6.2.2 Front USB Flash Auto Backup

I'm not sure if you have already check this, however, kindly read the 6.2 Software Manual page 221: http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/ ... ec2014.pdf

- I believe you could just configure the backup button instead based on the backup job/s set on your NAS

Thanks for the reply and link.

I am aware of the Backup button, but have no interest in creating a backup job for a task that previously was a no-brainer in 4.2. That's really my point here, is the removal of useful, helpful user features for (from a user/customer perspective) no logical reason.

Whereas previously, once the USB flash drive backup feature was enabled, I could simply simply plug in a drive and away it would go, now presumably it's a multi-step process of plug in AND press, also thereby using up one option for using the Backup button to initiate some other backup task. Sure, not a big deal perhaps, but that's also not the point. Why companies remove perfectly good function because some engineer thinks it's a good idea is the point, and one where it's clear NETGEAR has failed to think from a customer perspective.

To have a feature established in a long history of ReadyNAS products and to then unilaterally remove it is my beef.

Incidentally, it's also a gap in logic. The NAS is by definition a storage device, and clearly a range of backup functions/features is incorporated. That front USB port is clearly placed there for convenient access. One could therefore logically conclude using a USB flash drive in that port would be a convenient, compatible use for that port. So a feature to enable its seamless use for a backup procedure makes eminent sense. Whomever incorporated that feature in 4.2.x clearly figured out that logic, and gets my well-deserved kudos. Whomever deleted it from 6.x clearly does not, which in my book is an epic fail.

Just sayin'.

Perhaps, it may not be included on the v6.2.2 and it would be possibly included on future firmware release but there is no certainty of it. I believe you may inquire this as feature request to Netgear: https://my.netgear.com/registration/login.aspx

I have passed on your feature request for consideration by our product engineering team.

OS6 was a major rewrite. We moved to using a new filesystem and made a new web admin UI. We made a lot of changes to improve things going forward. Unfortunately while we have added some exciting new features from 6.0.0 onwards, the revolutionary change did mean that some features from 4.2.x didn't make it into OS6.

We have added some features that were in 4.2.x over time e.g. disk spin-down and scheduled volume maintenance in 6.2.0.

Thank you. I'm all for progress, evolution and enhancement. Just not at the expense of established practice. Seems rather disrespectful towards the constituents footing the bill...customers.

I hope this feature is 're-activated' sooner than later.

Sometimes to take a number of large steps forward you have to take a few steps backward in some other areas. It's what happens when you make a revolutionary change.

We moved to using a newer filesystem BTRFS which has enabled us to add great features such as unlimited snapshots, bitrot protection against media degradation and introduced a new modern UI, as well as changing the way we do things under the hood as well.

The use of BTRFS has enabled us to make some big steps forward when it comes to data protection. There is nothing more important than data protection and we strive to maintain a competitive advantage in this area.

New products don't necessarily have all the features of old products. For example we don't have USB printer support built into OS6 (though there are apps for this).

If we don't include a feature it doesn't mean that we feel including it would be a bad idea. There are always many things we want to do, but as always we have to prioritise.

If you waited for everything you want in a product to be in there you would never ship it. So we put what we can in there and react to user feedback to help us prioritise what to add. The more users that request a feature the higher priority it will get.