NAS with USB support?

  • Thread starter Thread starter kris.vandevijver
  • Start date Start date
K

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
 
Previously [email protected] said:
Hi,
Click to expand...
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?
Click to expand...

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
 
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
Click to expand...
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
 
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
Click to expand...

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...
 
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
Click to expand...
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?
 
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
Click to expand...
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
 
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
Click to expand...
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
 
Jesco said:
USB 2.0: 480 Mbit/s
Click to expand...

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
 
Previously Jesco Lincke said:
2 (of many) possible alternatives:
Click to expand...
http://www.trekstor.de/en/products/detail_hdd.php?pid=11
(which supports RAID 1)
Click to expand...
http://www.freecom.com/productsubs.asp?CatID=8020&sCatID=1146195&s=ja
(which doesn't)
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...

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
 
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
Click to expand...

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
 
Arno said:
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
Click to expand...

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
 
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
Click to expand...

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

Jesco
 
Well, presently the USB connector has priority over LAN.
Click to expand...
And both need drivers which you could also see as a security gain, since
they involve read and write keys.
Click to expand...

But a loss of USB convenience.
See my own posting dated Dec 29th - those drivers do not yet support Win
XP 64... :(
Click to expand...

.... and compatibility....

Better stay purely NAS, I would say.

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

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
 
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
Click to expand...

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!
 
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