NETGEAR ReadyNAS NV+ 4-Bay 0TB (Diskless)
by Netgear
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Category: CE
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: NetgearFormat: CD
Platform: Windows
Model: RND4000-100NAS
Product features:
- Advanced Network Attached Storage device enclosure
- X-RAID technology for automatic data redundancy
- Built-in printer server
- Whisper quiet operations; advanced power controls for energy-efficient use
- Includes a 5-year warranty
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of NETGEAR ReadyNAS NV+ 4-Bay 0TB (Diskless)
Customer Review: An excellent network storage device
Summary: 5 Stars
Before purchasing the Netgear NV+, I had 3 network attached storage devices, so this Netgear ReadyNAS NV+ makes my fourth. I also own the Acer Aspire easyStore H340 for use at home and two Buffalo TeraStation units for use at work. All of these have a four hard drive capacity. I have only had the Netgear unit up and running for a few days, but of the four units I own the Netgear seems to be the best.
Before commenting on the units, let me explain something about the setting in which they are used. Both my home and office are multi-platform environments. For example at home I use machines that use Linux and machines that use Windows. My wife and daughter use only Windows. My son uses only Macs. So for us having a network storage that can work well with multiple platforms is a big advantage. You may not have the same needs.
You may ask yourself why you want to get a networked storage unit at all. Why not just get a USB external drive? The USB drives are cheaper and generally faster. That they are less expensive you can see for yourself by searching Amazon. The data transfer speeds won't be obvious (and won't always be true). A fast USB 2.0 drive will transfer data at between 20 and 25 MBs (mega bytes per second) on average. Network storage will transfer data at speeds that depend on your network. Most homes and small offices have fast ethernet with a maximum speed of 100 mbs (megabits per second - or about 12.5 megabytes per second) and data transfer that can be achieved is about half the rated speed, so most home routers will give you transfer speeds of 4.5 to 6 MBs with networked storage. If you have invested in a gigabit ethernet router and network cards for home or office you could in principle get 45 to 60 MBs transfer speeds, or about double the USB rate. I don't have this at home, and most people won't, so the network storage will be slower than the USB.
There are three main reasons to buy the network storage:
1. Data security from RAID. RAID is a technique for storing data in a way that can spread data across several disks and keeps redundant information on several disks, so that if one disk fails, you can swap out the bad disk, replace it with a new disk, and (ideally) not lose any files. This is a BIG advantage over external USB drives, which fail and cause data loss that can be difficult or impossible to recover. This means that it makes almost no sense to buy a network storage unit with ONE disk. Doing that is the same as getting an external USB drive.
2. Ease of backup. Most of the network storage units come with software or work well with widely available backup software. The setup in our house allows all of our machines to be backed up to a central storage device. The storage is always on and the backups can be set up to run automatically or on demand, according to individual computer use patterns.
3. File sharing. Having a lot of storage on the home network makes it easy for us to share music files (we have ripped our CDs) and other files between computers, although this can be achieved with external USB drives as well.
If these advantages seem important to you, let me offer comparisons of the devices I have tried.
Buffalo TeraStation: Internally this machine uses a version of Linux, but you don't need to know anything about Linux to use it. It comes with software for direct management of the unit, but once it is up and running it can be easily managed using any computer with a web browser. It supports and interacts well with Windows, Mac and Linux PCs. Seems reliable so far - I have had the two units for over 3 years. File transfer rates between a PC running Linux and the TeraStation connected through the router: about 4.8 MBs.
Acer Aspire easyStore: Internally this machine runs Windows home server. You might think this would make it relatively easy to manage from other Windows machines, but I did not find this to be so. While transfer rates are fine (about 5 MBs) the unit can not be managed using a Mac or Linux machine. It MUST be managed from another Windows machine and the interface is slow and cumbersome. Even worse, the quality of the physical unit seems to be low. One of the small doors that closes in one of the drives broke, and the power supply recently failed. This is a REAL hassle. I cannot recommend this unit.
Netgear ReadyNAS NV+: Internally this machine also uses a version of Linux, but like the Buffalo TeraStation you don't need to know anything about Linux to use it. I purchased this unit "diskless" and separately purchased four Western Digital 3.5in eSATA drives. It took me about 90 minutes to install the drives in the unit, plug it in and have it up and running. You really do have to read the setup guide (on the included CD) to find out the default username/password to access the setup program. Once you have access, you can manage the Netgear device from any machine that will browse the web. The Netgear has excellent support for all platforms. Apple Bonjour, Windows Samba/CIFS, and Linux NFS are all supported. You can also set up the unit to serve as a web server or file transfer device using FTP. The RAID setup was great - completely automatic and transparent. The setup automatically checked for firmware upgrades, and offered to upgrade. Upgrading the firmware was quick (about 5-10 minutes).
The unit is attractive and relatively quiet, and so far I am very pleased. Data transfer rates from PC to the Netgear unit are about 5.1 MBs on my home router.
The Netgear ReadyNAS NV+ is highly recommended if you work in an environment with multiple platforms. Works well with Windows, Mac and Linux. While it is more complex to setup than a USB external drive it is easier to setup than other network storage devices I have owned. It seems to be well made.
Description of NETGEAR ReadyNAS NV+ 4-Bay 0TB (Diskless)
Robust Features Coupled with Easy Management - Serves files easily - Backs up data effortlessly - Streams music and video quickly - Shares printers with ease - Works with Windows, Mac, and Linux - ReadyNAS NV+ was designed specifically for home offices, small businesses and workgroups. Never before has there been available a cost-conscience Network Attached Storage (NAS) appliance packed with robust high-end server features, including Gigabit Ethernet, hardware RAID, system monitoring capabilities and built-in backup. ReadyNAS couples out of the box deployment and easy management with robust file serving and data redundancy.The ReadyNAS NV+ by NETGEAR is a compact and attractive four-bay Network Attached Storage (NAS) device that can easily handle the storage needs of a home or small office. After putting the ReadyNAS NV+ to the test, we have concluded that it is an ideal storage solution for small offices or work groups with limited IT resources that require networked expandable RAID storage and advanced "server" features such as print and media servers, system monitoring with email alerts, and integrated backup management capabilities. (NOTE: This model does not include hard drive disks.)
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 The ReadyNAS NV+ houses four drive bays in one compact, attractive enclosure. View larger. |
Taking the ReadyNAS NV+ out of the box, we couldn't help but be surprised at how compact and solid feeling the device is. Imparting an air of quality workmanship and sturdy reliability, the NV+ measures a compact 7.9 x 5.2 x 8.7 inches (H x W x D) and is a hefty 10 pounds without the disks installed.
The styling is attractive, with a metallic "cheese-grater" look that is reminiscent of Apple's Mac Pros, a design that also allows for heat dissipation. A door panel opens for easy access to the four drive bays, each of which is on its own tray with an easy-to-load push-button mechanism, making disk installation a cinch.
Below the panel door is a backlit LCD display that shows status info such as the IP address and drive capacity. The power button sits on the upper left of the front face, next to four LEDs that give the status of each hard drive, a USB port, and a button labeled "Backup." The back of the NV+ sports a carrying handle, two USB ports, an Ethernet port, the system reset switch, power connector, cooling fan, and Kensington Lock security hole. Overall, the design is attractive, smartly laid out, and clearly labeled. Unlike many other NAS devices that you want to hide in a corner or in a closet, the ReadyNAS NV+ adds a handsome touch to the work area.
Initial Setup and Configuration
Our test unit had four pre-installed 750 GB hard drives for a total of three terabytes of disk space. The drives are hot-swappable, which means that they can be swapped out one-at-a-time without shutting down the NV+, and which also means that upgrading or replacing the drives--if necessary--will be easy.
 Share your files, USB disk, and printer with all your computers and networked media player with the NV+. |
The initial hardware set up was as simple as plugging the AC cord into the wall and connecting the Ethernet cord into the local network. Installing the included RAIDar software let us find the drive on our network, from which we were able to bring up the Web-based control panel. Set up required an easy jaunt through the Setup Wizard, and once completed, the drive appeared on each of the networked computers as expected.
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After we had the X-RAID running successfully, we reconfigured the drive to a RAID 5 configuration. Like X-RAID, RAID 5 reduces overall storage capacity by about 25% but offers redundant protection so everything continues to function even if one of the drives fails. The actual reconfiguration through the control panel took only a few minutes, though the entire process took over eight hours and necessitated deletion of all the existing data on the drives. (Don't worry! The ReadyNAS NV+ did all the work itself after we left the office for the day.)
The one complaint we had during the set-up procedures was with the documentation. In fact, the manual is the weak link of the package. The NV+ has a lot of functionality that is not very well explained or simply not mentioned. Fortunately, the ReadyNAS has its own NETGEAR-supported community Web site (www.readynas.com) with FAQs, forums, firmware updates, add-ons, and other goodies. We found the process of downloading firmware updates and add-ons quick and extremely easy.
 NETGEAR's FrontView web-based control panel makes configuration and administration simple. View larger. |
The Web-based control panel gives the administrator full control over the system. From it you can check the status of the machine, set the security settings, create user and group accounts, configure streaming services, update firmware, and much more. With processes that took more than a few minutes to complete, the ReadyNAS NV+ sent us email notifications at the completion of the tasks so we could continue with our other work in the meantime.
The control panel is clean and intuitive, eliminating the need for administrators to fiddle with a Unix command line to check status or change settings. Though some configuration and management issues can arise that better documentation could easily address, as long as the administrator is comfortable searching out information online when necessary, he or she should find managing the ReadyNAS NV+ relatively easy.
Our Performance Review
We ran the NV+ as our primary file server in our small workgroup -- consisting of both Macs running OS X and PCs running Windows XP -- without any problems or complaints of performance. We were able to access the server to work with, copy, and move files around seamlessly, with no hiccups to speak of. Our computers were all able to connect easily via CIMB and/or AFP protocols. Additionally, the ReadyNAS has support for the Network File System (NFS), but we did not test this as we do not run a Linux/Unix environment.
However, our one caveat is that we do not work heavily with media files such as large video files, so we cannot say for certain if the performance would be acceptable for use in, say, a high-performance video lab or similar setting.
 Hard disks are installed on separate drive trays, making upgrades simple. View larger. |
Though the RAID configuration we chose has built-in redundant storage, we nonetheless decided to create nightly backups for even more peace of mind. We connected an external USB drive to the front USB port, and once the drive was recognized, it was a matter of seconds and a simple push of a button to schedule a daily backup of our main work folder.
Built-in FTP, iTunes, and Other Features
The NV+ features many add-ons and extras that we were able to easily install, either through the control panel or by downloading software updates and documentation from the ReadyNAS community Web site.
The ReadyNAS includes a built-in print server and an FTP server that were easy to set up. It also features a built-in Web server, which we successfully tested by creating simple Web pages. The built-in iTunes streaming server worked like a charm. After copying over MP3s into the designated folder, the songs automatically showed up in the iTunes folder of the networked computers.
The ReadyNAS NV+ also has built-in support for Squeezebox music players, UPnP AV devices, and streaming playback of videos, music, and photos from networked DVD and media players. Based on the ease of use with the iTunes server, we assume a similarly uncomplicated process. The ReadyNAS also has a built-in BitTorrent client, add-ons for a photo slideshow application, SSH access, and much more.
Included Back-Up Software
NETGEAR bundles a five-user license for EMC Retrospect Professional for Windows and a five-user license for EMC Retrospect Desktop for Macintosh. After installation on a desktop, we could easily automate and schedule backups of our desktops onto the NV+. EMC Retrospect is a pro-grade backup software offering powerful features superior to many bundled backup programs.
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The ReadyNAS NV+ is a powerful, attractive, and flexible Network Attached Storage device that would work great in a home setting or even a small-to-medium office setting. It offers much of the functionality of a dedicated server, while requiring a small amount of space. Since set up is mostly plug-and-play, it does not require a dedicated IT personnel to manage, which is a huge bonus for home use or for a business on a budget.
As noted, the manual does not give all the answers. Fortunately, the strong online community and Web forums offer excellent support and services. And finally, the ReadyNAS NV+ is backed by an industry-leading 5-year warranty, so you can rest assured that you'll be protected should anything go wrong.
Whisper quiet, and about the size of a shoebox, the NETGEAR RND4000 ReadyNAS NV+ 4-Bay Gigabit Desktop Network Storage device offers homes and small businesses an easy-to-configure and cost-effective way to store your data and serve your digital media. With its several advanced server features, you will have true peace of mind knowing that your irreplaceable data is safe and secure.
 The ReadyNAS NV+ offers an easy-to-configure and cost-effective way to store your data and stream your digital media. View larger. |
 Use the ReadyNAS+ to stream music and video, share network printers, and share files across multiple platforms. |
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Chances are that you've got a huge portion--if not all--of your business data or personal life digitized. Your kids' birthday videos, photos, important tax records, customer files, music--it's all digital. Until recently an external hard drive has done the job. But your storage solution is near capacity, and you now realize that it won't be long before your 24/7 usage burns it out. And when that happens, you will either have to kiss everything you've ever created good-bye, or pay a pretty penny trying to retrieve it all.
The NETGEAR ReadyNAS NV+ is an ultra-compact box with four empty bays ready to store up to 4 terabytes of data, and is designed to fit easily on your desktop. NETGEAR also offers the Ready NAS NV+ in the ReadyNAS 2x750GB Drives ReadyNAS 2x500GB Drives, ReadyNAS 4x500GB Drives and ReadyNAS 4x250GB Drives models. Once connected to your network, you can store and protect all of your digital data and stream your digital media. What truly causes heads to turn with the ReadyNAS NV+ is its RAID functionality, along with its own X-RAID technology. Combined, these two features that are normally found only in high-end servers will ensure that your data will never be corrupted or lost due to hardware failure.
The device's RAID functionality, or Redundant Array of Independent Disks, copies, splits and shares your data across the hard disks within the device, so that should one of the drives fail, the data can be rebuilt with the remaining drives. Without RAID, once a failure occurs, you risk losing all of the data stored on the drive. ReadyNAS's patent pending X-RAID technology automates the volume expansion as you scale from the two included disks to four disks. (The ReadyNAS NV+ includes additional expansion slots for two additional hard drives.) In short, X-RAID automatically manages the RAID details for you, so you don't have to spend the hours that it normally takes to format the disks. Simply put, you won't find a simpler or more secure way to protect and store your data.
Data Back-up, Monitoring and File Serving
With the ReadyNAS NV+, the days of storing your digital files across several computers or storage devices are over. This device is scalable to up to two terabytes of data, which means that you can bring all of your data together for fast and easy access and file serving to multiple clients simultaneously. And as any small business knows, having a sound backup strategy is essential. With the help of ReadyNAS NV's EMC Retrospect backup and recovery software, you can set automatic backups of all of your network clients to your ReadyNAS. Additionally, the device includes an integrated backup manager that enables one-button backup to an external USB HDD for offsite rotation, or to remote servers for even greater security.
If something should go wrong with one of your disks or if performance has been compromised, the ReadyNAS NV+ offers advanced-server monitoring features that alert you via email when something is amiss. The device will also shut itself down if the operating temperatures of the disks are too high.
Media Streaming
But don't think that the ReadyNAS NV+ doesn't know how to have fun. If video or other media is your business or passion, you can use your ReadyNAS for streaming to multiple devices at the same time without the need to keep your desktop computers running. The ReadyNAS includes built-in media servers, including Slimserver and iTunes, that will let you stream audio and video to devices on your network.
Easy Set-up and Other Features
With an easy-to-use Web browser interface and setup wizard, ReadyNAS can be configured quickly. Simply plug the device into your network, power up, and you'll be ready to go.
The ReadyNAS NV+ also includes three USB ports, which can be used to connect a USB printer, a back-up power supply, external drives and more. The device measures 7.9 x 5.2 x 8.7 inches (H x W x D), and weighs 10 pounds without the disks. The ReadyNAS NV+ includes a five-year warranty.
What's in the Box
ReadyNAS NV+ with 4 empty hard disk trays, getting started guide, warranty card, power cable, Ethernet cable, ReadyNAS Installation CD (ReadyNAS Discovery Utility, 5-Client EMC Retrospect Professional for Windows, 5 Client EMC Retrospect Desktop for Macintosh), and 16 screws for future HDD installation.
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