my NTFS composed of the orders for the majority. I prefer to compose my orders of USB to format EXT3 (linux-type) since I had problems charging of the files larger than 1GB (fasten visual, TIVO) in NTFS. Aucuns problems in its indigenous mode. Only the minor baffle is that it takes a couple of the minutes to initialize - but the aural signals when all is ready, thus you should not continue to look at it. Also does not seem to allow ' hot permute you ' - the need to die out and restarting. I bought it because it came recommended by a friend from technology-savvier. I would also give him a high estimate.


Work's Great !!
Linksystem made this article easy to install and employ. No matter who with the basic reading and arrangement can install and employ this bond of storage of network. The great article to install an order lasts common on your network and to give to your network a place to store the common files like the music and the images so that all divide and for not do not overload no matter whom computer!


Does what it should
The NSLU2 worked right out of the box. Set it up using XP Pro and stuck into a D-Link switch. Using it with an brand new OEM Western Digital Caviar SE 320 GB ATA 100 Hard Drive and a Galaxy Metal Gear Gear Box II USB 2.0 External Enclosure. Hard drive won't format until I removed jumper. After that no problem formating drive using Linksys utility. Documentation and instuctions are not the best, but not a real problem. I would buy another.


Linksys NAS Storage Link
Linksys Storage Link for USB 2.0 Disk Drives NSLU2
As an amateur astronomer, I needed a way to store data from my astronomical cameras in another space, rather than my limited laptop hard drive.

The NSLU2 was rather easy to set up (although, to use Linksys' hard drive utilities, USB media drive needs to formatted for Linksys.

The unit has been in use for over a month now, and has proven extremely reliable (it hasn't needed to be reset at all!)... Try THAT one, Bill Gates!


it just wouldn't work
i bought this to use in my house with my maxtor drive and linksys router and i couldn't get it to work. i also have a mac which i figured would be problematic in setting up, but there was enough user documentation that i figured i could get it going. i consider myself pretty tech savvy but was unable to make this work and ended up returning it. i ended up buying an airport extreme and have been able to use it to set up a NAS and have been happy with it.


Don`t buy it
As simple as that. If you want speed... and a smile in your face, is not it of what you have need.


Works as advertised
It installed quickly and of work as announced. I had an exit to transfer a very large data file. But, most probably, you will not work with the Modem which large!


Unimpressive
As delivered, the NSLU2 functioned well out of the box. I connected 500GB an ordering of USB 2.0 provided with the NSLU2, ran the utility of installation, and all was WELL. Then I tried to modify some things, such as the password of defect (a typical stage of safety). It does not allow the modification of arrangements of user unless the hard order joined either made up like EXT3 rather than NTFS. However, other modifications such as assigning a new name of device or an IP address fixes functioned WELL. Since I do not project to make the disk memory obvious on the Internet, safety not an important exit. Then I tried to attach a NTFS-made up order a second. The NLSU2 paid like "nonmade up". When I disconnected the first order, the NLSU2 brought back the second order like NTFS-made up. Documentation and the on line help of Linksys were not useful. I have to still appear out what to make to attach a second order, although an order 500GB is sufficient in the future foreseeable. Thus, the verdict running is that the NSLU2 is usable for what I provided: storage of help of network for the GCV at the house multiples. But I am not impressed of him.


does what it's supposed to and more
It is my 2nd NLSU2. I obtained the first to divide files at the house employing an ordering of USB which I had. It was not until after it arrived that I discovered that the software packages can be notched and improved. I obtained 2nd to notch and play with. Emptied the guarantee. The basic installation took approximately 5 minutes. Yes, because the completely fixed divided shirts you must restructure the order with a format of linux EXT3 but you cannot leave the order bus FAT32 and it is obvious on the network, but no safety.


A great little "roll your own" NAS solution!
If you're looking at adding more storage to your computer network, there exist many solutions that let you do so. The Linksys NSLU2 is just another method of doing so, but it has an interesting twist. Unlike many solutions that bundle their own drives, the NSLU2 features two USB ports to which you can attach external USB hard drives of almost any size or type. This means you can pick the types of hard drives that best fit your needs. You can also pick the brand of drive that you like the best.

Linksys suggests using Maxtor drives with the NSLU2. I wouldn't give a Maxtor drive to my worst enemy. I selected a LaCie "Porsche" designed enclosure with a 250GB Samsung drive inside to start with. Later on, I added a Western Digital "My Book" 250GB hard drive. Both work well, but to head off any potential problems, I hooked both drives up to a computer and deleted the manufacturer supplied partitions, so the NSLU2 would be starting with a "clean slate". While configuring the unit, I set it to use a static IP address (a good idea, so the unit doesn't "move around" on your network).

After getting the drives formatted, I was able to quickly start storing things on them. Connecting to the drives from a Windows or Macintosh computer is easy to do. Once connected, I started moving files across to the device. It never hiccuped once, and I transferred everything from huge (32+ GB) NTBackup files down to smaller files, like Word documents. I transferred a little over 140GB worth of backup files and another 2GB or so of smaller files in a few hours time.

Being as it is built around a miniature Linux operating system, alternative firmware solutions have been written to extend the functionality of the NSLU2 beyond what Linksys provides. Even though the Linksys firmware isn't lacking in options for file access, you may wish to do things that aren't provided, such as sharing music over your network.

So far I am very impressed with the NSLU2. It seems to be very stable, reasonably fast and it took well to being used by several computers at once. The only slowdown I noticed with several computers transferring data to it at once was with the web interface. The pages took a few seconds to fully appear. I have not yet had to reboot or reset it. Later on I may connect it to a small UPS to keep it running during power outages.

I have only a few complaints--the Linksys web interface suffers in places from poor localization and doesn't always render properly. Some of the settings are strangely placed and you are prompted for the administration password more than once in some cases. I also would have liked to see two more USB ports provided, so as to allow for attachment or more drives.

All things considered, I think the NSLU2 is a great little solution and certainly deserves your consideration if you're looking at adding storage to your network. It may not be geared for the less experienced computer user, but this product will most likely delight people who want to customize their network attached storage solution and don't mind tinkering with it a little to do so.


it works!
The installation is simple. I employ a Western DIGITAL my book with the NSLU2 and that functions very well. All the GCV on the network traced it correctly as orders network - ensure you just that NSLU2 and all the GCV share the same name of staff. I did not restructure the order in the format of the ext.. 3 thus could not not place any kind of Lira-Write the permission or even changes the password of defect - it only let me change the wearing of defect. Consequently, I did not certainly run reader 24/7 of network and consequently the 3 hold the first role the estimate.


What a disappointment!!
I had high hopes to replace my old computer being employed because a "waiter of filing" with this device. It is dubious, clunky to install and continue. It must hard be initialized almost daily to obtain it to function. When the bond of storage of Linksys functions speed is large, transferring MP3s, Videos and large files with better speeds then the computer. In a general way - the bond of storage of Linksys is not purchases of wroth. Perhaps just perhaps they will in the future have an update of software package which will make Re-initialization useless and the useful whole device. Up to that point - I keep my files on the computer, and this device on the rack.


Only One Gripe
It is really a pretty nice unit. My only bad temper is that if you break down of power, somebody must push the button "Marche/Arrêt manually" to turn it behind above. Not very well however outside on behalf of Linksys. Otherwise, it provides much more functionality than it complaints including/understanding to act admirably like webserver.


Performance is unreliable and inconsistent
I really am very astonished that device NSLU2 currently has an average of 3.5 holds the first role. Unfortunately, for a so simple device, I found it to be a dull loss of my time. It was dubious and the execution was contradictory. I bought this device to give my sister, like means of allowing him to store files of music and film on his network. It has very small technical arrangement, thus a device which is easy-with-installation and the use is a condition. The NSLU2 is not this device! Initially with far, I want to specify that I am an interface manager of Linux with 10 years of experiment. I know the network management and the computers and obviously Linux. This device runs Linux internally, with the samba being the internal application which makes it possible to reach the joined disc of USB (C-with-D. via the network management of Microsoft). That says, I do not hope for single catch my comments like Linux-striking. On the contrary, I am a large defender of Linux. Linux is a great operating software. Unfortunately, the NSLU2 is a weak execution of Linux like device included. If Linksys takes the notes on the way in which of improving this product, here some suggestions. Start to embark these devices by a periodic port of console, a waiter of automatically allowed SSH, a central processing unit of faster treatment, and more memory. To have all these articles should improve the execution of the device, as well as allow the quite informed interfaces manager to fix the "whims" when they develop. Concerning the slow transfer dispatches, about which many others complained, I confirm this. Initially, the NSLU2 obtains approximately a speed of transfer of 25 Mbits/second, whereas a true computer which exports a directory divided by the network of Microsoft can carry out approximately 75 Mbits/second. While 25 Mbits/second are slow, it is tolerable (naturally, this supposes that it is attached to a network of 100 Mbits/second.) In the second place, others complained about the NSLU2 being slow compared to the speed of transfer which they carry out when the ordering of USB is fixed at their computer directly. Well, that is envisaged. Once directly fixed at a computer, USB 2.0 is able of up to 480 Megabits/second. But the NSLU2 has a wearing of network of 100 Megabits/second. By putting a network between your computer and the USB2 lead, limit you the exit with only 100 Megabits/second, 20% of which USB2 is really able. In addition, if you think of buying a similar device with one 1 wearing of network of Gigabit (C-with-D. 1000 Megabit/second), made your research, as much of will never carry out anything beyond 100 Megabit/second dispatches in any event. In days first to have the NSLU2, here a taking away of the problems which I had. (1) if I removed a directory on the NSLU2, it reappears still immediately. It is the most likely one problem with the samba in the NSLU2. After having seen this problem in the past with truths waiters of Linux, one causes to him by an incompatibility between the way in which Windows safe in the files (C-with-D. of the attributes and the permissions) and the way in which Linux thus. The samba "traces" the attributes and the permissions of Windows to the similar attributes in Linux. Since it is not to trace exact, the whims will develop sometimes. Moreover, some file names which are valid on the end of Windows posing to the top of the problems for the samba. To solve this problem, I had to copy all the files in addition to ordering of USB attached to the NSLU2, restructures the order then. (2) the customer of DHCP on the NSLU2 is incompatible with the waiter of DHCP on my network. I had to configure the NSLU2 with a static IP address to surmount this. (3) the ordering of USB attached to the NSLU2 disappears just from time-with-time for any reason. The NSLU2 is available on the network, but it does not see the joined order. (4) the transfer of the very large files (for example 3 gigaoctets) with or of the NSLU2 will make freeze the device upwards, and it will not seem available any more on the network. I read that this is probably caused by attaching only NTFS or FAT32 led to the NSLU2. Others suggested that the use of the NSLU2 to restructure the ordering of USB improves reliability and the execution. After use of the NSLU2 to compose a new order of USB, I see that it created 3 partitions: a large partition EXT3 for my data, a small partition EXT3 for the information of authentification of user/group, and finally a partition of exchange of Linux for the management improved of memory in the NSLU2. (moreover, EXT3 is the filesystem of defect employed by the majority of the distributions of Linux.) Without counting that exits of reliability, the NSLU2 has problems of profitability. (A) You will not be able to benefit from the permissions of user/group of the device to less than the joined ordering of USB is composed by the NSLU2, because the permissions of user/group must be stored on a special partition the NSLU2 creates on the ordering of USB. (b) the NSLU2 is only able of the orders joined by formatting in format EXT3. If you must compose an order like NTFS or FAT32, you will have to attach the order to your computer of Windows to do that (however, the NSLU2 supports joined orders NTFS/FAT32.) (c) Being an interface manager, I include/understand how to configure this device, but me believe that the user-interface will not be intuitive with many people. The functionality of the unit is distributed too much various screens, and the buttons clickable are sometimes not in a suitable place. You will include/understand what I want to say when you really employ it. Because of the contradiction and unreliability extremes of this device, I will not store any data which I consider "important". At best, I will store only backup copies of the files on this device, or the files that I do not worry to lose. I will probably use the device because a share of drive of network, where my computers of Windows can save theirs of night protections. In this way, if the NSLU2 really dies or obtains horked, I do not lose any data (the originals are on the machines of Windows already). Moreover, I will also employ it to store the very large images of OIN of the distributions of Linux which I download in addition to Internet. (I can always Re-download the images of OIN, if the NSLU2 dies.) To finish, because we live in "most of the time" a world of the operating system of Windows, here an end for those of you which note that the NSLU2 failed you, as well as your invaluable data with him. It is for those of you who note that your NSLU2 ceases functioning. If you had the practice at the beginning the NSLU2 to compose an order joined of USB, should know to you that it will be made up in the format EXT3, which Windows is not with the way of the natives able of the reading. If you attach the ordering of USB to a computer of Windows, it will not be able to read it automatically. However, there are couples of the drivers of freeware EXT3 which make it possible Windows to read partitions EXT3 on your order. An easier solution for the majority of the people will be a software Linux Reader called by tool of freeware, created by a company called DiskInternals. (I do not work for this company and I do not know no matter whom who, thus it is not a catch without scruple.) I do not like losing personal data, and unfortunately much from people will obtain the false impression that their data are lost when the NSLU2 dies. Not necessarily thus. Spout out which is very that I must say for now.


very disappointed
I had hoped to use the NSLU with a couple large NTFS drives to provide backup and iTunes repository for all my home computers. No such luck.
First, performance was dismal: about 1.5 MB/sec, far slower than my network drives. Second, the NSLU would hang once or twice a day; only a power-off reset would restore it. Third, the internal utility web page could not be accessed, and without it several important parameters (eg workgroup name) could not be set. On the plus side, initial setup was easy.


Reliability is not a feature of this unit
If you want a reliable Network Attached Storage device, this is NOT the unit for you. If you google "NSLU2 problems," you'll find many reports of the unit freezing up unexpectedly.

As far as I can tell, this is the result of the unit overheating. For me, the unit will become unavailable on the network when I either a) start a large file transfer, or b) turn on the unit's built-in backup system. This backup system is a nice idea, since it allows you to connect two drives to the NSLU2, and have one automatically duplicate itself on the other at a pre-determined time.

But good intentions are wasted when the backup job fails due to the unit freezing up. During the winter, this wasn't a problem for me, since I don't keep my house very warm during the night. But now that Spring is here, and the weather is warmer, this piece of junk is freezing up daily.

And to make matters worse, you have to re-boot the unit to bring it back online, but the power button is unresponsive in turning the unit off. You have to actually pull the power and then plug it back in.

Linksys does not acknowledge the problem, so you are on your own with it. Heck, you can do what one guy that I read about does...he runs a blow dryer on Cold to cool the unit while running big file transfers. Personally, I'm not interested in blowing 15-30 minutes five or six times a day that way.

Good luck if you buy one. Caveat emptor.


A great addition to any home network!
I currently use this little box to host 750 (250 + 500) gigabytes of storage that I can access independently from three different computers. Even the Tivo can access the music and picture files stored on it. However, Tivo cannot access the NSLU2 directly but must connect to the Tivo server software running on any of the three computers. Transferring files feels somewhat slow (I am very impatient.), but the video files from Tivo and WinTV are very large. I have been able to play videos on all three of my computers simultaneously from the same hard drive without interruption. In some cases two computers accessed the same file at the same time. Though I am already plotting to replace this with a full blown media server, I really like this product and it really fits a need that I have to share data between different computers.


Excellent product; great network storage
I looked at a certain number of alternative options like Mirra, Linkstation, IOMEGA etc. for waiters of filing and this proven to be the best option. I like products of Linksys (employed them during the years ~4) parce which they function and if they not can obtain the support of technology to you to guide you (the support seems to have functioned) and to do the work to him (in spite of the sometimes awkward documents and install CDs). This product is manner better than their print server without wire of prospect etc. for installation because that functioned immediately. It has the capacity to program protections starting from a disc with other and to enable them to be useful of the files via the Internet (which is a device of Mirra which requires one $ much more additional), its very easy to allow this of the devices by their interface based by WEB and your knife (by forwarding). I employ the format of the ext.. 3 to allow all these options and that that speed is OK considering it connects above a network without wire. I like this solution of network with a reasonable quantity of options of safety for access etc. of file and would expensive recommend it to others considering a surplus of NAS; also completely extensible as well.


Pocket Size Linux Computer
This is really a pocket size Linux computer that happens to be running as a file server.

The implication of this is enormous. If you replace the firmware and copy the OS onto your USB hard drive, you can now run any Linux application of your choice.

My NSLU2 is running the iTunes server. This means I have an MP3 server for the cost of the NSLU2 and an USB HD.

The instruction on how to customize your NSLU2 can easily be found on the web. The upgrade from file server to music server can be accomplished within an hour.

I will probably join the NLSU2 community to bring you freewares in a few months.


Wow! I like this product!
NAS with a fraction of the price! I evaluated the NAS of various types and appeared out of that which I could "build" with a fraction of the price, with the capacity without end "to improve" according to time (C-with-D., I can replace the order lasts with larger and improve one). I bought of the 200 gigaoctets Mactor orders hard and an end of hard drive of USB 2.0. Connect this with the NAS and you are pretty much of free at the house. I employ this as a my device of help (protection with the hard order) and primary education device of storage for several GCV. The execution is good and until you would wait for the network management 100BaseT. The installation of the NAS will take note patience and, but, once that you obtain the blow of him, straight-forward. If you can install a PC (Linux and/or Windows) from zero (install OS, configuration of hard drive of installation, to create the user returns account, and network management), you will find this to be relatively easy for you and familiar, except much easier. If you are a newbie with what precedes, (IMHO) you can find the concepts not very familiar and the provocative but feasible installation (C-with-D., a true education: -).


A little bit tricky to configure
Initially him, thus it was difficult to configure one day when I sat down and read the instructions carefully until I appeared out in the way in which that functioned correctly.


Best backup system I've ever owened.. Hack This!
I purchase this device after a harddrive crashed.
- I cannot live without this product.
- This device is where I have all of my personal information.
- Hackers may hack my personal computer to pieces but the can not get at the network storage device because it is turned off 90% of the time.
- I only use it when I'm at home, so the harddrive is primary storage and I use Microsoft "Make Available Offline" to synchronize files between all machines.
- This has greatly improved my overall strategy to never loose data.


An Up to Date review - Old reviews no longer relevant
The FUND while the unit is large, documentation is not. To be right with yourself and the unit, should make you a research on the ingot and the unslung of the words nslu2. There is a RICHNESS of information on line (it is the most important thing that I can say to you.) Currently there are two known versions of this product. The original, and that produced after approximately May 2006. The old version had the central processing unit of reduced processing to half normal speed, the nine the court at the full speed (the old woman can be modified however) the unit which you buy could have rested on the rack for one year or two, thus plan on having to flicker software packages. COMMON MYTHS - you must restructure the order (you not) - you cannot employ FAT32 or NTFS - you must make connect an order to flicker the unit (it is really better step) - the NSLU2 is slow (it is acually your network, maxes of a network of 10/100 outside well below 100Mb by in the second place, thus a device of USB 2.0 connected directly to your PC will be manner more quickly.) - it is complex to employ. It can be as simple or complex as you want, really! EMPLOY this unit can be a simple device of storage of network, or a larger plough horse than the majority of PC of people. The functions populate often employ them for... The print servers, the waiters of Web, the waiters of ITUNES, the mail servers, the PBX' s(astrix) at the house and the list goes indefinitely! MY large SYNOPSIS for each one except these not laid out to make ANY reading about the device. This unit is cheap for what it. The first thing that I would make is to improve the software packages. To employ as device of storage is low work and no-brainer. The possibilities are without end for most curious or the intruder.


Performed as advertised
The NSLU2 worked well as a network storage link. Writing and accessing from the drives took a long time though, perhaps it was because of the OS on the link. If you are just transfering large files instead of many small ones, it works much faster.


It Has its Place...
I obtained the NSLU2 to handle the storage of my music of iTunes and numerical signal of photograph and video. I have this whole on the external orders because all my computers are portable computers with small orders and I liked the idea not to have the orders of data directly fixed at my machine. The NSLU2, is a waiter of filing LINUX-based compact (employing the SAMBA) with the support of ftp Which means, I should not install any additional software on my machines of customer. It was easy to install the NSLU2. In approximately half an hour I had NLSU2 the installation, two orders hard 250GB attached, and configured for my network. After long waiting to make compose the hard orders, I could reach shares of my systems of Windows.xp. The documentation of accompaniment was not too useful, but it was rather obvious where the things obtained connected and the screens sequence-based of admin were for the majority, easy to however somewhat employ klutzy in navigation. Where failed documentation was by explaining how things were installed, for example, the shares as they are connected to the orders (there was a certain installation of shares of defect, but I did not completely include/understand why there was and if they were really necessary. It also took some digging and while exploring to include/understand how with made cleaning - remove the files and the shares. It seemed as best documentation had just read the forums of the users. It is functionality of help is very good, particularly if you have two NSLU2s on your network. You can program protections from one system to another. For smaller environments, you can just employ a unit with two orders and copy reader 1 with reader 2 like protection. I will leave it to you to decide if it is good or not. The NSLU2 has small an enough print of step. However, when you hold account that you will need the memory capacity for the food of joined energy, your external hard orders and there food of energy, it can obtain encumbered. I would recommend to seek the ends of drive of USB which you can pile up (throw a glance at Vantec NexStar GX as a possibility), to the assistance reduce the obstruction to the minimum. You can motionless duty treat the exit of heating of hard drive in this scenario, thus to avoid all the malicious comments... think this outside carefully for your situation. Just maintain in the spirit, this will not adapt in a small space. I found it to interest that there is a community prospèree of realizer supporting the alternative firmwares which can be installed on the NSLU2. In much of case, it was to address devices manquant/dispositifs of malfunction in the code released by Linksys. I looked at this since a part of the community of user said that the currently released software packages had some exits of file transfer with Windows and the solution was with the downrev which removed the possibilities of ftp the execution was not much of an exit. You are mobile data through Ethernet, with the other traffic. Thus it is not fast. For the simple needs for storage of données/petit a number of the users this can be acceptable. That functioned very well so that my customer of iTunes reaches files of music to install on my iPods and to download photographs of my numerical cameras. I found the solutions of replacement by chance of software packages which enabled you to make to the NSLU2 a waiter however media that I do not know good it is really. I cannot really present his observations on the safety devices, because I do not need them. It is employed by only two people. However, I could not see this being employed in an environment of businesses unless for the simple solutions of staff. I guess, my final criticism is his price. If you factor in cost of an external order (if you obtain one in a eclosure already, or you obtain the pieces separately) you could probably make a better wise price with the solutions of a NAS of alternative which have the already incorporated order.


Great Network Storage Server
Before this device, I supported my information processing systems by the intermediary of a port of USB on my principal computer. My network is composed of cable and WiFi with the accent on WiFi. The time when it took with the complete supports my data took too long. The facility of the fixing of this waiter of storage of network took only minutes and it formatting of the external hard orders was fast and easy. My network easily established communications with the device. Once that installed, I made a complete support starting from a remote computer by using WiFi, which would have taken six hours was struck to the bottom at approximately two hours! I had problems zero with him. I am extremely happy that I obtained to him.


Absolutely versatile! (after a little research) A+++++++++++++
This gizmo is the best NAS available for a so low price. Some people complain about you must allow the cost of an external order of usb, but are not really also expensive if you consider that you can even re-use and the old hard ordering of PC buying a fence of usb some times for less than $15.00 the quantity of various devices is astonishing. The bad one is the almost absolute lack of suitable documentation of the manufacturer. No wonder why so many people complain about this product. I had to make much research in the sequence before carrying out the astonishing capacity of this small device. I employ it with the facility as a simple data base for can network at the house without wire, to accomodate a small Web site and, since I replace the software packages of Linksys for Unslung, I installed media waiter and now him of Twonky music of service, images and videos in my music and players and services of remote media my images, music and video on my friends and family via ftp! I make it configure automatically to support all my files in a secondary external hard order and large work of usb! Is incredible. They is my best sources of knowledge: org of nslu2-linux * I wrote it false with an aim of avoiding the censure. You it need right to replace last space with a point and you will have the good address of sequence which you can also visit the forum of the Community of Linksys and seek NSLU2. I employ windows.xp in all my computers, thus all I necessary for reading and writing - yes, write files and behind any of my external discs of usb of format EXT3 connected directly by a cable of usb to any of my portable computers, must install Ext2IFS_1_10c.exe which can be downloaded for free from several sites of sequence. Make just a search for google and will find them to you. That functions large with the operating softwares of Windows NT4.0/2000/XP/2003. Thanks to established in the waiter of samba, there is not any manner of noting that the format of file is not NTFS. Aucunes limitations!


The worst piece of equipment I've ever bought
What a waste of money this product is; I've been using Linksys products exclusively for over 5 years for my home networking needs and have been very pleased with them all. This was my first negative experience, and I truly regret wasting money on it. I've had the NSLU2 for over 6 months now and it's never been reliable. It works OK as long you you're not using it (i.e. it stays up and running); it even works good with transferring one or two small files; but trying to move a large number of files (and by large I mean anything over 10-15 files) locks up both the NSLU2 and the computer the transfer is initiated from solid and required a hard boot of both. Deleting files from NSLU2 (or should I say via NSLU2) is also a crap shoot - sometimes it works and sometimes it just locks up. I'm so frustrated with it now that I'm starting to look for another alternative to replace it with and will send this one straight to the trash can as soon as I find something. Do yourself a favor and look for other options, even if they cost more - you'll just end up wasting money on this POS.


Very Nice Device
Very nice and useful device.
Install custom firmware, and you are good to go..and play with it.
If you like playing with devices (and Linux), go .get it.



USB 2.0 NSLU2, works great with one drive
Product was easy to set up, for the first drive. After that the product would not recognize the second drive.

Documentation did not address the symptom of not recognizing second drive. Numerous calls to customer service have not resolved the problem. For now, one drive is fine...

Customer service (telephone) was particularly frustrating. Techs gave conflicting information...including the 'fact' that the unit would only operate one drive and one flash stick.

Disappointing to wait all that time and then get a [...] for a tech.


Product is not very useful
The product is very useful because he writes with the disc connected in the proper single format of the product -- neither that of Windows nor of Macintosh -- this makes it impossible to connect the disc being employed directly with a PC of Windows or Macintosh.


Much simpler to use that it looked
When I took the first time this out of the box, I had this feeling that that would take to me for always obtaining to him to function. But I followed the very simple instructions and that functioned the first time perfectly. It became very useful while reaching the photographs filed and other files on the network without wire.


With Newest firmware version V2.3R63, this device rocks !!
I recently bought this device of NAS, (storage attached by network if you do not know it yet) and I connected (yes, I employed the order as is on my port of portable computer USB2 of Windows before this, without all changes with him) an order composed by FAT32 to the device and fed. 10 minutes later I assembled the first letter of drive after having passed by all the articles in the manual and very basic stages on the way in which to establish it. I was not invited or was not necessary to restructure anything, and all the GCV in this family go up now fortunately eliminates from this device. The new software package does not require ext2/3 or no matter what more. You recall, this device cannot work at the speed of USB2, since the network management 100Megabit employed by the majority among us does not allow it at speed gives me the functionality and flexibility, and are this what I wanted. I can live without speed USB2 for now. This device functions and functions rather quickly for the majority among us.


Very Flexible-Hackable Device
There is a large hacker community out there coming up with more and more activities you can do with this very flexible device. It was an afternoon's work, but I, a person with moderate Linux skills, set up a Subversion version control system on this box (do a web search for "sprinkleofcocoa NSLU2" for a complete description of how to do this). People have added serial ports, doubled the processing speed, and a good deal more. I can imagine driving laboratory equipment or model trains with this thing; the skies the limit.

I deducted a star because out of the box, the first one I purchased soon had its ethernet port break. And, I am not sure this box is particularly good at its primary function: file sharing, what with it's comparatively slow 100 Base-T Ethernet connection.


Piece of crap.,...stay away.
I have many Linksys devices and this is by far the worst one. I love Linksys stuff, which is why eveything that i own involving networking is linksis. But this thing is a piece of crap and now i cant recover the 60 gigs of personal pictures that were on my hardrive because of this things format. Spend a little more money and get a dedicated Network Attached Storage hard drive.


Did they forget to tell you..................?
I make excuses for the single person hold the first role the review. There was an option for no holds the first role. Great concept, pitiful device. Nowhere it indicates that the external orders of USB fixed at this device will be formated differently that if they were attached directly to the port of USB on your PC until you break the seal and are ready to be connected. They will work only with this device. We obtained it installed and moved all the files which we projected to divide for our business at the house with him. They were now easily accessible starting from any computer and the life was large. At least until we had later to move the adaptor at another place in the office. After having stopped it and to have moved it, all the data disappeared. The icon of file was but different always there. The volume of file became -0 -. you would think that once written they would remain. Still think. The files were not consulted like an instantaneous order when it was stopped. They WERE WRITTEN. You make a great favour and do not buy it.


Cheap, easy sharing/backup solution
I obtained one of the latter, added a couple of the orders of USB 400Gig, connected him, and maintaining protection for my network at the house unimportant, and is always made! It is a great business for the true peace of the spirit. I have a network at the house with 6 joined computers. They all are employed by members of family, and none is left lit 24/7. We had two problems, dividing the files (like photographs), and the protection (which obtained made about the monthly review). This device, once used with the suitable software (I STRONGLY recommend SmartSync pro, smsync.com) solves the two problems with the minimal argument. Since this system is on 24/7, each one can put their own computer moving or at far and still to have the divided files available. You need some basic qualifications of computer to establish this, but not that much. I found to obtain the bond of storage and two orders of USB 400Gig installed and connected with the very easy knife. It is downwards in the basement with the knife of WiFi. It even came with the Cat-5 cable. The 400Gigs is currently manner more than enough for all the micro-computers, thus I configured the NSLU2 to reflect the first 400Gig at the second. I have triple possibilities of help. It would be even a good idea to obtain a third order 400Gig, and permutes the two orders reflected on a certain program to obtain the protection of offsite. With great orders obtaining the cheaper all hour, it is an extremely accessible solution. You need the good software of help. I found pro very easy of SmartSync to be installed and employ. It can primarily reflect the hard ordering of your computer on a very flexible program, according to the way in which you employ your own system. I make it carry out the protection of mirror 15 minutes after I start my computer. After the first time, that takes usually just some basic activity report to achieve. I not high of help all - not files of program, for example - but it is all to you, and easy to install. Now there are faster piles of discs of network, but this one is really cheap, reasonably fast, and reasonably simple to install. I believe that it is one of the solutions the cheaper and easiest for the division of file and the protection of a small system at the house. Make your art of the self-portrait a favour, and install an ordering of network! The ok, maintaining that I have need very is a system who can seek MP3' S direcly in addition to this order without needing an operation of computer and to exploit them my audio system


get ready for disappointment if you are hooking this up to an Apple computer
I was with the telephone with Linksy, then APPLE, and then Linksys still during hours of 1 1/2 in vain. This product is not made function without jolt with computers APPLE And I would invite you not to buy it. It is not in value the trouble. The support with the customers of Linksys is polished, but they have a policy of the breakdown service of offer for the APPLE computers, which I think is ridiculous.


Good Product - Klunky User Interface
I'm using the NSLU2 as a home backup server for 3 PCs. I have two USB drives connected to the NSLU2. Disk 1 for daily backups. Disk 2 for weekly backups of Disk 1. Works as advertised, but the user interface is anti-intuitive and painful to use. I don't use any of the fancy features (email alerts, shares, auto-backup of Disk 1 to Disk 2, user permissions) because I don't need them. I'm automatically backing up 3 NTFS PCs with Norton Ghost 9.0 with no problems. I highly recommend reading the whole manual before setting up. The only reason this server didn't get five stars is the crude user interface.


Great Product!
I like this product. The last software package has access of ftp incorporated thus I can reach my files of practically any connection of Internet. I have two external orders of 300 gigaoctets connected to this animal. One supports oneself upwards on the other each night, and court of the scandisks each night. I employ the indigenous filing system ext3. If you need more than functionality, you can always try to download a public alternative software package which lets to us even install you apps on this thing! Stripped I tested that, but it tries.


False Advertising
Well, I just received my LinkSys Network Storage Link. Just a wee bit
of false advertising. All of the advertising and all over the outside
of the box it brags about being able to hook up two USB drives.
Supports Windows file systems FAT 32 and NTFS. Built in utilities -
format, backup and scandisk.

BUT - just a small thing, of course. Reading the INSIDE Directions:
If your USB drive is formatted as FAT32 or NTFS, the you will
not be able to use the Users, Groups, or Backup features of the Network
Storage Link. These features will only work with with EXT3-formatted
drives. *NOTE*: The Disk 1 port of the Network Storage Link supports
EXT3, FAT32, and NTFS file systems, while the Disk 2 port only supports
EXT3 and FAT32 file systems.

I'm not a happy camper. I have been grossly misled on the capabilities
of this product.


Buggy, unreliable, unusable
A good number of things badly with this poor product, like weak documentation, badly applied the utility of installation, MAC address nonprinted on the outside of the unit. Ah, and though my unit had a special sticker on the box which indicated "filing systems of Windows of supports" it did not come with the last software package which supports really filing systems of Windows. I had to obtain the new software packages of the site of Web of company, and equalizes the process of installation then fails. Thereafter I found a difficulty on the site of Web of Linksys and... well, you obtain the image: the installation was not easy. I needed a couple of the hours to obtain it functioning in my obviously more-complex-that-more the environment of network management. One I obtained it attacking itself, initially things of thought of I were fresh. But once that I tried to transfer from large files to Maxtor HDD connected to his port 1 of USB, I noted that it was buggy and dubious. The file transfers start out of the OK, but slow down soon with a creeping, and then the NSLU2 closes to the top and will not die out with key without disconnecting power. I will return this unit. Another nice idea which proves to be right a sink of time.


If only, if only...
It's cute, it's cheap, it's hackable - what's not to like?

Well, a couple of things. To begin with, it simply doesn't function reliably as a file server. Service of NTFS volumes is now nominally supported; however, it doesn't seem to actually work. Even in the native ext3fs mode, the device frequently locks up and requires a manual reset. I'm having to do this at least once a day on mine. Judging from many of the other comments, I'm not the only one.

The configuration software is web-based, which is a plus, but it's disastrously disorganized. Fortunately, the device is simple enough that it's hard to obscure the basic functionality.

Finally, the speed: notably slow. No, you can't blame the box for this; it's a limitation of the network. But in the context of the device's other faults, the sluggishness will set your teeth on edge.

I'm not one to dish out a lot of zero-star reviews, and I'm actually not especially hostile to the NSLU2. However, in light of the fact that the product isn't capable of providing basic file service without crashing, I have to give it a Consumer Reports-style NOT ACCEPTABLE.


good, cheap solution
This is a good product. It's small, silent and cheaper than
a Network Attached Storage (NAS) solution if you have USB hard disks lying around. Setup is a breeze and the latest firmware allows it to be used with FAT32 and NTFS disks.
You just won't get user and group security with those filesystems.
The web UI is horrid and not very intuitive for inexperienced users. You'll have to do some experimenting to get it set up properly. I recommend mapping out the shares, along with corresponding user and group permissions first.
I give it 4 stars for the unintuitive web interface and shoddy manual. I also give it the same 4 stars for being easier to setup than the equivalent Linux fileserver with Samba.
The unit is very versatile and can be modded with various 3rd-party firmware to do things like be a print server, web server, secure shell, etc.
I'm getting another one to use as a web, print and secure shell server.


Does what it should -- and a whole lot more.
It is a large product * if * you are technically enough tilted not to occupy you to notch around with some tools of Linux. By using the software packages of "unslung", this small device becomes a flexible waiter for your Web site, your music, or even a recorder of multi-media. It is quiet and does not consume much power. I employ it like waiter of music to run my MP3s elsewhere in the house above the network without wire. In the past, my large noisy spare parts that the PC would be devoted to this charge. Maintaining my office can be quiet while the "ingot" carries out dirty work. If you want the catch and play the storage joined by network, this will do that as well. You will hear of it complaining that it assembles only filesystems of UNIX. It is not really a business if you can initialize in Linux from time to time (Knoppix or Ubuntu has "CDs of phase" which can initialize you without changing your system). If you need really very to have a graphic user interface or a logo of Windows, free ox spaces, but do not ruin the recreation for the remainder of us: -)


Does what it should -- and a whole lot more.
This is a great product *if* you're technically inclined enough not to mind hacking around with some Linux tools. Using the "unslung" firmware, this little device becomes a versatile server for your web site, your music, or even a multimedia recorder.

It's quiet and doesn't consume much power. I use it as a music server for streaming my MP3s elsewhere in the house over the wireless network. In the past, my big noisy spare PC would be devoted to that task. Now my office can be quiet while the "slug" does the dirty work.

If you want plug and play network attached storage, this will do that as well. You'll hear some complaining that it only mounts UNIX filesystems. That's not really a big deal if you can boot into Linux occasionally (Knoppix or Ubuntu have "live CDs" that can boot you without changing your system). If you really need everything to have a graphical user interface or a Windows logo, steer clear, but don't ruin the fun for the rest of us. :-)


EXTREMELY slow
Beware of this product. It is extremely slow, especially when storing many smaller files. It also requires de hard disk to be formatted in a special format, so you cannot just hook up the hard disk to a PC via USB should the Storage Link fail, or should you get tired of its outrageously slow response even to standard backup jobs.


Great Product for Basic Needs
I paired this up with two Cintre USB hard disk enclosures . The Cintre enclosures plus internal hard disks run about the same cost as an off the shelf external USB drive, however I can upgrade in the future for substially less cost by buying just an internal drive.

I use the NSLU2 for data backup and shared data access of smaller single files on my home network. Consequently despite it's marginally slow access time it's ideal for my purposes. For small file access the NSLU2 is plenty fast. For working with large quantities of MP3s or photos at one time I wouldn't bother. Or at least be prepared to wait. Definitely not suitable as a large enterprise solution but great for small home networks. I think this is true of most low cost networked solutions so not a huge detriment in my book.

The device was pretty trivial to setup and get running. I had some confusion with setting up the shares and getting the basic security working the way I wanted, but it wasn't a big deal. I'm dropping one star from 5 for the hassle. If you don't have special security needs or anything setup is a breeze. Just follow the bouncing ball per the Linksys configuration disk.

If you're a computer freak like I am the NSLU2 firmware is released under GPL from Linksys' website. There are also several open source projects around the NSLU2 if you're not happy with the Linksys firmware. Including some nice UPnP software from Twonky if you're looking at a home UPnP multi-media solution. The bundled UPnP support is acceptable however.

I replaced a full blown PC file server with the NSLU2. I love the extremely tiny size and greatly reduced power requirements. I can run this thing on a UPS far longer than my old PC server. Though automated shutdown in the event of low UPS battery power isn't included. This would be a nice add on feature if you have a UPS that sends network events. Arguably useless if your server shuts down and quits writing to the disk though. I shared a photo of this product with an AA battery in the shot so you can get an idea of scale.

All in a perfect device for my needs.


Horrible Tech Support
The other reviewers covered the features of this product, so I'll focus on setup and tech support.

I have intermediate hardware and software skills but am somewhat of a networking novice. I was able to set up a Linksys wireless network a few weeks ago without a glitch. So I got confident, bought this little box and a Western Digital external hard drive, and went to work.

Setup went smoothly, but the directions on how to map a drive once the device is installed are either vague or wrong, depending on your operating system (I have Windows XP) (by "map a drive," I mean assign a drive letter to the external hard drive so that I can easily store files on it). To learn how to map my drive to a letter (Z:), I spent FIVE hours on the phone with four tech support representatives in Banglore India. They had *no idea* how to map a drive (powering off equipment won't do it. Changing your encryption won't either. Yet they had me do both on several occasions). And while their command of English was fine, their accents were heavy. When I finally threw my hands into the air in frustration my drive still wasn't mapped and my network settings had been destroyed. It took me two hours just to get the network up and running again. Then I called back to get some advice on how to direct my browser to a particular port setting (answer: add ":XXXX" to the end of your typed in URL, where "XXXX" is your custom port setting). They had no idea how to do this either, despite the fact that using custom ports greatly enhances the product's security.

Google saved the day -- there are plenty of websites out there that will answer your configuration questions. A few searches and I was up and running. Everything now works as intended. I should have started there in the first place, but I naively thought tech support would help.

Bottom line: If you're going to buy this AND you're a networking novice, PRINT OUT THE ADOBE MANUAL that's available here and have it handy throughout the process. Review it thoroughly. And rely on tech support only as a last resort. They'll hurt you more than help you and take hours of your time doing so.


Overall nice product but slow
I bought this product to enable me to backup key personal data from the various computers in my house to a central location. Since I already had a USB 2.0 external hard drive I though this might alleviate the need to carry the drive between computers, which it does in some instances. It doesn't however in most instances.
Because of the collisions and such on a wireless network, copying data to the drive via this device is really slow. It takes hours to copy over My Pictures or My Documents. That being said. If you are looking to use this device on your wireless network for backups, it is just too slow.


Needs work, but otherwise very good
I connected my orders of ntfs to the ports of usb, and while running videos mpeg2, connection would break me inside under a minute. I reflashed software packages of Linksys (even thought that the device has more late already), and the problem of connection left. The reading of the orders of ntfs is decent. I could run two 10 videos mbit/sec with two different computers without aucuns jumps or hickups. The inscription with the orders of ntfs, however, is VERY problematic. To do much heavy writing to the disc makes break the device, requiring a rebootstrapping and also involving your disc to become contradictory. Though the linksys claims to support ntfs, it is practically unusable unless the orders are preloaded and you do not project on on top putting more files. The software package of linksys of defect does not support file names of unicode. If you have file names with the Asian character sets (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.), they will be replaced with underlinings (_). to come to end this, you must employ a different software package like the unslung or the openslug, and the levelling with samba 3. You can also use a hub of usb to connect more than two hard orders, and they will seem hdd_1_1_1, hdd_1_2_1, hdd_1_3_1 instead of ' disc 1 ' and of ' disc 2 '. Some of the devices like protection and the scandisk suppose that you connect only one maximum of 2 orders, thus to use a hub will make these tools useless -- you will have to use a true computer to sweep for errors.


Forget NTFS, FAT32
If you will use this device the manner that it in the beginning was conceived, C-with-D. by using the hard orders composed by EXT3 you can be satisfied. If you buy this to divide NTFS or the orders composed by FAT32 for the compatibility of catch and play with Windows do not buy this device, they will bring only immense sorrow and misery to you. When to employ NTFS composed of the orders which you will lose constantly the connection of network forcing you with Re-initialization the device and will start once again. Moreover, the second port will not support the orders composed by NTFS although it supports FAT32 but only up to 80 Moctets. Thus, for approximately 80 males, if you stick with EXT3 and your bandwidth of network is very good (100 Moctets, cabled), you can take a certain success.


Nice design but function poor
Transfer file slow and with large file connection drop
Nice design but function poor

For large Hard Drive max format 80gb on web base tool
Only large format can be done in DOS/FAT16 format 160gb and more


Very handy and expandable
I am satisfied 100% with this small box of linux. I have it webserver, ftp server and to be used functioning as waiter of filing of samba accomodating 2 hard orders of USB. Aucuns problems of the whole!


Nice, mini file server
This device was a replacement for the Netgear storage central SC101 that was a complete disaster. This device is MUCH better. Although it doesn't have raid capabilities, you can schedule a daily replication to a second drive to get "good enough" security incase of a drive failure. In order to do this, you have to use the native Linux format on the drive (i.e. not NTFS, or FAT), but that is not really an issue, as I don't plan to connect the drives directly to a PC... but this could be an issue for some. Other than these things, the device works perfectly; it has not crashed since i got it over a month ago.
If you need a device to share files to multiple PCs, this works great.


Multi-purpose workhorse
I can now leave a computer on continuously with streaming audio, ssh, http, and samba (windows file sharing). It's amazing how easy this device can be hacked to add an incredible amount of features. Right away I replaced the default Linksys firmware with UNSLUNG 5.5 and added dropbear (for ssh) and slimserver (mp3/radio stream server). I also added vsftpd (ftp server) because it operates at 3 times the transfer speed of the embedded Samba (windows share).

With Slimserver, I now can stream over the internet (tunnelled over ssh) to listen anywhere.

With dropbear (sshd) I can use scp to copy data from the attached hard drive to wherever I may be at the time. (use PuTTY client in windows). See http://www.nslu2-linux.org for all these goodies and more.

And, if you need to access the ext3 formatted drive from Windoze, use the ext2ifs driver found at http://www.fs-driver.org .

Oh, and by the way removing resistor #83 doubles the clock speed of the device from 133 Mhz to 266 Mhz to make it a speedy little sucker (http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/HowTo/OverClockTheSlug).


Works like a charm
I attached the Linksys Network Storage Link to my wireless system and then attached a USP external hard drive. The unit works like a charm. It's fast enough to store MPEGs on the hard drive and play them. Only negative is it stores the data in a different format. You could not take the drive and hook it to another USP port and read the data.


Nice idea, poor execution
I really want with like this product. The capacity to connect one or more orders to the network and to be divided by computers on the network is a marvellous thing. The installation was rather easy, speed to be copied is acceptable and can be even consulted by the intermediary of a imper. In some manner that... When copying more than 10 gigaoctets, connection will fall. You must begin the copy to still move more and only 10 files at the same time. Painful of saying the minors. The support of technology did not offer any sometimes functioning solution which you cannot connect to you to the order without changing the IP address of device. The machine of access breaks by encountering a problem. The idea of Nice but technology is poor.


anything but the NSLU2
I donot reccomend this product for those who really need NAS storage. After 6 hrs of tech support and their lack of knowledge, the first product was deemed defective, which I knew when it was initially installed and wouldn't set itself up. A new unit and another 3 hrs of non tech tech support it was deemed that this product is not reccomended for a domained network as it will not work in a domain, only a workgroup.
If you can get this product non defective out of the box for a 2 or 3 workgroup computer network then go for it. Other than that use the Linksys EFG series, (EFG 80,120 or 250), for real NAS storage and backups.
This was a good idea but functionality is somewhat shy of FUBAR'ed.


F. Terrible.
First, I have the latest firmware installed.

This is a really bad product. Most of the negatives have been mentioned by others, but the most serious to me is that it drops a network connection while I am copying a group of files from the drive, or just streaming audio from the drive. This has happened from 3 different systems in a number of different applications.

It takes a long time to boot, and although it advertises on the box that you can use FAT32/NTFS, if you do then you can't make any significant administration changes (i.e. user add/delete, group add/delete... you can't even change the default admin password). On top of that, on a 100Mb/s network connection with modern drives in USB enclosures, it achieves rates of about 2MB/sec.

Every Linksys product I've ever bought has been a piece of crap. Router, switch, wireless PC card, and now the NSLU2. The question, of course, is, why didn't I learn by now?


Cheap total Linux Server for the technically minded
This unit is really a waiter very very small and good market of Linux with a wearing of Ethernet and two ports of USB 2.0. They is utilities of management and protection of user sophisticated by current supports of software package. You will have to buy your own hard orders of USB to connect with him, and currently you will have to improve with the last current software packages to be able to attach the orders made up of FAT32/NTFS (C-with-D. Windows) to him. To obtain the full functionality which the NSLU2 will have to compose the orders with a format of Linux (ext3) to control quotas of user and sophisticated restrictions of access that FAT32 does not support. This restriction can be relieved by a part of continuous work by adapting this small box since the open community of source established how to improve the device. Since the article of the network management of Tom ([...]) a strongly active community formed which took it on itself to adapt this article with the additional functionality such as waiters of iTune, mail servers, waiters etc. CVS, SSH, print servers, Fat32 support, bittorrent, apache, php, mysql, etc... See [... ] for the last and greater information on adapting the NSLU2. A small box very ordered with the great potential and the support of the Community full! Like it!


first thing -- upgrade the firmware!
Some of the reviewers here have pointed out that you need to upgrade the firmware if you want to use a FAT or NTFS disk format. I didn't need to do that, so I didn't upgrade the firmware. But I had all kinds of problems mapping the network drive (on Windows XP). My setup was as simple as could be -- no security or multiple users or anything. I kept getting prompted for passwords and stuff. (I am Microsoft networking challenged.)

So I upgraded the firmware, and everything immediately started working. The process to upgrade the firmware is trivial. I highly recommend to everyone to do that step right out of the box.

I'm not quite sure about the 5 stars I'm giving here, because I haven't used it much. But so far, so good.


Good product, good support
I've been using the NSLU2 for about a year with no problems. I've got a Maxtor drive reformatted to Linux on Port 1. I wanted to add a FAT32/NTFS drive on Port 2, so I needed to update firmware. Had a little problem with IP addresses between router/NSLU2 after update. Got on with live chat at Linksys and fixed the problem. I was pleasantly surprised and pleased! Good products are a dime a dozen, but good support is another matter!


Does what it's supposed to do without any fuss!
It is a small TINY thing but it carries out its functions without any unspecified agitation or complication. That really functions as announced. Yes it is not the fastest device available, but for its use envisaged, you will not obtain a better blow for the male. Note well however with the software packages which came on the unit, you CANNOT on top take an existing window-made up external order with data and hang it upwards! However, once that you update the unit with the last software of Linksys, it will identify such an order. Two inches upwards for this unit. 100% recommended.


Nice product, but be aware of the issues.
[...]
This little linux based device basicly works. It does everything it says. It also has a lot more potencial if you want to hack it. It can be used as web server, ftp server, etc.

The setup for it was not easy for me. First I wanted to upgrate the firmware to R63 so it will recongnize NTFS, but the update failed due to "not enough space" error. I called the help desk and the first guy asked me to use another PC and the second guy kept telling me my hard drive is the problem. In the end, I looked up the knowledge base in linksys web and found the specific solution for this problem. This is why the downloaded firmware package contains "EraseAll.exe" in addition to the bin file.

The second thing I wanted to do is to set it up on a network that is not accessable for default address 192.168.1.77. Since I don't have 192.168.1.0 network, I had to change the router and restart my PC to connect to the NSLU2. After changed the address for NSLU2, I had to do change router setting and restart my router and PC again. I just wish the default is DHCP so I can look up its address with arp command easily.

I was expecting a slow down from my USB 2 connection. But the speed is enough for video viewing through 100mbs network card. My other machine has 10mbs and it is too slow for video viewing. For small file transfer, it works pretty well. But the problem is large file transfer as other reviewer said. I believe its processing speed is slower than the sustainable network speed and the buffer fills up on large file, therefore it bebomes a bottleneck itself.

The real problem I ran into is the same "network path no longer available" error in the middle of large file ( 6.6G ) transfer, as mentioned in Martin's review. The hard drive I have is Maxtor 80 GB personal storage 3100 External hard drive USB 2. This is definitely a show stopper that linksys should look into. I give it four stars because of this problem.

In general, it is nice concept and nice little product. I purchased it over D-link product DNS-120 because it handles NTFS with the upgrated firmware. D-link supports NTFS read only.


WORKS WITH NTFS DRIVES!! UPDATE YOUR FIRMWARE
THIS FUNCTIONS WITH NTFS THE ORDERS THAT HARD AUCUNES RESTRUCTURE NECESSARY AND CAN BE EMPLOYED TO PERMUTE BETWEEN THE PC AND THE NETWORK ONCE NECESSARY. UPDATE THE LAST SOFTWARE PACKAGES ON THE WEB SITE OF LINKSYS. NTFS FUNCTIONS ONLY ON PORT2 Of the UNIT AND the EXT.. FAT32 OR LINUX CAN BE EMPLOYED ON PORT1 Of the UNIT. HAPPY AND DESIRED CUSTOMER ALL THESE DISSAPPOINTED TO UPDATE THE FIRWARE.


Slug
With this bond http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/Info/HomePage the NSLU2 is very that I hoped for and much more!


Not NTFS or FAT
Surprised. In my research before buying this device of NAS nothing clued me in the fact that I could not take the ordering of USB just and employing it on another computer (without separate partitions of building). I obtained to pay attention. I like built-in limited safety. I do not like the speed of connection. Once that connected refines to him, but it seems to employ light delay, as if it awakes resource. So true, I would like to be able to stop him or of the periods of time of installation where the modes ' attente' are acceptable.


Great device... once you figure out how to use it.
I bought this device along with Maxtor OneTouch 120GB external hard drive for use with my laptop and the wireless network that I have setup in my house. This little gadget is what actually allows you to wirelessly transmit your files over the network. It's simply great! I run my backups automatically at night, and have not had any problems with it so far. It can also be used a webserver, as one of the reviewers had already mentioned. There are, however, a couple of things on the downside. First of all, you MUST reformat your drive (in my case it was a brand new external drive, so I didn't care) before starting using this item. It is documented everywhere, but I can see how it can be of inconvenience to some people. Second, the setup. For me, it was a bit of a challenge. I do have over 10 year of IT experience, but I still had to call Linksys support to resolve a few problems that occurred during the installation and conflicts with my existing wireless setup. The support people, however, were very patient and knowledgeable, and were able to help me in a timely manner. Third problem, and I think that I'm the only one to notice it (or maybe the only one to have it?) - if you don't use it for a while, it powers off by itself. I've had several occasions when I didn't use it for a few days, and then the next time I tried to access it, I couldn't. I had to reboot it (and my laptop), and then it would work fine again. It never happened during the backup/file transmission though. As I said, it seems to be behaving like this only when you don't use it for a number of days, so it's only a minor inconvenience. Otherwise, I think it's a great product and deserves a recommendation.


be careful
At least on a Mac you have to reformat your hard drive and then you can ONLY use it as a network drive and not on a single mac anymore. For me it turned out to be more easy to use one of my Mac's and share its hard drives.


be careful
At least on a imper you must restructure your hard order and then you can ONLY employ it like orders network and not on a simple imper more. For me it proved to be easier to employ one of my imper and to share its hard orders.


Be aware of one major flaw.
Hi,

I got this device to work, and for basic file and mpg storage, it works OK.

A couple of caveats.

1: make sure that your computer is communicating on the network at '100 full duplex', otherwise the NSLU2 will hit you with a 'path too deep' problem. If your home network has a switch - most do - then you will know that basic network switches are very bad at choosing communication speed, and the network will become a 'notwork.'


2: Major flaw. The NSLU2 autonegotiates (as confirmed by Cisco/Linksys) it's connection speed on the home network. So, place even 1 switch between it and your PC, and performance goes down like a lead balloon. As MPEG and VOB files all require a minimum of 10Mbps to work adequately, if you attempt to play one of these from the device attached to the NSLU2 (in my case the recommended Maxtor One Touch) the video display will be very bad, at best.

If you do want to play video over the home network then I recommend avoiding this product until the teckies at Cisco/Linksys modify the firmware to allow the user to set network negotiation speeds.


eventually got it working
The NSLU2 is working okay for me now - once I bought a compatible USB 2.0 drive (Maxtor One Touch 250 GB). I also use a 128MB flash drive without problems.

I first tried two inexpensive USB drive enclosures and various smaller drives, but I couldn't get the NSLU2 to recognize the drives (probably due to incompatible USB enclosure interfaces; BTW, these do work when plugged into a PC USB port).

Accessing both the flash drive and hard drive via the built-in web server worked as expected.

However, the uPNP feature only worked from some of my Windows XP systems. I could manually mount the network drives on each PC and easily copy files, though it is slow.

The administration console in the web server works okay, but could be much more user friendly. It would help if it gave any indication why it couldn't recognize a drive (or in one case why it couldn't finish formatting a drive).

All in all, the NSLU2 meets my needs. I use the flash drives to share smaller files and for staging to a later backup. I only turn on the 250 GB drive when backing up or sharing larger files (but this requires restarting the NSLU2).


A great little gadget
My ingot became a small handy instrument that the family uses to divide files without having to ignite classify to divide on no matter whom the computer. Fast protections of the important files to the ingot also became current. It was simple to install, I employ it with an instantaneous memory stack, no need to restructure the instantaneous order. It initializes quickly and stops quickly when I must remove the instantaneous order. It is absolutely quiet and short expenses. I did not hang an order lasts until it, that is next on my list of to-C. Small orders and encloses portable computer would join perfectly to the ingot. My wife found another use handy for it, it employs the unutilised port of USB to reload her beating of iPod. Beats trying to reach behind a computer to connect the thing!


Doesn't Support HDD Larger than 300GB
After having fought during weeks with the technical support of Linksys and to have employed beta software package 2.3r63 (which is not available to Linksys.com- that you must ask it of Support)the technology the exits after exist with this product: Support of read/write on partitions of NTFS for HDD less than 300gb only. I know this to be true because although the can of utility of config ' see ' my ordering of LaCie 1TB Biggerdisk and all its contents, WinXP will not trace with the order by the NSLU2. It however, to see


Functional But A Little Slow
I bought the device of joint storage by network (NAS) with the idea to be able to store a large collection of CDs music which I converted into MP3s as well as a certain number of DVDs. While it is possible, that takes one moment very good to transfer from large files that. I attached it to the network 100MB/s. The transfer of a file of 4 gigaoctets starting from the order on machine A to an order on the machine B is, by my evaluation, 5 to 10 times more quickly than transferring the same file starting from machine A to the device of NAS. It is difficult to understand what is that similar results are obtained when you compare the transfer of a file through the same network to an external ordering of USB 2.0 fixed at the machine B. I realize that the transfer of data is limited to the 100 million bits by the second speed of the network less overheads. I do not think that the transfer of data to the device of NAS becomes even narrow. Other that speed the device surely functions and was easy to install. It is useful for the protection of smaller data files.


Good concept, poor customer service
The concept is good - but the support with the customers of Linksys is - as well as possible - unsatisfactory. After my unit failed while under the guarantee, only for seven months after I bought it new, I came into contact with their service of support to the customers. Their service with the customers seems to function in only one speed - slow down - taken days to answer the email if they even answer. After they agreed to replace my unit under the guarantee, that their took just approximately two months to embark me replacment one functioning. Consider their support if you want to think of employing this unit to support the critical files.


Good but be informed >>>>>>
This is a great item. I had problems with it in the beginning, people couldn't access it. Come to find out that my ISP blocks the HTTP port, wich is what the NSLU2 needs in order to be accessed by others over the internet. No one said anything about it. I spent 40min on the phone with linksys trying to figure out why no one could access it. Finally i looked on the Knowledge Base at Linksys.com and found out that if you add a storage device behing a router and it can't be access by others it's because your isp might be blocking the HTTP port. There is no mention of this anywhere, SO beware. Check with your isp and make sure that the HTTTP port, usually port 80, is not blocked. But in other words it does what it says and more. I gave it a 4 because of the lacking of the info on the HTTP.


Great network attached storage
This device of NAS is excellent. It is inexpensive, easy to install, easy to employ and easily fasteners with your network. It makes very that publicity indicates that it makes and more. It is excellent for help and still better to store the files generally used through the network. In value each penny and more.


Does what it says and can do more.
While this little linux box does what it claims to do, it is not for a beginer. Quite a few seemingly computer beginers have given this product a fairly poor review - I believe that it is often the user and not the product.

This product is great for those advanced in nix based systems as with firmware mods, this little box can do just about anything an old 266Mhz computer can (which is quite a lot if you know what you are doing).


Poor Performer
Be not deceived by the advertisements of Linksys for this device. It will be connected to the discs of USB 2.0, and will be connected to the networks 100mb, however do not count that kind of read or excessively do not write with execution of this the device announced by surplus. Our tests, we noted that the speed of inscription was about 10mb/sec and recorded speed is around 12mb/sec. If you employ this with great quantities of help of data above the network, wait you with until your protections take a GOOD moment... You would be well better in addition to buying an actuated hub of USB 2.0 (with half of the prices of this thing) and connecting it with a machine on your network and to divide discs if you need the additional disk space.


Nice unit
This unit does exactly what it says it does.
Be careful however-You MUST reformat your hard drive before you can use it with this unit.

But Wait there's more:

The real neat thing about this little unit is that it is running an embedded Linux kernel!
That means you can turn it into a little web server or a media server--with no PC attached.
There are lots of open source projects on the web for this little box.
I turned mine into a Twonky server. It now servers MP3s through the house.
Would give 5 out or 5 but it is a little slow to start up and shut down.


Overall good, documentation could be improved
I had the NSLU2 during approximately a month. The first thing which I was to improve the software packages, which upwards finished being more painful than I thought... After having downloaded the last software packages and to have begun the levelling, the NSLU2 was wedged in a state where it indicated that the levelling was moving and I could not reload. Remained like this during the night. The morning, I called the support of LinkSys. I precisely prove not to have any PC at the house, only the telephone line of impers, and of LinkSys does not support impers. C. At all events, they indicated to me to give to zero and to still test. That functioned. Other that that the device functions as envisaged. I connected a barracuda 200G of Seagate by using an external fence of USB, aucunes resulting from the whole. Documentation is accounts and laconic groups of little w.r.t. I am a little constrained about the account of "invity" having access to the principal divided partition. It does not seem to be gone up my use at the house of the whole, where I want that the principal partition is mountable by all the authenticated users pertaining to a certain group (for example my family), "invited" * * not included. In conclusion, an end: if you will employ "rsync" with the files of help of a desktop/laptop on a partition of SMB assembled of the NSUL2, you could want to employ "- the option of modify-window" of the rsync. Without him, I noted that the rsync would still copy files on several occasions.


Beware...
I have had my NSLU2 for three months. It stopped working after 2.5 months. Sent it back for warrenty repair, Quality Assurance found nothing wrong with it, they shipped it back to me. It still did not work. Hours on the phone with Linksys Tech support to get new RMA to ship unit back. It's a great unit when it works, but BEWARE! Once you format the disk on your external hard drive to use the NSLU2, there is no going back to simply plugging in your external hard drive to your computer...so I have had no acces to my external hard drive for several weeks now...if I could go back in time, I would not have purchased this unit...


Does what is says it does
Pretty simple to use and set up. Make sure to use an Maxtor external USB 2.0 hard drive.

You can use this device as a web server, even though it is not ment to be used that way.

The device is a little on the slow side, but agian, the unit does what it is supposed to do. For those who complain about speed, please re-read this paragraph.

This device is great for backing up and file shring across a net work.


For MacOS X users...
The install disc does not work on Macs, but you can still configure the NAS using Safari (or any web browser). Point safari to http://192.168.1.77 (or whatever the IP assigned to your NAS is) the username/password is admin/admin. Change your password, format the disk then you're ready to go.

You can not transfer files whose name contain certain characters that MacOS X allows but linux does not (for example, "/"). This is a big problem. But, you can work around it by creating a disk image on the NAS then transferring your files to the mounted disk image. This way you can transfer your existing files without having to find and rename the files that use the offending characters.

Overall, a very nice product.


Quick and Easy Network Attached Storage
I was shocked to see this device average only 3 stars. I've since read all the reviews; people who rated the device lower than 4 starts almost universally based their assessment on the fact that the NSLU2 will not read pre-formatted hard drives with data on them. Boo hoo. That's a pittance compared to the value provided by this device.

This device allows you to easily setup a file server for your network. It's Web interface is typical of LinkSys products -- good, not great. However, beyond simply allowing everybody read/write access to everything shared, the device allows you to define users, create multiple directories to share, and specify which uses can read and write to each directory.

This is NAS made easy. The NSLU2 is worth every penny!


This is not a consumer product for the home market
There is a small but growing community of people world-wide who are using this device as a very low-cost, low-power Linux box. If you are buying this for that purpose, it's a great product. I love it for what it is.

I would not recommend this to anyone who is not a Linux hacker enthusiast or a professional network administrator. Mine did not work at all until I plugged in a new USB 2.0 flash drive (it didn't even appear on my network with just a USB 1.1 external hard drive attached to it). The documentation, such as it is (mostly on the CD that comes with the device), frequently defaults to such helpful suggestions as "if this doesn't work, see your network administrator."

In my experience, it is a lot easier to buy a second hard drive and install it in your PC than to setup one of these on your home network.


Great price/performance with flexible functionality.
I sought an inexpensive box of NAS to store videos, the music and photographs above to divide between my three computers and thereafter a player of media managed in network. The NSLU2 adapted the invoice. I attached an ordering of Seagate 160GB in a USB placing to him and put fire to him upwards. I moved files with it in a few minutes. I discovered quickly that the NSLU2 has some limitations. Accross of rate of file transfer the network and the to/from that the disc of maximum USB outside to approximately 4-5Mbytes/sec. It is too slow to employ like functioning connection storage of NAS), however, for the static storage of file (close relation-line) (finished protections, files, and media) it has speed and the possibilities sufficient to treat they. Each of the three of my computers can reach the filing system without any trouble. Even improve, since the box runs a form of incorporated Linux, the software packages is customizable. There is a group devoted to this and already produced the software packages which can easily have additional packages with him to increase the functionality of small box NSLU2. For example, you can add a package of webserver, or a waiter of media of UPnP, or and ftp server and much of much more things. My NSLU2 is useful to the top of the video of DVD, acoustics MP3, and the photographs of JPEG to a player of media without wire in my center of entertainment. For: Concept inexpensive, customizable, simple with the easy installation. Against: Speed of file transfer. I probably like it and will buy still when I need more than storage capacity.


This product works as advertised, for the most part
I bought this product, because me and my much of share of companion of room of files between one the other. Photographs and thing. I wanted to be able to divide DVDs that put on my order lasts and the bond of storage makes it possible that to occur. Connect-the with my catch of network a USB the order which lasts in the bond of storage reveals on the network on any computer in the Room. Now, as remarkable in a preceding review the bond of storage composes your external hard order with its own type of filing system, which does not allow you with connection your own hard order external without losing the data. So much just be prevented which you will need to take into account that. Just a thought at the transfer times. I am on a network of the mb 100, and that takes approximately 15 minutes so that I put of the 4 gigaoctets DVD on this order. I hoped that it would be a well little faster, but of the OH. It is not cable of fire. With that all known as, this made exactly what is supposed to make for me. Allows me to support all the files which I want in addition to my principal computer and allows any computer on my network access to my DVDs. Ainsi, I like it. Peace outside


Possibly killed my drive
Gotta say I was really interested in this device. Too bad I didn't know that it had to reformat my Western Digital drive before it would work.

I plugged it in, THEN found out that it needed to reformat the drive. I never got far enough to actually tell the Linksys software to do that. However...

Now, my drive no longer works. It used to work very nicely. But I can't use the USB connection anymore, and I only got the firewire connection to work ONCE. So I think that it some how toasted a perfectly working drive. Now I get to spend hours on the support lines with WD. I hope that THEY have tech support that actually speaks English.

BTW, I returned this item.


Innovative and useful but could use improvements
I had employed this article during approximately a month. I think that it deserves really some share between 3 and 4 holds the first role... considering the cost of the article, I give him 4. My comments: (1) filing system of Linux of uses. Noncompatible with the format of NTFS. In the environment of Windows, cannot go between the connection of USB and device NSLU2 direct without reorganization of the order (except for the next point). (2) in spite of what Doc.s indicate, much smaller hard Fat32 orders function the fine right for me in the Disk2 port. I have the gig up to 8 here alley. Does not have to be the instantaneous memory. (3) the device will not initialize reliablly for me when it is configured for DHCP. Often it gives up and gives to zero to its IP address to the defect of factory. This can be a true pain (see item 4). I noted that to employ an IP address fixes for him seems to function very well. (4) warning: At the beginning, the device can be only consulted of a under-net of IP 192.168.1.xxx. For example, if your waiter of router/dhcp employs 192.168.0.xxx (like it the mine makes), you will have to just thus place manually a fixed IP address for one of your GCV you can _ extension _ the NSLU2 establish it. Then you can place it at the fixed IP address of your choice. (5) the device, or perhaps I should say the total moreso strategy which the device itself, is relatively slow once compared with the direct connection of USB 2.0 with a computer. I examined same the 60g ordering of USB 2.0 initially like an ordering of NTFS on the port of the USB 2.0 of my PC, then with the order connected to the NSLU2. By using a LAN with vacuum of Ethernet of the mb 100, I restructured the order as requested and copied approximately 10 gigs with it. Times of Copy seem to be 5-10x slower this manner for great quantities of data. Connection much more slowly than direct USB2 in my experiment. To copy some gigs data can take one hour with the place only few minutes by the intermediary of direct USB2.


Has Issues - can't use for multi-Media Storage/Streaming
I am happy with the NSLU2 other than the following problems that Linksys does not solve. -- not very suitable to run media. Each hour or thus, the NSLU2 hangs during one minute. Certainly obstructing while creating documents, etc. - but completely unusable for MP3s running, JPEGs, video of MPEG, tearing audio CDs, etc... I must periodically copy all my media with my local GCV HD to run outside with my players of media. -- Only Supports SMB. The customers of Linux Solaris must employ SMB, samba of wing of the nose instead of standard NTFS. This prevents devices of filing system of UNIX such as bonds symbolic systems from being employed. The access of NTFS was deliberately handicapped of built-in Linux running NSLU2.


This product will not work with the Linksys Media Adapter
Linksys sells a bond of storage of network (NSLU2) to add great orders shared to your network. A practical use for this in a network at the house should store large bookshops of music, giving access to any song in seconds of any PC in the house. To connect your library of media to your stereophony or TV, Linksys offers an adaptor of media, model number WMA11B. Noises like a great combination. However, the software of the adaptor of media of Linksys (WMA11B) will not identify any order except a local order. Even a traced ordering of network is not acceptd by the software of director of shirt of the media of the WMA. You simply cannot employ these 2 products together. Cash these 2 pieces of material, plus the ordering of 300GB Maxtor, I have $600 invested in a not-solution. Seek a better manner. People of support of Linksys say simply that the 2 products are not designed to function the togther. I do not include/understand how a company as Linksys can give on this. Does it ask for too 2 their own devices of network to function together? If you intend to store file-projects and various data, it is a good solution.


Good product, but do you need it
The product worked well, though configuration took some work. If you want to see how much this device can do, be sure to check out the exhaustive articles on Tom's Hardware's Networking page.

I decided to return this product and instead built a cheap computer to house a bunch of internal hard drives. Unlike external hard drives, the computer is upgradeable and can network on its own. I also used a Shuttle case, so I didn't sacrifice much portability.


Everything you need to know about the NSLU2
I employed the NSLU2 for approximately six months. If you buy this product, there are couples of the things which you must know. Initially, when that functions, that functions well, and it is very useful to have a great order accessible by all the computers on your local area network. In the second place, that does not function well with each ordering of USB. I personally examined the ordering of Seagate 160GB, Maxtor a contact operate instruction, and Maxtor a ordering of contact II. With the ordering of Seagate 160GB, it will identify the order only one time. If you never reload the NSLU2, it will not identify the order the second time and all your data will be lost. With Maxtor a contact operate instruction, it will identify the order very well, but on great transfers of data, speed will slow down with a creeping and thereafter you will obtain an error which indicates something to the effect of the way of network not being found. Its very irritant. With Maxtor "ordering of contact II" (that I just bought), it seems to function large. The morals of this history is that you should examine your order very completely before you employ this for the storage of something that you do not occupy yourselves to lose. Place the high order and reload to it several times to make sure that it continues to identify the order. Then, carry out several copies of great quantities of data and behind the order (to copy all your numerical mp3' S and photographs on several occasions still will function) and ensure you that it does not give you an error message. If all what function, probably have you an order which functions well. Thirdly, the device composes the order with a format based by linux of patent rights, thus you will not be able to disconnect the ordering of the NSLU2 and to hang it to your computer to reach your files. Fourthly, you ensure to have the last software packages to you, or the internal clock on the device can waste time. Fifth, if you are interested to notch the device, seek several articles with www.tomsnetworking.com which speak how to notch in the device and to add new functions. Seek just NSLU2 in this Web page. Sixièmement, the device does not have a function of defrag. If you have money, a better choice is Linksys EFG120, which has a function interns defrag as well.


Extremely unreliable! very difficult accessing files!
Extremely dubious! Very difficult files of access! Not in value the trouble!


Misleading
They advertise that Maxtor works well with this device. They don't say that you must reformat disk destroying its ability to be used directly on Windows. Further you can't use Maxtor one-touch software.
A good idea but a silly implementation.


Don't expect this to be easy
I bought this product after purchasing the Maxtor One-touch because I was enticed by the prospect of being able to schedule simple, scheduled backups of the 3 computers that I have on my home network. Forget it! The simplicity of the Maxtor product goes down the drain when you buy the Linksys NSU. I am much more technically inclined then the vast majority of business or home computer users, and I've been on and off HOLD for over an hour with Linksys tech support. They can't even figure out why I can't connect to the Maxtor from my laptop. I'm ready to ship the product back and try to reformat the Maxtor to work with just one PC, as it was originally designed with it's easy-to-use backup software. If you decide to buy this, make sure you are much more techically savy than Linksys' tech support people because they won't help you at all. VERY DISAPPOINTING AFTER LOTS OF WASTED TIME!


Got it working with a Seagate External drive
Just got my NSLU2. To get it working with a Seagate external drive, one needs to RESTART the NSLU2 from the web console. The drive should be turned on first, then the NSLU2 (it still didn't recognize the drive), then do the RESTART, and there is my 160MB Seagate drive!

This probably will work with a lot of brand x enclosures that don't seem to be working with the default instructions.

Apparently you can't update the firmware without a harddrive connected (at least I couldn't).

I also own a Ximeta Netdisk 80MB drive so I hope to be able to edit this soon with a comparison.


Tiny package, with a big punch!
The images do not realize this piece of justice of work. Looking at, dimensions are roughly 6"x 4" X 3/4"- but do not leave to the imbecile of size you. The installation was a breeze. Connect-the with your LAN, connect a device of storage of USB to him, carry out the program of installation, choose DHCP and it is him - you now LAN-AVEZ based storage. The miniature device has an integrated webserver that you can employ for all the administration once that it is at the beginning configured for your LAN (with its fixed IP address or arrangement of DHCP). My package right arrived today - haven' T of I even obtained around at current protections on the LAN - but, even if the execution is not extraordinary, it is an excellent inexpensive solution of storage of network. Linksys/Cisco did an astonishing work with this product.


Slow, slow slow zzzzzzzzzz
As others have reported, this gizmo is easy to set up and configure out of the box. However, I am seeing throughput speeds on the order of 150 Kbps (average). That is not a misprint, I typed a "K" in front of the speed. It takes absurdly long to open a single digital photo and/or copy a single mp3. It could take days to fill the device with data -- not that I've had the patience to let it run that long.

Other than the NSLU2, my network hums along reliably and at high speed. Very disappointing...so far I have spent more than ten hours installing, debugging, testing and trolling internet sites looking for a solution. I don't have limitless time to debug the NSLU2, especially since I originally bought it as a covenience to SAVE me time. I'll probably noodle around a little bit more and if/when I make no headway then sell it online for whatever I can get.

Not recommended, even for hobbyists. If you must buy it, ensure that you have a good return policy to fall back on.


Beware of Windows Networking
After reading to complain here about reviews of the slow transfer of data, one worried me that the NSLU2 would be losing. However, I really needed a solution of help for my network at the house of the PC 5, thus and I have advanced and bought a NSLU2 and an order of 250 gigaoctets Maxtor in any event. The NSLU2 functions completely well; with 4 out of 5 GCV that functions large, however, the network management of Windows is abominably slow on one of my GCV. The transfers of data are in the same range or even slower than some of the others criticize mentioned. Knoppix functioning (a version of Linux which functions of CD-Romanian) on this PC gives the good execution of network, it is Windows right (house of XP and XP pro) this exposed object the problem; The other GCV function completely well. The same slow PC, a recent box of HP/AMD with 1.25 gigaoctet of memory, being connected to 100 BaseT duplex, has also problems execution to transfer from the files to other machines on the LAN, not simply the NSLU2. It is not noticable with small files, but with 10GB with files 20GB of help, it is a true killer. I have to twist arrangements of network on the slow box, but nothing I tested assistances.


Wonderful, inexpensive project box!
Linksys NSLU2 is a waiter of storage joined by inexpensive network. Primarily, it is a tiny box with a wearing of Ethernet and two connectors at high speed of USB. You connect it to your LAN, attach one or two external orders of USB to him, compose the orders and configure the storage shared by using the integrated web server. If it were all the NSLU2 were able of, it would be already a small marvellous tool. I am in disagreement strongly with another critic which recommended an ordering of Xinet NDAS like replacement: the great advantage of the NSLU2 (or rather the disadvantage of Xinet) is that you should not charge any dubious software of third on your computer to reach to him: it employs the omnipresent protocol of SMB supported by OS X of Windows, imper, Linux, Audiotron beach of tortoise, etc..... a