BUFFALO LinkStation 720 8TB 2-Bay Home Office Private Cloud Data Storage with Hard Drives Included/Computer Network Attached Storage/NAS Storage/Network Storage/Media Server/File Server

DO NOT LISTEN TO NEGATIVE REVIEWS.Some people say it took them hours to set this upI quite literally discovered and saved a file to it from my cell phone within 30 seconds.Took another 30 minutes to setup with PC for remote access.This thing is SUPER simple to setup and performs extremely well for the price.And no.....I am NOT a network engineer. This was my first ever Server install.

The BUFFALO LinkStation 710 8TB 1-Bay NAS Network Attached Storage is a reliable and efficient solution for individuals and small businesses seeking centralized storage and easy access to their digital content. As someone who values simplicity, reliability, and versatility in data management solutions, I find this NAS to be an excellent choice for streamlining storage and enhancing productivity.First and foremost, the storage capacity of the LinkStation 710 is impressive, offering 8TB of storage space for housing large volumes of files, documents, media, and more. Whether used for personal use or small business applications, this NAS provides ample room for storing and organizing digital content, making it easy to access and share files across multiple devices and platforms.Additionally, the performance of the LinkStation 710 is commendable, thanks to its powerful hardware and efficient software management. The dual-core processor ensures smooth and responsive operation, while the built-in DDR3 memory enhances data transfer speeds and multitasking capabilities. Whether streaming multimedia content, backing up files, or accessing data remotely, this NAS delivers consistent performance with minimal latency.One of the standout features of the LinkStation 710 is its user-friendly interface and intuitive setup process. The web-based administration interface allows for easy configuration and management of the NAS, making it accessible to users of all skill levels. With features like automatic data backup, RAID support, and remote access via mobile apps, BUFFALO has designed a NAS that meets the needs of both novice and experienced users alike.Furthermore, I appreciate the versatility and connectivity options offered by the LinkStation 710. With multiple USB ports and a built-in Gigabit Ethernet port, users can easily expand storage capacity, connect peripherals, and share data with other devices on the network. The ability to integrate with cloud storage services further enhances flexibility and accessibility, allowing users to seamlessly sync and backup data across multiple platforms.In terms of reliability, the LinkStation 710 excels with its robust build quality and data protection features. The durable chassis and fan-less design ensure quiet operation and long-term reliability, while features like RAID support and automatic backup provide peace of mind against data loss. With BUFFALO's reputation for quality and durability, users can trust the LinkStation 710 to safeguard their valuable digital assets.Overall, I am highly satisfied with the BUFFALO LinkStation 710 8TB NAS Network Attached Storage. Its ample storage capacity, performance, user-friendly interface, versatility, and reliability make it an excellent choice for individuals and small businesses seeking a streamlined and efficient solution for data management.Pros:Ample 8TB storage capacity for housing large volumes of digital contentPowerful hardware and efficient software management for consistent performanceUser-friendly interface and intuitive setup process for easy configuration and managementVersatile connectivity options including USB ports and Gigabit EthernetRobust build quality and data protection features for long-term reliabilityCons:May require some initial setup and configuration for optimal performanceHigher price point compared to basic external hard drives, but worth the investment for the featuresand capabilities offered

The setup on this was very easy. Instructions were clear and correct. Performance of the unit seems reasonable and the unit is quiet. My only concern is that the unit came with Seagate hard drives. I generally prefer Western Digital, as I think they tend to be a little more reliable than Seagate. At least Seagate is a major brand and they didn't put some off-brand in the unit. One thing that I couldn't figure out and that is how to update the firmware. I get a message that a new version is available, but it is not obvious how to install the update. Overall, I am satisfied with the unit and you won't go wrong getting this for the price that it is.

I gave this a chance because the price was so much better than the Synology NAS since disks were included. I have been trying to get network-attached storage set up so that I can have a location for my Time Machine backups.What I do like about it:- Disks are included which theoretically make things easier (and cheaper)- It has two drive bays and RAID 1 is automatically enabled, which is probably what most people want.- It also has some utilities for working with RAID including RAID scanning.- It has clear instructions for how to turn it on/off without damaging the disks.- The box itself is stylish and not overly largeSetup was a bit worse. The Quick Start guide is sort of like an IKEA instruction booklet - not the greatest but you can figure out what they want you to do. However the user interface was otherwise a little confusing, for example they have two separate iPhone apps in addition to the laptop app, the download page is a bit clunky, there aren't any downloads for recent Mac versions (you have to go with a several-year-old Mac version), etc. On the whole the software was not confidence-inspiring.But whatever, that didn't bother me too much - I just wanted to get Time Machine setup. As long as that works, I don't care about the rest. So I followed the instructions and it seemed like it was working. But then it just cut out and stopped. This happened several times. From Googling I got the idea to ping the NAS to see if it was connected, and sure enough, the problem seems to be that the NAS and the laptop can only connect intermittently.From the record of my pings, I can see that they are connected 5-10% of the time, and disconnected the rest. That's not a great ratio. The NAS is connected to my WiFi router by Ethernet. My laptop, WiFi router, and NAS are all in the same room. I purchased my WiFi router 2-3 years ago. During the time when my laptop cannot connect to the NAS, I can still browse web pages. That's particularly confusing because it means that there's no problem with my laptop's connection to the WiFi router, and the router and NAS are connected by Ethernet. I'm not sure what I'm missing.Unfortunately this seems to be a common problem with NAS routers, and I don't really know the solution. My old Apollo had a similar problem I think. However, I think that Buffalo should provide troubleshooting instructions for attempting to address these problems. If they can't fix this problem, I think they should just stop selling their product.