NAS with USB support?

[kris.vandevijver]

Hi,

I know there are many not-so-expensive NAS devices out there to use at
home, like f.e. the new Dlink DNS-323. The thing is --and i know the
dns-323 doesn't support this-- that i would like to have a usb
connection when i'm close to the nas device and (obviously) a LAN
connection when i'm in another room. I find it strange that Dlink
didn't think of this, after all, isn't usb2.0 a lot faster than 100mbit
lan or even 1gb lan? Or am i missing something?

thanks!
Kris

 

[Arno Wagner]

Hi,

I know there are many not-so-expensive NAS devices out there to use at
home, like f.e. the new Dlink DNS-323. The thing is --and i know the
dns-323 doesn't support this-- that i would like to have a usb
connection when i'm close to the nas device and (obviously) a LAN
connection when i'm in another room. I find it strange that Dlink
didn't think of this, after all, isn't usb2.0 a lot faster than 100mbit
lan or even 1gb lan? Or am i missing something?

You miss that re-exporting storage via USB is not easy to do
and would require special drivers in the client. Typically
USB is only used to export raw devices (as in sequence of sectors),
while NAS exports "coocked" devices (as in stiorage for files in a
filesystem).

The two may clash badly, because in USB the client determines the
filesystem, while in the NAS the NAS decides about it. Theoretically
you could do something like exporting the raw device anyways and
blocking any attempt at formatting or low-level operations, but
it would be difficult, error prone and would give strange error
messages to the USB user, up to needing to simulate a complete
disk failure.

If you know the ISO/OSI model, then in a sense USB is on layer 3,
while NAS is on layer 5 or above...

Arno

 

[Jesco Lincke]

Hi,

I know there are many not-so-expensive NAS devices out there to use at
home, like f.e. the new Dlink DNS-323. The thing is --and i know the
dns-323 doesn't support this-- that i would like to have a usb
connection when i'm close to the nas device and (obviously) a LAN
connection when i'm in another room. I find it strange that Dlink
didn't think of this, after all, isn't usb2.0 a lot faster than 100mbit
lan or even 1gb lan? Or am i missing something?

thanks!
Kris

2 (of many) possible alternatives:

http://www.trekstor.de/en/products/detail_hdd.php?pid=11
(which supports RAID 1)

http://www.freecom.com/productsubs.asp?CatID=8020&sCatID=1146195&s=ja
(which doesn't)

Both can be accessed via USB or(!) LAN (so not both simultaneously). You
can, however, hot-plug the USB connector for short time use and unplug
it afterwards - the drivees will be accessible via LAN again without
resetting.

One word of warning, though: cooling.
I have no long-term experience yet as to possible cooling problems of
those drives - the storage-case-option (if offering extra cooling, that
is) might be safer.

Jesco

 

[Jesco Lincke]

2 (of many) possible alternatives:

http://www.trekstor.de/en/products/detail_hdd.php?pid=11
(which supports RAID 1)

http://www.freecom.com/productsubs.asp?CatID=8020&sCatID=1146195&s=ja
(which doesn't)

Both can be accessed via USB or(!) LAN (so not both simultaneously). You
can, however, hot-plug the USB connector for short time use and unplug
it afterwards - the drivees will be accessible via LAN again without
resetting.

One word of warning, though: cooling.
I have no long-term experience yet as to possible cooling problems of
those drives - the storage-case-option (if offering extra cooling, that
is) might be safer.

Jesco

Just found this:

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Storage/NetworkStorage/SC101T.aspx

With GB-LAN-support USB-connectivity should be a problem no longer,
provided your LAN supports it. I found no reference to case cooling,
though...

 

[Jesco Lincke]

Hi,

I know there are many not-so-expensive NAS devices out there to use at
home, like f.e. the new Dlink DNS-323. The thing is --and i know the
dns-323 doesn't support this-- that i would like to have a usb
connection when i'm close to the nas device and (obviously) a LAN
connection when i'm in another room. I find it strange that Dlink
didn't think of this, after all, isn't usb2.0 a lot faster than 100mbit
lan or even 1gb lan? Or am i missing something?

thanks!
Kris

2 (of many) possible alternatives:

http://www.trekstor.de/en/products/detail_hdd.php?pid=11
(which supports RAID 1)

http://www.freecom.com/productsubs.asp?CatID=8020&sCatID=1146195&s=ja
(which doesn't)

Both can be accessed via USB or(!) LAN (so not both simultaneously). You
can, however, hot-plug the USB connector for short time use and unplug
it afterwards - the drivees will be accessible via LAN again without
resetting.

One word of warning, though: cooling.
I have no long-term experience yet as to possible cooling problems of
those drives - the storage-case-option (if offering extra cooling, that
is) might be safer.

Jesco

PS: Just out of curiosity: Why do you need USB access? With GB-LAN
support it can't be for transfer rate, can it?

 

[Jesco Lincke]

Hi,

I know there are many not-so-expensive NAS devices out there to use at
home, like f.e. the new Dlink DNS-323. The thing is --and i know the
dns-323 doesn't support this-- that i would like to have a usb
connection when i'm close to the nas device and (obviously) a LAN
connection when i'm in another room. I find it strange that Dlink
didn't think of this, after all, isn't usb2.0 a lot faster than 100mbit
lan or even 1gb lan? Or am i missing something?

thanks!
Kris

2 (of many) possible alternatives:

http://www.trekstor.de/en/products/detail_hdd.php?pid=11
(which supports RAID 1)

http://www.freecom.com/productsubs.asp?CatID=8020&sCatID=1146195&s=ja
(which doesn't)

Both can be accessed via USB or(!) LAN (so not both simultaneously). You
can, however, hot-plug the USB connector for short time use and unplug
it afterwards - the drivees will be accessible via LAN again without
resetting.

One word of warning, though: cooling.
I have no long-term experience yet as to possible cooling problems of
those drives - the storage-case-option (if offering extra cooling, that
is) might be safer.

Jesco

PS: Just out of curiosity: Why do you need USB access? With GB-LAN
support it can't be for transfer rate, can it?

USB 2.0: 480 Mbit/s
GB-LAN: well, 1 Gbit/s

 

[Jesco Lincke]

Hi,

I know there are many not-so-expensive NAS devices out there to use at
home, like f.e. the new Dlink DNS-323. The thing is --and i know the
dns-323 doesn't support this-- that i would like to have a usb
connection when i'm close to the nas device and (obviously) a LAN
connection when i'm in another room. I find it strange that Dlink
didn't think of this, after all, isn't usb2.0 a lot faster than 100mbit
lan or even 1gb lan? Or am i missing something?

thanks!
Kris

2 (of many) possible alternatives:

http://www.trekstor.de/en/products/detail_hdd.php?pid=11
(which supports RAID 1)

http://www.freecom.com/productsubs.asp?CatID=8020&sCatID=1146195&s=ja
(which doesn't)

Both can be accessed via USB or(!) LAN (so not both simultaneously). You
can, however, hot-plug the USB connector for short time use and unplug
it afterwards - the drives will be accessible via LAN again without
resetting.

One word of warning, though: cooling.
I have no long-term experience yet as to possible cooling problems of
those drives - the storage-case-option (if offering extra cooling, that
is) might be safer.

Jesco

PS: Just out of curiosity: Why do you need USB access? With GB-LAN
support it can't be for transfer rate, can it?

USB 2.0: 480 Mbit/s
GB-LAN: well, 1 Gbit/s

 

[Michael Daly]

USB 2.0: 480 Mbit/s

Which is optimistic. In reality, most USB devices can get about half that rate
and many even less. If you're lucky, it's better than 100Mb Ethernet, but not 1Gb.

Mike

 

[Jesco Lincke]

Which is optimistic.

Well, so's the 1GB on the LAN...

 

[Arno Wagner]

2 (of many) possible alternatives:

http://www.trekstor.de/en/products/detail_hdd.php?pid=11
(which supports RAID 1)

http://www.freecom.com/productsubs.asp?CatID=8020&sCatID=1146195&s=ja
(which doesn't)

Both can be accessed via USB or(!) LAN (so not both simultaneously). You
can, however, hot-plug the USB connector for short time use and unplug
it afterwards - the drives will be accessible via LAN again without
resetting.

Aha, so somebody has implemented this. Disconnecting the LAN
access when USB is used is another option. Should have though
of this.

Does it require drivers? I suppose not?

Arno

 

[kris.vandevijver]

Michael Daly schreef:

Which is optimistic. In reality, most USB devices can get about half that rate
and many even less. If you're lucky, it's better than 100Mb Ethernet, but not 1Gb.

Mike

Hi guys, thanks for all the input! So, if GB Lan is faster in reality
than usb2.0, then i guess i won't be needing USB anymore, but, this
means i will have to replace my 100mbit switch/adsl router too then?

-Kris

 

[Jesco Lincke]

Aha, so somebody has implemented this. Disconnecting the LAN
access when USB is used is another option. Should have though
of this.

Does it require drivers? I suppose not?

Arno

Well, presently the USB connector has priority over LAN.

And both need drivers which you could also see as a security gain, since
they involve read and write keys.
See my own posting dated Dec 29th - those drivers do not yet support Win
XP 64...

Jesco

 

[Jesco Lincke]

Michael Daly schreef:

Hi guys, thanks for all the input! So, if GB Lan is faster in reality
than usb2.0, then i guess i won't be needing USB anymore, but, this
means i will have to replace my 100mbit switch/adsl router too then?

-Kris

Sure, to use GB LAN of course ALL of the equipment needs to support it.

Jesco

 

[kris.vandevijver]

Jesco Lincke schreef:

Just found this:

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Storage/NetworkStorage/SC101T.aspx

With GB-LAN-support USB-connectivity should be a problem no longer,
provided your LAN supports it. I found no reference to case cooling,
though...

Wow, this is one cool product! Very good chance i will buy this one!

Thanks!!
Kris

 

[Arno Wagner]

Well, presently the USB connector has priority over LAN.

And both need drivers which you could also see as a security gain, since
they involve read and write keys.

But a loss of USB convenience.

See my own posting dated Dec 29th - those drivers do not yet support Win
XP 64...

.... and compatibility....

Better stay purely NAS, I would say.

Arno

 

[Michael Daly]

this means i will have to replace my 100mbit switch/adsl router too then?

If you only use a 1Gb LAN connection between your NAS box and your machine with
a direct connection (crossover cable), then you don't need to change the rest of
the network. If you don't want to use a x-over, you can use a small 1Gb router
to connect locally. The rest of the network can remain 10/100; the network
protocol allows for speed matching between the 10/100 network and the 1Gb NICs
on the system.

Mike

 

[kris.vandevijver]

Michael Daly schreef:

If you only use a 1Gb LAN connection between your NAS box and your machine with
a direct connection (crossover cable), then you don't need to change the rest of
the network. If you don't want to use a x-over, you can use a small 1Gb router
to connect locally. The rest of the network can remain 10/100; the network
protocol allows for speed matching between the 10/100 network and the 1Gb NICs
on the system.
Mike

So i could connect the NAS with a crossover to the GB lan NIC in my
laptop, but then i would always have to connect wireless to the home
LAN? Hmm, not an ideal situation i think
But thanks for the info!

 

[Arno Wagner]

Michael Daly schreef:

So i could connect the NAS with a crossover to the GB lan NIC in my
laptop,

GB Ethernet does auto-crossover. Any cable will work.

Arno