Buffalo Technology NAS LinkStation 120GB Network Storage Center w/ built-in Print Server

This NAS device, although the first I have owned, ...

Strengths: Many -- small size, simplicity of setup, relatively fast

Weaknesses: File format of USB formatted drives incompatible when disconnected from LinkStation

Summary: This NAS device, although the first I have owned, is great. I hooked it up to my ethernet network, assigned an IP, and voila, I could access it from any PC on my network. No 3rd party software or configuration needed.

I use this in my home, so few password restricted shares are necessary. You don't have as much control over users, passwords, groups, read-only access as you would with a regular server, but for casual use, you can find a work around. Fine also perhaps for a small business where security isn't a huge issue. If individual file/folder permissions are necessary and require constant changes, this product isn't for you. But the web interface is still easy to use.

The idea of adding another USB drive is great, although after formatting, the external drive can't be used by USB alone through the OS; it must be used through the LinkStation. Backing up is mainly what I use an external drive for. I have not yet tried the USB print server (I already have a dedicated print server for my later printer), but will soon for my Canon inkjet.

Speed: I don't do any large file transfers so I haven't noticed it, although it is slower than a pure USB 2 connection (but that is assumed (100Mbps vs. 400Mbps).)

I have had no difficulties with this device thus far and leave it on 24/7 and never have had to reset it. This is Linux based, and there are some web resources about hacking into it, but I have no need to do so as the functionality is exactly what I want.

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Great Value NAS Storage Device, albeat kind of slow!

Strengths: Cheapest NAS Device; Hackable; Good value per GB; network print server

Weaknesses: Slow; Noisy; Poor install instruction; external Hard Drive cannot be formatted in NTFS; super-slow print-server

Summary: I have had this for about two years, and in general, am quite happy. It provides Network Attached Storage (NAS) at a good price point. When I purchased this, there was not alot of competition out there, so the price was higher. However, now that Linksys, Netgear, Maxtor, WesternDigital, etc. have jumped on board, the prices have come down. This unit allows you to have "always on" network storage. Your laptop now has access to storing and backing up data, without the need for wires (assuming this unit is attached to a wired network, and your laptop connects wirelessly to that network via an Access Point). This solution is somewhat slow, but it does work. There must be alot of bi-directional handshaking that slows things down in the wireless laptop connection case. From a wired computer, it is faster, but certainly not as fast as an internal drive or external USB2.0 drive. Some nice addon features are a USB2.0 print server and a USB2.0 port for an external USB Hard Drive. A downside to the USB hard drive is that the drive must be formatted in a Linux format, and not in the NTFS format that a Windows XP PC expects. So, you can't just hook up an external hard drive that was working with your computer, as it would need to be completely reformatted, and you would lose existing data. Same goes for if you wanted to go the other way.

Setting up a print server was relatively easy. Just follow the instructions. Speaking of instructions, they are not the best! The setup will not necessarily be "out of the box", and some tweaking will be required. I had to download detailed instructions from the Buffalo web-site. It is important that you have your windows XP setup for home networking for this to work at all (assuming you are using windows!).

One really nice thing (for some) is the ability to hack into the box and use the existing Linux OS to do other things, like set up a web-server, FTP server or even a music server/streamer! Look at linkstationwiki web-site for useful info. I currently have ssh up and running, along with slimserver, thus allowing me to stream my MP3 over the internet!! Be warned that this is for people comfortable with hacking, and not for the unitiated!!

Overall, I have been very satisfied. While somewhat slow, it does allow me to keep common data on one hard drive, which can be accessed by many computers, without requiring any of those computers to be on. I also very much like the built-in print server. The downside is that data transfer are kind of slow and the box is itself kind of noisy, and not really recommended for a bedroom environment (the fan is always running).

As an update, I want to comment on the "slowness". The print-server can be painfully slow over a wireless connection! Sometimes it will print out the first page, then stop. Have not figured out why. My D-Link DPR-1260 dedicated print-server does not have this problem w/ the same printer. As a result, I've stopped using the Buffalo one. In addition, I canot get a complete Norton Ghost backup to work with my laptop over a wireless connection. Could be the software's problem, I don't know.

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A Real Solution

Strengths: Ease of use. Relatively easy setup. THE PRINT SERVER!!!

Weaknesses: None yet. The fan is a bit loud in a room without other electronics with fans. Not noticibly loud, but you know it's on.

Summary: I have a Mac, and my wife has a PC. Classic scenario, or vice versa. We needed an easy solution to integrate our two systems. The main thing we wanted to do was share a printer. We've been looking for a print server that would truly work with both the Mac and PC. Not as easy as it seems.

In addition to being able to share music and files, I got that "WOO HOO!!" moment when the printer came to life after a bit of trial and error, with both machines.

I look forward to more pleasant surprises out of this unit.

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Great product, like the fact you can backup one un ...

Strengths: easy to configure, web menu based. Cost vs. function is good.

Weaknesses: - none noted. DHCP addressing is a pain - i used a manual IP address on the network so I could map a drive to it. Needs 1000Mps interfaces.

Summary: Great product, like the fact you can backup one unit to another, Print server is functional with LP drivers. As long as I have power I can use it.

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LinkStation runs with a Linux kernel. It works fin ...

Strengths: Easy to configure/navigate, works with great performance

Weaknesses: Not compatible with some Chinese character even with the lastest firmware update. Lack of flexibility of network drive(samba) conrtol.

Summary: LinkStation runs with a Linux kernel. It works fine in FTP mode, but I have some problem working with some specific Chinese characters. However, I think it happens to all the Linux system. Overall, it provide flexibility to work on LAN/WLAN with excellent performance and capacity. I didn't have a USB2 printer, therefore, I have no comment about it!

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Link Station 120

Strengths: Easy Set-up & Print Server a major plus

Weaknesses: None so far after 3+ weeks

Summary: The Linkstation is by far the best Network Attached Storage unit I've tried. I’m an IT Consultant and I’ve previously used both the Mirra and Maxtor solutions but both were problematic and confusing for my customers to use. With the Linkstation from Buffalo, all the issues of ease of use and reliability have been solved…

The added bonus with the Linkstation is a USB Print Server. The print server alone would cost $50 - $100 alone so it really is a great bargain. Anyone with a network and a computer can’t go wrong with this simple to use, bulletproof back-up system…

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