NAS enclosure for less than £20!

martint123

nazzler wrote: »

That's a windows problem, Fat32 can support bigger than 4gb. These NAS drives, or at least the one I have, are FAT32 supporting up to 16gb files and they do it transparently. So even my windows machine can handle larger than 4gb files when using my FAT32 NAS.

As far as I can find, unless the nas hardware does internal "split and joins" there is a 4gb filesize limit with FAT32 whatever the operating system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat32

Mal27

martint123 wrote: »

As far as I can find, unless the nas hardware does internal "split and joins" there is a 4gb filesize limit with FAT32 whatever the operating system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat32

Assuming that it the same chipset as the Maplin model, then the ethernet side of the kit does attempt to work around the fat32 limitations. This only works with the latest firmware and still has bugs, it is not supported on the USB port because the chipsets don't work in cooperation with each other (which is why only one ever has control of the HD). So a huge file transferred via ethernet will not be the same file via USB.

Personally I would stay away from these units unless you aren't that bothered about reliability (which is the main reason to own a NAS).

Tron_ADS

I have an Icybox NAS900, similar to this in that it has a FAT32 restriction. Apart from the fact that I frequently have to reboot it, the inability to use NTFS has not caused me a problem. I have stored Dual Layer 8Gb ISO files on it, and been able to write them over the network. IMGBurn reports the mapped drive as a >4Gb problem, but then just proceeds to burn the image without problems.
I wouldnt let FAT32 put anyone off buying one if they are worried about >4gb issues.

martint123

Just to update the thread. Ordered two last Friday and they arrived this morning (Monday) At 06:38 !!! anyway I don't have to stay in waiting for the van - Business Post by the way.

It's just sat reformatting a 250gb drive I had sat idle at the moment, but for info. (just copying snippets from the 'manual').

IDE drives. Samba, FTP. TCP/IP, HTTP, SMB, FTP. DHCP or Fixed ip address.
Supports powerdown mode and USB suspend indicator.
tcp/ip. NBNS, SMB, HTTP1 and 2, DHCP server/client or fixed.SNTP client, Telnet server.
FAT32 with 4gb file limit (boo hiss)
Has a spindown timer.
No mention is USB and ethernet can be used at the same time.

Martin

Update: Found out that the current firmware version can support files >4gb

NAS-BASIC45 firmware with loader 69

* BugFixes as released by RDC
1. Failing renaming file names (CONCEPTRONIC to Conceptronic): solved
2. Files >4GB could not be deleted: solved
note: through some tricks the FAT32 formatted HD can support >4GB files !
(only through LAN)
3. Problem with writing samba config policy: solved
4. Problem with writing DHCP client policy: solved
5. Problem with allowing seek over file size with RAM/FLASH file system: solved
6. Problem with Disk/Format disk policy: solved
* Own Bugfixes:
1. Changed status page html internal code !# became !-#, status page now working again with NAS-BASIC45
2. Changed html problem with SNTP daylight time saving issue

simate

ultrak3wl wrote: »

Why?

What on earth do you need from a networked drive that FAT32 gets in the way of. Super-complex user permissions? Alternate streams? I decided that there would be no problem with FAT32 for mine but you have me worried now.

FAT32 is well dated, blah, blah, blah.

epz_2

can you have 2 ide hard disks hanging off this, i know they wouldnt fit in the enclosure but if the chip supports master and slave letting you have 2 drive show up im well in otherwise ill just buy a p111 of ebay and do a freenas

Carrie.F

simate wrote: »

FAT32 is well dated, blah, blah, blah.

Fat maybe well dated, BUT in the eyes of a lot of external products FAT is still PHAT.
My state of the art plasma tv loves a usb drive to suck on but its only FAT that she can cream the goodies off.

So its a FAT usb for you then? Do you want fries with that?

martint123

FAT is almost public domain, NTFS has been registered by Microsoft so costs $ to include in other products.

seff_yohanson

Has anyone bought one of these? How would it compare with this one from svp:

http://svp.co.uk/products-solo.php?pid=1182
(Roughly the same price after google checkout)

Looking for something that will work with XBMC, so I dont have my PC on all the time, will these work?

Thanks in advance!

martint123

When I was looking around, I suspect the vast majority of these boxes at around this price use almost identical hardware and identical software based on the RDC chip.

Haven't got a clue about xbmc