Looking for NAS Hardware Recommendations

[Joseph Sinclair]

I have used a Buffalo LinkStation Pro Duo for a couple of years, and I've found it to be extremely reliable, silent (I can hear it's fan only if I stick my ear right next to it..), and it performs very well.
Their newest version is even better (faster NIC and CPU), and they also have a "LiveStation" that is intended to be accessible via a website (like a Pogo Plug) if that's your preferred approach)
It's on Amazon here (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00365MF5E) for about $190 for 2TB and $376 for 4TB.
Buffalo is a U.S. company, and their most recent versions of the Pro Duo are 2 or 4 TB (RAID0, half for RAID1) and have software to make the files available via internet (or you can punch a hole in your firewall for SCP).
They don't describe much Linux support, but it is running Linux (minimal kernel with Busybox userland) and uses things like rsync for backup (although they don't call it rsync in documentation, they call if "BuffaloLink" or some such nonsense).

You might want to root it just so you can ssh into the box (ssh is on the box but disabled from the factory) to play around and possibly setup some cron jobs to keep things cleaned up, but it's surprisingly capable as-is.
Rooting it is pretty simple; just run a simple java program called acp commander that's easily available (http://buffalo.nas-central.org/wiki/Main_Page, and http://downloads.buffalo.nas-central.org/TOOLS/ALL_LS_KB_ARM9/ACP_COMMANDER/README) which can easily start telnet and enable root (I included some brief instructions below for a clean root).
The very latest versions (the XHL and CHL) of the LinkStation (the ones that have curvy cases, instead of square) use a new firmware that's even more stripped-down, so those you have to load an open firmware(recommended, actually) to make any changes or get command-line access.

============= Recommendations for rooting a Buffalo NAS ======================
Remember to do this (or any root operation) on an isolated switch with just the NAS and a secure laptop serving DHCP, and before connecting to any other net.
  run acp_commander -f to find the NAS box IP (or just query what address DHCP handed out if that's easier).
  Connect to the NAS web interface (standard port 80) and get past the first-time setup, particularly setting the admin user/password; you'll need that for the next step.
  Run the acp_commander to get telnet operating and clear the root password (that's really all you need, so don't load addons.tar unless you just cannot live without the tools included there)
  telnet and login as root
  enable ssh. Make sure to permanently enable it by creating symlinks in the rc.# directories or you'll get locked out if the power fails!
  logout of telnet
  use scp to copy your ssh public key (.pub) to /root/.ssh/authorized_keys
  login via ssh
  disable telnet (I usually rename the binary to make it *really* disabled)
  logout and reconnect to verify key-based ssh authentication (i.e. no password prompt)
  lock the root account (passwd -l root) so *only* key-based login will work thereafter.
  finish making any other changes you'd like (including a second authorized key in case you loose the first, for instance).




On 07/04/2011 10:52 AM, Mark Phillips wrote:
> I have a small network and would like to set up some network
> backaup/storage. I looked at Best Buy and the WD MyBook 2TB NAS storage
> looked good at $150, but the reviews were terrible. I checked Fry's and the
> Iomega 2TB StoreCenter is more expensive ($239), but is has a few more bells
> and whistles, and is a bit faster, but runs hot according to the reviews.
> 
> What I am looking for:
> 1-2 TB storage
> network access
> access to stored files via the Internet
> compatible with Linux for automatic backups
> 
> Have you used any of these devices, or do you recommend another brand?
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Mark
> 
> 
> 
> 
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