Netword Attached Storage: D-Link DNS-323

Today, I have discovered a very interesting product which is running Linux (Debian) and being used as networked attached storage.

One of my friend is asking me to advise her to get a cheaper solution for network storage and they do not have file servers in their network.

At first, I would recommend her to use the file sharing service which come with the Microsoft Windows XP professional, but there are still more issues that bringing me to seek for different way to fulfill her needs, there are:

• More than 10 users are accessing to the storage at the same times (Windows XP/Vista has limited to only 10 concurrent users)
• Easy managing users and groups for files/folders permission or access restriction.
• The Windows XP workstation does not have sufficient for more storage space and not redundant hard drive - worry if it fail.
• Their data are very crucial to their business operations.
• No plan to get a Windows server just for file sharing purpose.
• Budget is limited to about RM1,000.00

So then I recall that there is a network device (Network Attached Storage) , that allow file sharing and the device is acted like a file server (and you do not need to buy Windows Server software licenses) which will save a lot cost :

D-Link DNS-323 (about RM 498)
Dual hard-disks with 500GB each (about RM200 each)
Total cost come to less than RM 900.00

After reading the product's manual (downloaded from their website), I found that the device capability is fit her needs. However, I still warn her about other limited:

This device cannot be worked as application server. In other words,in future if u need to have accounting/inventory software, this cannot be used for the software. So, to say that the device is mainly for file/sharing with read/write permission settings for protection and privacy & confidentiality.

However, there are still many advantages of this product:

• Cheaper way for files/folders sharing with permission and usage quota for different users.
• Do not need to pay for software license fees (it is running on free linux O/S)
• The O/S is very stable and good uptime.
• Redundant hard drives (Mirror RAID) for great data protection.
• Easy to use

Further reading : http://wiki.dns323.info/

You may read my latest blog post about the limitation of D-Link DNS-323.