ReadyNAS RN104 Feedback

Hopefully your overall story will be positive. I also have several ReadyNAS of various platform types, and my RN102 experience has been good so far. I have no major problems with OS 6.2. How are you expecting to use the RN104?

The use of a power brick goes back to 2008 (with the duo v1). I agree it adds clutter, but it also reduces cooling requirements. And you can find some third party replacements - so you'd have more options for PSU replacement after the warranty is up. So I don't see that as a simple minus - there are clearly some positives as well.

On USB, you have a point, but I think that's an area where you can't please everyone. Most people are using USB for backup (and some use 2 USB backup drives). For that usage USB 3.0 on the rear seems better (since the backup drives are more likely to be permanently connected in the back). USB 2.0 / USB 3.0 compatibility doesn't seem 100% there, so Netgear is providing one USB 2.0 port to ensure compatibility. It would have been plausible to have that one USB 2.0 port in the rear, but there likely would have been some issues with users being able to find the correct port on the back of the unit easily.

lightsabre wrote:
First complaint, power supply. Why mess with something that works, or am I missing something about over two decades of a proven form factor? That external power block is a nuisance, and just more stupid cord to stow. Forceful language, but I hate it.

Personally I like the power supply separate. Why? Because it reduces internal heat of the NAS there by making it easier to cool the NAS with smaller slower moving fans and this makes the unit quieter, as well as prolonging the life of the cpu board and hard drives. Power supply's can add up to 15% more heat in a unit. Sometimes even more. Plus separate power supply also means a lower cost in getting the NAS running again when a power supply burns out. Cheaper, easier and faster to replace an external power supply.

lightsabre wrote:

Second complaint, why handicap the thing by putting TWO USB 3.0 ports on the back side?! Surely you understand with more USB 3.0 flash drives that users want FRONT access for that functionality. I sure do. This is rather useless to me, without the convenience of front access to a USB 3.0 port. It strikes me that increasingly developers and engineers are clueless about how users actually use the stuff they design. Did you even ask?!

Again I like the ports on the back. Why? Because I use a UPS plus I have a separate raid 5 4 drive USB 3.0 case. This allows me to keep the cables in the back out of sight. If I need to hook up an external sub drive for quick transfer of contents, the one sub on the front is perfect for that. However, I do agree and wish the front USB port was 3.0. My ups is only 2.0 and it's using a 3.0 port. Crazy. Maybe 1 3.0 and 1 2.0 on the back with a 3.0 on the front.

I am using 4 - 4tb drives from seagate. I haven't had any issues with my NAS at all. Except for issues with iTunes server, but not all of those are netgears fault as Apple doesn't make it easy for third party people.

In current models the 6-bay units have an internal PSU.

USB3 ports are on the rear on all the new models.

I think the Ultra 2, Ultra 2 Plus and Pro 2 (all discontinued) are the only models we released with a USB3 port on the front.

I appreciate the responses and insights.

I understand the power and heating considerations. I am approaching both the complaints I raise from the perspective of using, for some time, three ReadyNAS devices with minimal problems, including heat generation. They have been overall stellar units, hence my trust in a ReadyNAS upgrade replacement. And from that perspective I rather the less clutter than the separate brick. IMHO. I have no opinion on the noise level of the 104 as yet; the Ultra 4 Plus I have is purring away very nicely, and I may still choose to put the new drives in it and keep the 104 either as a spare or swap the U4P drives into it for a backup.

I still contend there is disconnect with the USB 3.0 port placement. Of course I understand their value on the rear. I don't understand why not put one USB 3.0 at the front, for those who DO have USB 3.0 flash drives to take advantage of that function. It is, for me, very much a handicapping of this device for my work flow, in that I am unable to easily maximise the advantages of that faster transfer without becoming expert at inserting the flash drive from the rear. The front is so much more convenient, and obviously put there for a reason. I remember the day when USB ports were only on the back of a computer (not to mention the power switch)!

In the end, while it is an investment of some value to me -- it will definitely store my data -- the overall investment value is decreased, from my view, because of feature implementations which are not aligned with either my expectations or needs, and that clearly is my mistake in proper research, and making assumptions I should not have. I will own that failure. But I also feel NETGEAR has failed to understand user expectations, for those who have previously invested in the ReadyNAS ecosystem. It's a broken trust I'll not repeat.

That's all. I'll live with it.

Well you can use a USB extension cable so you don't need to reach to the rear of the unit all the time.

There are arguments both ways about the things you've raised as mentioned earlier in the thread.

We have a last resort USB service procedure and it is important that this works as often as possible. Compatibility with more devices is more important than speed for USB service.

mdgm wrote:
Well you can use a USB extension cable so you don't need to reach to the rear of the unit all the time.

Yes, of course. It's an add-on I'd rather not, and don't feel I should have to, add on! Clutter. Bother. And defeats the purpose of "built-in."

As far as compatibility, frankly if that is such a concern, why even include USB 3.0 at all? Seems illogical to me, and as such the decision to include USB3, in this manner, causes me inconvenience. So that matters less than compatibility?

OK.

My next ReadyNAS, if there's a next one, will be more thoroughly researched before I click.

This is a feedback forum. That's what I've given.

I appreciate the dialogue.

USB3 provides better performance.

One of the USB ports being USB2 for USB service is sufficient.