sata or IDE gigabit NAS enclosure $25 at geeks.com DEAL DEAD, discussion only

[blckgrffn]

Originally posted by: lokiju

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: EXreaction
That doesn't make any sense. If it was DHCP you would at least be able to connect to it without having to setup a single P2P network to configure it. It would work without modifications and you could set it up as you want right away.

Like I said - if it were DHCP it would automatically be assigned a random IP, leaving a typical end-user even more clueless as what to do. How many SOHO users do you know that would be even able to log into their router to pull a DHCP client list, let alone know what DHCP even is?

Besides, they're expecting you to use their PNMD tool, which does all that for you (I assume over UPnP).

I does have a network name though.

I-Drive, they could just hit it with that.

If they used the software that came with it, it would also be able to find it on the network, then you could set it to use a static from that software.

That's supposing it broadcast its name somehow...

The perfect way would be to have static DHCP configured for its mac before you even plugged it in. That would require 1)knowing the MAC address and 2)being able to configure that on your router/whatever. Probably beyond the reach of many...

Nat

 

[mikeford]

Originally posted by: hans007

Originally posted by: mikeford
I just ordered this VOX, but looks like I got the last one.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=ENPAM-35NF

$31 shipped with tax.

i thought about getting the vox before i saw the landisk one.

reason i didnt get it was the reviews (albiet only 3 of them) on amazon were horrible.

http://www.amazon.com/review/product/B001L1I7C0

i know there is some issue with fat 32, nas partitions and a max size of 32gb or something.

Maybe I should have checked for some reviews first, but having read them seems like they didn't read the setup instructions. Took me a few minutes of guess what the IP address is, ending with using netmagic to map my network, but once I knew the IP the drive setup page came right up as a web page and I was using the drive in just a few minutes.

I haven't done a "real" speed test yet, no ports open on my 1000T switch, but seemed typical speed using 100T.

How do you argue with $31 shipped?

 

[lokiju]

Anyone else having issues loading the extensions?

When I point it to the file on the CD it gives me a error that says "please use the correct file"

 

[Schmide]

Originally posted by: lokiju
Anyone else having issues loading the extensions?

When I point it to the file on the CD it gives me a error that says "please use the correct file"

I had that problem in firefox. Then it worked in IE. I don't know if it was a session problem or what but I did get it work.

No BT client though. Kind of lame since their web page said P2P management.

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: mikeford

Originally posted by: hans007

Originally posted by: mikeford
I just ordered this VOX, but looks like I got the last one.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=ENPAM-35NF

$31 shipped with tax.

i thought about getting the vox before i saw the landisk one.

reason i didnt get it was the reviews (albiet only 3 of them) on amazon were horrible.

http://www.amazon.com/review/product/B001L1I7C0

i know there is some issue with fat 32, nas partitions and a max size of 32gb or something.

Maybe I should have checked for some reviews first, but having read them seems like they didn't read the setup instructions. Took me a few minutes of guess what the IP address is, ending with using netmagic to map my network, but once I knew the IP the drive setup page came right up as a web page and I was using the drive in just a few minutes.

I haven't done a "real" speed test yet, no ports open on my 1000T switch, but seemed typical speed using 100T.

How do you argue with $31 shipped?

true that... the vox one i was just scared away from because of the reviews. on paper it sounded a lot better, with the firewire and usb connections directly to a computer.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: Schmide

Originally posted by: lokiju
Anyone else having issues loading the extensions?

When I point it to the file on the CD it gives me a error that says "please use the correct file"

I had that problem in firefox. Then it worked in IE. I don't know if it was a session problem or what but I did get it work.

No BT client though. Kind of lame since their web page said P2P management.

I just discovered that myself and was going to edit my post.

:beer:

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Schmide
No BT client though. Kind of lame since their web page said P2P management.

No BitTorrent after all? Are you sure?

I'm trying to figure out, I thought the specs said FAT32 or ext2 or ext3, but the manual seems to indicate that you HAVE to format the internal drive as EXT3. I was hoping to keep it FAT32. Does anyone know what's up with this?

It does seem to indicate that external USB drives can be formatted FAT32, but I was hoping that I could keep the internal drive formatted FAT32 too, in case I ever had to pull the drive out and access it on another machine.

Edit: "The device support one connected USB storage device. Only one USB storage device can be recognized while there are two USB storage device connected simultaneously."

"The device supports one connected printer only."

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: lokiju

Originally posted by: Schmide

Originally posted by: lokiju
Anyone else having issues loading the extensions?

When I point it to the file on the CD it gives me a error that says "please use the correct file"

I had that problem in firefox. Then it worked in IE. I don't know if it was a session problem or what but I did get it work.

No BT client though. Kind of lame since their web page said P2P management.

I just discovered that myself and was going to edit my post.

:beer:

Unfortunately - it doesn't work with IE8/Win7. :|

Edit: After fiddling with IE8's settings, I finally got it to play nice. Extensions are loaded!

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry

Originally posted by: Schmide
No BT client though. Kind of lame since their web page said P2P management.

No BitTorrent after all? Are you sure?

I'm trying to figure out, I thought the specs said FAT32 or ext2 or ext3, but the manual seems to indicate that you HAVE to format the internal drive as EXT3. I was hoping to keep it FAT32. Does anyone know what's up with this?

It does seem to indicate that external USB drives can be formatted FAT32, but I was hoping that I could keep the internal drive formatted FAT32 too, in case I ever had to pull the drive out and access it on another machine.

Actually, P2P is part of the firmware extensions (which I can't get loaded). It sets up a P2P share, in which you copy a *.torrent file to. Once the file is there, the NAS begins downloading.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Where do you find these firmware extensions? I have the IDE model, which ships with 1.00 firmware (dated from 2006), and the only extension on the CD that came bundled with my unit is the UPnP Printer server extension. I'm honestly not even sure that got loaded right, I was using IE7. I don't see any P2P extensions anywhere. Can someone post their CD as an ISO somewhere, that has those extensions, and I can try loading it on mine?

Does anyone know where to find firmware updates for these things?

Btw, if anyone wants to check out one of these in action, click here

Also, when you format the internal HD, is there a checkbox option for "swap"? Mine doesn't have that option, even though the manual mentions that it is necessary for more than 5 users at a time. I want to enable maximum users, because mine is going to face the internet. So I'd like to get swap enabled. Currently, it says "Swap: No"

Interesting link

After shutting my unit down and restarting it, it now says "no HD found"!!!

Well, I shut it down again, and pulled the plug and waited a minute, and powered it back up again, and now it detected the HD again. Whew!

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: maximusfarticus
Can you test it on a 360?

Well, didn't test it on the 360 (have to pull the 360 from my entertainment center to do that), but it shows up in Windows Media Player without any issues now that I have the firmware extensions loaded.

Larry - check your PMs.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Yeah, I have that file on the CD too. But where is the BT client? I loaded the extensions, but it doesn't show up in the GUI.

Could this be a twin of the unit from Geeks.com? There is firmware available here (Also GPL source!!!). Also see this

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
Yeah, I have that file on the CD too. But where is the BT client? I loaded the extensions, but it doesn't show up in the GUI.

Under "My Media" on the "P2P" tab? The IDE version may not be the same as the SATA version... I noticed the firmware extension sizes are drastically different.

 

[VirtualLarry]

"My Media"? "P2P tab"? My firmware doesn't have either of those, even after loading the extensions.

 

[punish3r2]

Hookay, Punish3r here, back from the dead. With some good info:

1. After some interesting emails and phone calls to Taiwan, I finally have the legitimate website for firmware updates:

www.EnclosureService.com

Easily one of the least professional websites I have ever seen, but I digress...

Assuming you have the SATA version, the files that you want are listed under "Lan Disk -> Giga LAN Disk NS349S" (I don't specifically know that the IDE version uses a different fileset, but I have no way to test it so I cannot say for sure)

The version I pulled down was V2.10

The process for firmware updates is undocumented (AFAIK) and I had to screw around quite a bit to get the NAS to update. Here was the process that worked for me:

<<<I would recommend doing this first thing, as V1.00 is a hairy nightmare to work with and the update requires you to reset the box to factory default anyway

1. Download NH231_AC_V2.10_11-09-2007_.rar

2. Extract NH231_AC_V2.10_11-09-2007_.web from NH231_AC_V2.10_11-09-2007_.rar

3. Open PNMD, let it find your NAS

4. Make sure your NAS is selected in the PNMD window and click "Open WEB UI" in PNMD

5. username and password (default is admin/admin)

6. If you have done ANY customization whatsoever (even if it was just a Wahoo's Fish Taco sticker on the case) go to "Maintenance -> Reset to Factory Default" and click "Set to Default"

7. Once the reset timer runs all the way down (~180 seconds or so) close all browser windows.

8. Reconnect through the web ui (e.g. browse to the local address), entering default username and password to access (admin/admin)

9. Go to "Maintenance -> Firmware Upgrade" and click "Browse..."

10. Navigate to the location of the NH231_AC_V2.10_11-09-2007_.web (<<<That is the .WEB file NOT the .RAR file) on your computer.

11. Hit OK

12. Once the file path to the .WEB file is shown in the box, click "Update"

13. Yet another long counter (~180 seconds IIRC)

14. Again, close all your browser windows once the counter runs down (If not you might be confused by the fact that the NAS still shows V1.00 instead of V2.10)

V2.10 is a freaking dream compared to V1.00 (V1.00 won't immediately show updates, runs like crap and smells funny (really, just give it a sniff...))

V2.10 is a night and day difference. It runs faster, cleaner, shows updates immediately, easily installs the Firmware Extensions without whining, allows a config download (unlike V1.00) to backup your settings and generally doesn't suck. It also restarts faster and smells only faintly of rotting offal.

Next post will be a hardware rundown and hopefully some hi-res scans of the board (I currently have overexposed crap-digi pictures if anyone wants those <shudder>...)

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
Yeah, I have that file on the CD too. But where is the BT client? I loaded the extensions, but it doesn't show up in the GUI.

Could this be a twin of the unit from Geeks.com? There is firmware available here. Also see this

WOW... that is the exact same thing, except it has an eSATA port on it, which explains one of the unused headers I found on the motherboard... hmm...

 

[VirtualLarry]

Anyone know if you can TFTP boot these things? Perhaps while the power LED is flashing, when it boots?

This is what I get when I try to upgrade the firmware:
"Firmware Upgrade Error...

error message: New firmware's is not suitable with this system.

system will restart now.
Please wait and ensure a safe operating environment."

Another clone: link, link

Edit: I have the IDE version, with 1.00 firmware. It's starting to appear that the IDE version is significantly more limited than the SATA version.

OpenNAS forums

Page listing both model numbers for the IDE and SATA versions.

IDE version also goes by the name "Vibe 349-U2". Found firmware here
Ok, I flashed "NS-349-U2" firmware from the above link. Guess what? It's still 1.00, same date. Looks like it is the 1.00 firmware at the above link.

More firmwares here. Note that this unit is NOT IDENTICAL to the Geeks.com unit. You have been warned. I'm going to attempt to flash it, and see what happens.
UGH! I bricked it. It flashed without warning or error, but then when it reboots, it just keeps rebooting.

I should have been more cautious, as I had read this before I flashed it. link I thought that it would be OK for me to flash, because the guy that bricked his flashed from a SATA to an IDE firmware, whereas mine is an IDE and both product types in the firmware flash are the same. (Hence why it accepted the firmware to flash, I believe.)

Another hacking link.

AllNet ALL6250 GPL firmware

OpenNAS forum thread on flashing ALL6250 (same NH230 board as our IDE units from Geeks) here
It does support a form of TFTP booting, btw. But it looks like you need serial console access to do it.

 

[punish3r2]

Which firmware are you trying to use? And on which version (IDE or SATA)?

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
Anyone know if you can TFTP boot these things? Perhaps while the power LED is flashing, when it boots?

This is what I get when I try to upgrade the firmware:
"Firmware Upgrade Error...

error message: New firmware's is not suitable with this system.

system will restart now.
Please wait and ensure a safe operating environment."

If you're trying to use the link that punisher posted - that is NOT for the IDE version.

 

[punish3r2]

I don't specifically know that it's not for IDE, I just have no way of testing it. However, the spec sheet for the NS-349S specifically states that it is SATA (as does the GS-349S which looks identical)

 

[nobodyknows]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
"My Media"? "P2P tab"? My firmware doesn't have either of those, even after loading the extensions.

I have the IDE version too and it's the same as yours, firmware 1.0 from 2006 and no P2P.

I don't have a hard drive in it yet though, gotta copy some files off of one first.

 

[VirtualLarry]

This is from the 1.00 firmware that flashed successfully.

MAGICNUM=072377199b107a70483d2dac49d4eebe
PRODUCT_ID=NH230
CUSTOMER=NONBRAND
VERSION=V1.00(05-17-2006)
LINUX=1343858
ROOT=756835
RAMDISK2=1468917

This is from the bad firmware that bricked my NAS.

MAGICNUM=072377199b107a70483d2dac49d4eebe
PRODUCT_ID=NH230
CUSTOMER=PCI
VERSION=V3.33(09-14-2007)
LINUX=1354010
ROOT=811157
RAMDISK2=1475520

 

[Schmide]

Yeah they are definitely almost identical boards.

gs349s_ide.jpg

OpenNAS link

google translated OpenNAS link

It would be nice to get this firmware going. Looks like a simple serial connector build.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: punish3r2
I don't specifically know that it's not for IDE, I just have no way of testing it. However, the spec sheet for the NS-349S specifically states that it is SATA (as does the GS-349S which looks identical)

From what I understand, the GS-349S is based on a Marvel 5082. The NS-349S is based on possibly the Freescale chip?

As far as the IDE version - odds are it's something completely different. Looking at the pics posted above, the IDE's layout is quite different from the SATA's (the RAM chips are at opposite ends of the board).

Personally I'd like to get telnet or ssh access to the box if I could. But it works well for what I really wanted it for.

 

[lokiju]

I need a 1000mb/s router now

I started a copy of 400GBs of movies last night before I went to bed and it's still going and only maybe 65% done.

 

[nobodyknows]

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: punish3r2
I don't specifically know that it's not for IDE, I just have no way of testing it. However, the spec sheet for the NS-349S specifically states that it is SATA (as does the GS-349S which looks identical)

From what I understand, the GS-349S is based on a Marvel 5082. The NS-349S is based on possibly the Freescale chip?

As far as the IDE version - odds are it's something completely different. Looking at the pics posted above, the IDE's layout is quite different from the SATA's (the RAM chips are at opposite ends of the board).

Personally I'd like to get telnet or ssh access to the box if I could. But it works well for what I really wanted it for.

I got the IDE version and it does what I wanted it too, share the printer and I get to use an old IDE hard drive that really wasn't doing anything useful so I'm happy with it, escpecially considering the price!!

SunnyD - if you get a chance to use yours with some bit-torrents please LMK how it goes. That would be so, so handy to have that option!