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A new alternative to a NAS

gumbyx84

gumbyx84

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 7, 2008
491
0
Hey all. I just came across this and I thought I'd share it with you guys. Its the iConnect from Iomega.

Product website
SlashGear Review

Its basically a wired and wireless USB NAS and printer server with built-in UPNP media server, BitTorrent client, and Time Machine support. It also comes with native OS X configuration software. While I like my AXBS, I would love to have a UPnP media server to stream vids to my PS3 and modded XBox (XBMC). The BitTorrent client is just icing on the cake. And it only costs $100!! Find a normal NAS for that price.

I have to say I'm surprised Iomega could put out such an interesting product. I'm going to be looking around for more reviews on it.

PS I know a "real" NAS will have more features and faster read/write speeds over the network, but For $100 this is great.
 
looks cool, can't wait to see a good review for this product.
Specifically, how well it works with macs?
 
wedi42 said:
looks cool, can't wait to see a good review for this product.
Specifically, how well it works with macs?
Click to expand...

Not sure. I can't find it at any brick-and-morter stores ATM, so I can't test it on my own. From what research I have done, you can connect to it without the software (like a router) and configure it that way. I hope a Mac specific review comes out soon. If not, I might just get it (if I have the funds) and do a mini-review for the forum.
 
The WD product you linked to isn't a NAS. Its a media player.
 
gumbyx84 said:
The WD product you linked to isn't a NAS. Its a media player.
Click to expand...

So how is the Iomega product you linked a NAS?

NAS = storage and the Iomega doesn't even have a single MB you could use for storing data, hence it is NOT a NAS.

It's a device that enables USB drives to act as network storage devices, but itself is not a NAS.
 
Transporteur said:
So how is the Iomega product you linked a NAS?

NAS = storage and the Iomega doesn't even have a single MB you could use for storing data, hence it is NOT a NAS.

It's a device that enables USB drives to act as network storage devices, but itself is not a NAS.
Click to expand...

........ I called it an alternative to a NAS. All I was pointing out was the product linked was not the same as the iConnect. If I didn't word it in a way that suits you, sorry.
 
NSLU2, anyone?

On the up side, the documentation for the Iomega device indicates it supports AFP out of the box.
 
codymac said:
NSLU2, anyone?

On the up side, the documentation for the Iomega device indicates it supports AFP out of the box.
Click to expand...

The NSLU2 doesnt support AFP out of the box (or with custom firmware from what I understand) so this is a better alternative for the OS X user.
 
I mean or you could just go totally hardcore like me... Get a sheevaplug! I have a sheevaplug with 500GB. It runs as a NAS (using AFP so it broadcasts a drive JUST like my time capsule), it runs my squeezebox server, it backs up my music, it runs Debian linux, so you can do whatever you want with it! Anyhow, it's pretty geeky, but it's SUPER fun, and it's a great toy to hack around with. Here is an article I wrote on my blog about it.
 
fhall1 said:
I don't like a single-disk NAS solution...I use and would only consider at least a dual disk NAS with RAID for data reliability.
Click to expand...

I started another thread a little while back about running an Intel SS4200 with unRAID. At the time, I got the SS4200 for $135 (not sure if they can still be found at that price) and it's far more powerful.
 
spaceballl said:
I mean or you could just go totally hardcore like me... Get a sheevaplug! I have a sheevaplug with 500GB. It runs as a NAS (using AFP so it broadcasts a drive JUST like my time capsule), it runs my squeezebox server, it backs up my music, it runs Debian linux, so you can do whatever you want with it! Anyhow, it's pretty geeky, but it's SUPER fun, and it's a great toy to hack around with. Here is an article I wrote on my blog about it.
Click to expand...

That's a nice little machine I didn't know about - the newer 'plug computer 3' and all the devices based on the platform look great too.
I read through your blog, but couldn't find the information I was after - I'm very interested in network throughput - What sort of speed do you get with smb/afp/nfs with your fastest usb drive/internal storage?
 
spaceballl said:
I mean or you could just go totally hardcore like me... Get a sheevaplug! I have a sheevaplug with 500GB. It runs as a NAS (using AFP so it broadcasts a drive JUST like my time capsule), it runs my squeezebox server, it backs up my music, it runs Debian linux, so you can do whatever you want with it! Anyhow, it's pretty geeky, but it's SUPER fun, and it's a great toy to hack around with. Here is an article I wrote on my blog about it.
Click to expand...

I would like to get a Sheevaplug and be able to mess around with it, but when it comes to TM backups and serving my media, I want something that "just works", to use the Apple quote. I'd probably get a Sheevaplug and/or BegalBoard for personal projects.
 
gumbyx84 said:
I would like to get a Sheevaplug and be able to mess around with it, but when it comes to TM backups and serving my media, I want something that "just works", to use the Apple quote. I'd probably get a Sheevaplug and/or BegalBoard for personal projects.
Click to expand...
Got to check these out at CES. They have about 5 different versions. A customer of ours is using the Sheevaplug with our quad bay eSATA/USB enclosure and loves it. Makes me want to set that up also.

Also, with certain routers like D-Link DIR-655 and Airport Extreme, the USB port has hub functionality, so you can hook up a multibay enclosure to it and POOF, you have a NAS device. Obviously it won't have the functionality that dedicated NAS systems or home servers have, but an easy to set up solution, no doubt.
 
LiteSpeed2Endor said:
Got to check these out at CES. They have about 5 different versions. A customer of ours is using the Sheevaplug with our quad bay eSATA/USB enclosure and loves it. Makes me want to set that up also.

Also, with certain routers like D-Link DIR-655 and Airport Extreme, the USB port has hub functionality, so you can hook up a multibay enclosure to it and POOF, you have a NAS device. Obviously it won't have the functionality that dedicated NAS systems or home servers have, but an easy to set up solution, no doubt.
Click to expand...

I actually have a setup like this. I have a 1TB drive connected to my Airport Extreme. I am interested in the iConnect and similar NAS-like devices because they have UPnP, Time Machine, and BitTorrent support built in. The AirPort Extreme and other routers will never get that (UPnP and BitTorrent support).
 
thanks for sharing

This sounds like the device i have been looking for ever since my Synology NAS has been acting up. The review from slashgear seems positive, I will try one out as soon as I can get hold of one.
 
929406 said:
This sounds like the device i have been looking for ever since my Synology NAS has been acting up. The review from slashgear seems positive, I will try one out as soon as I can get hold of one.
Click to expand...

Same here. If you find it before I do (I plan to post a link to my "review" in this thread), mind posting where you found it? MicroCenter don't have listing for it yet and, while Best Buy does, its an online only item that is currently "Sold Out". I prefer to buy in in brick-and-mortar store in case I need to return it if it doesn't work as advertised.
 
VoR said:
That's a nice little machine I didn't know about - the newer 'plug computer 3' and all the devices based on the platform look great too.
I read through your blog, but couldn't find the information I was after - I'm very interested in network throughput - What sort of speed do you get with smb/afp/nfs with your fastest usb drive/internal storage?
Click to expand...
I'm not sure what the exact transfer rates are, but I have it plugged into my time capsule via ethernet, and I can tell you that the transfer rates to my USB hard drive hooked up to my Sheevaplug are faster than the transfer rates to my time capsule. Actually, now that you mention it, I would really love to do a head to head test between the two. What's the best way to test the speeds? I'll post back here with results.
gumbyx84 said:
I would like to get a Sheevaplug and be able to mess around with it, but when it comes to TM backups and serving my media, I want something that "just works", to use the Apple quote. I'd probably get a Sheevaplug and/or BegalBoard for personal projects.
Click to expand...
Hey I hear ya! I have a Sheevaplug AND a Time Capsule. The Time Capsule is used PURELY for backups (actually, the sheevaplug backs up its shares to the time capsule!). I just use the Sheevaplug as a general purpose NAS, squeezebox server, web server, etc. It's great. I use software called Tonido so that I any file i put on my NAS, i can quickly create a "share" and create a user/pass combo for any of my fam / friends to download files off it from a web URL. Very cool stuff.
 
gumbyx84 said:
The NSLU2 doesnt support AFP out of the box (or with custom firmware from what I understand) so this is a better alternative for the OS X user.
Click to expand...

Exactly my point.

pastrychef said:
I don't think that thing has gigabit ethernet. There's no way I would even consider a NAS without it.
Click to expand...

True, but this really isn't a new class of device or implementation by a long shot. I see little to get excited over since it's still NAS at the end of the day.
 
Transporteur said:
So how is the Iomega product you linked a NAS?

NAS = storage and the Iomega doesn't even have a single MB you could use for storing data, hence it is NOT a NAS.

It's a device that enables USB drives to act as network storage devices, but itself is not a NAS.
Click to expand...

I guess you can call it a NASC: Network Accessible Storage Controller
 
pastrychef said:
I don't think that thing has gigabit ethernet. There's no way I would even consider a NAS without it.
Click to expand...

I just checked the datasheet for the Iomega iConnect and it does have Gigabit Ethernet as well as B/G/N wireless support.

This thing seems pretty tight for the money. I'm going to use some external drives kicking around with this baby.
 
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