Buffalo Linkstation Live - Any thoughts/other recommendations?

Rob.Marsh

Rob.Marsh

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Hi all,

I have been in need of external storage for a long time now, and now its got desperate. I have next to no room left on my laptop or the other half's.

Has anyone used or heard much about the Buffalo Linkstation Live? I have read a bit about it and it seems to tick the boxes.

I want something reasonable capacity, dummy proof to set-up (ideally over a network/router so both of us can use it), and a decent price. This seems to do the job, but any help you peeps can offer will be appreciated.

Cheers!

Rob
 
I've not used that, but after having used a Lacie Network Space for a while at my parents, I've just bought another one for myself.
 
Cheers!

I shall look into that a bit more. How hot does it get, I read a couple of reviews saying that it can run quite warm?
 
I've not noticed it being any hotter than my Time Capsule, but try to avoid touching the shiny finish!
 
Rob.Marsh said:
Thanks but a fair way over my price range
Click to expand...

I have got the casing of a Duo Pro somewhere round here that I dont use anymore. I took the twin hard drives out to put in my Mac Pro so if you wanted to use this and buy your own hard drives send me a message...Although not entirely sure how much the casing alone is worth?? Make me an offer if you want.

Cheers
 
Craikeybaby said:
I've not used that, but after having used a Lacie Network Space for a while at my parents, I've just bought another one for myself.
Click to expand...
I almost picked one of these up from ibood when they had it in as the daily special, but then I read a rather large number of poor reviews over it.

Does your drive have to be network connected as you will be paying a £60+ premium for this.
 
Ideally, yes I'd like it to be connected to a network as both myself and my wife will use it.

The Linkstation I am looking at is a 1TB version and Dabs do it for around £115. Thats about the top end of my budget.

Thanks for your offer Paulmack, I'll give it some thought. What drives would it take? I am really after getting something that is idiot proof, I don't have a vast knowledge or a lot of time to set something up.
 
You can put 2 x 500GB SATA 3.5" hard drives in it, then access the software via your web browser to configure it just like you would a router etc. It may not be idiot proof but it is easy enough to figure out how to set up. Any NAS system will need you to configure it

Anyway it is an option to you :)
 
dapprman said:
I almost picked one of these up from ibood when they had it in as the daily special, but then I read a rather large number of poor reviews over it.

Does your drive have to be network connected as you will be paying a £60+ premium for this.
Click to expand...

Yup ;)

I've got a Time Capsule and am used to being able to access my files from anywhere, or any machine on my network. It also allows it to be able to be tucked away out of view.

I've had my 2nd one running for a few days now, mainly syncing with my LaCie rugged drive (on and off site copies) and it isn't too hot at all.
 
Get a RAID configured drive if you will miss any of the stored files when a drive eventually goes pop.
Note: RAID 0 is for performance, not integrity - you want any RAID configuration greater than 0.

If you want to have more than one computer access it then consider getting a NAS (Network Attached Storage).
My photo computer is attached via Ethernet cabling for performance and the rest of the computers go wireless to access movies, music, my personal files and for backing up their data.

I've got a Synology Cubestation CS407e configured RAID 5 using with 4 x 500Gb drives giving me 1.5Terrabytes of RAID protected storage.
The synology products come with loads of pre-installed software gadgets which which make it really attractive as they offer really excellent capabilities.
The CS407e runs cool and quiet which is desirable as I never turn mine off - I just checked and it's been running trouble free for over two years!
To buy one in my configuration costs about £500 including the drives.
Installation and set-up is really straight forward.
 
*Waits for Neil_G*
 
Rob.Marsh said:
Hi all,

I have been in need of external storage for a long time now, and now its got desperate. I have next to no room left on my laptop or the other half's.

Has anyone used or heard much about the Buffalo Linkstation Live? I have read a bit about it and it seems to tick the boxes.

I want something reasonable capacity, dummy proof to set-up (ideally over a network/router so both of us can use it), and a decent price. This seems to do the job, but any help you peeps can offer will be appreciated.

Cheers!

Rob
Click to expand...

First question - what's it for?

Backup or primary storage.

If it's primary storage then you need to be looking for some sort of resilient solution (RAID) or just getting two of these boxes. Always remember that if you only have one copy of something then the drive it's on WILL eventually fail.
 
DuncanDisorderly said:
Get a RAID configured drive if you will miss any of the stored files when a drive eventually goes pop.
Note: RAID 0 is for performance, not integrity - you want any RAID configuration greater than 0.
Click to expand...


Agreed, and in fact RAID 0 makes things less resilient, as if either of the drives go then you lose everything. I've never understood why people use RAID 0.

Drives fail all the time. I've just had a 7 month old 750GB one go on me.
 
It will be mainly for primary storage I guess, somewhere to stick all my raw files I want to keep. I do also periodically back up to DVD, as I am well aware of having one copy of data beingrisky.

I mainly need so that my wife and I can free up some space on our laptop hard drives.
I don't have hundreds to spend, so need to think sensibly.
 
I set up the 500Gb link station pro for my partner to store all his music and pictures and I can't fault it.

That particular model has been replaced now so I don't know so much about the replacements but I have a 1Tb USB buffalo running here by the side of me and it has been equally faultless.

the reviews I read of the pro said it took longer to open the box than to set it up and they were right. I think it is a brilliant bit of kit.

It backs up onto a Western Digital USB drive that is plugged into it and sends me an email each morning to tell me how it feels about the world.
 
I would stay away from RAID 0 then if I was you.

Look for something that gives you some level of protection. something like a 1tb box that is made up of 2*500gb and run it in raid 1 configuration (mirroring). Yes, you get half as much space, but if one drive fails you still have a copy of the data on the other.
 
Cheers for that barneyrubble, what sort of cost would you imagine for that setup?
 
barneyrubble said:
I would stay away from RAID 0 then if I was you.

Look for something that gives you some level of protection. something like a 1tb box that is made up of 2*500gb and run it in raid 1 configuration (mirroring). Yes, you get half as much space, but if one drive fails you still have a copy of the data on the other.
Click to expand...

What is the advantage of that over using a NAS with a USB drive plugged into the back of it?

Is it that if one drive fails you seamlessly go to using the other one whereas with a USB backup it won't actually take over the role?

Is it a cheaper solution, only to my mind even if the second drive did take over you would not want to continue as you would no longer have a backup system in case of failure?
 
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