ReadyNAS as Backup/Restore source for Win Machines?

ReadyNAS (including OS6) support SMB, and works fine with drag and drop for me. Sometimes the NAS doesn''t appear in the networked computer list, but that seems to be the case for many competitor NAS as well.

I use my Pro to as a backup destination for a Windows XP machine, a Vista machine, and 3 Windows 7 machines. I use Acronis TrueImage as the backup client, and I have done backup restores from the Acronis boot CD. The three desktops are backed up on schedule, the two laptops are done manually. This should also work on then the RN102/4 (I use my RN102 to backup some of the Pro shares).

I have seen some postings that suggest that Win7 image backups don't work well with linux-based NAS, but I haven't tried that.

Reviews seam to reflect ReadyNas 316 is a MUCH better NAS than the ReadyNAS 102/104.
As mentioned, " Sometimes the NAS doesn''t appear in the networked computer list..." is a COMMON problem! - and that"s exactly what i'm trying to avoid.
We have a Xxx NAS at work and its shaky at best(it doesn't show up half the time either!

KISS! {KeepItSimple...} and speedy is fine with me... I wanta plug this NAS into the network, config a few shares on it thru its admin, - then go over to any machine on the LAN, open a command prompt and do a "Net View" and see ALL the NAS shares I just made. Then I want to actually test those NAS shares in WinExplorer, and drag about 10G of graphics to a NAS share, then go to another workstation and drag that 10G from the NAS share down to the local box... AND get at least ~40MBs thruput thru the LAN.
Hey, I can Drag 26Gig of graphics to a 2T USB3 WD Passport in about 6 minutes at about 60MBs transfer - Shouldn't a NAS be able to transfer at least 30-40MB/s ?
As a DBA and .Net Web/App developer sometimes I have to move around a 100Gig just to do some required application unit/debug testing!

Will a ReadyNAS 102/104 show up when I do "Net View" from a workstation on the LAN?
Can the NAS be assigned a Name? Can do a "Net View \\ServerName" and see all shares from it?

Can I open a C# StreamReader ( or StreamWriter) thru this NAS's file share on any Lan Workstation as:
FileStream MyStream = File.OpenRead("\\192.168.xx.xx\\PublicShareName\\FileName.Ext"); or
FileStream MyStream = File.OpenRead("\\MyReadyNasFileServer\\PublicShareName\\FileName.Ext");


I did find an a ReadyNAS 316 review:
"There are USB 3 ports on the back allowing you to add additional storage, however this storage will not be incorporated into the xRaid pool. That makes it a quick and easy way to add extra storage that doesn’t required redundancy, such as Ghost images, or Operating installer disk images, etc, and still have it available by SMB."
That's Nice! Do the USB3 ports allow sharable storage on the 102/104 series also...
First - FAST integrated Network sharable storage is required...

The RN3xx and RN5xx are much higher performance. All RNxxx platforms run OS6 firmware.

ReadyNAS systems can be assigned a name. Accessing \\nasname will show you the list of shares. Attached USB drives can be shared.

As far as C# file access goes, the products use Samba, which generally is quite compatible with Windows systems.

Be sure to check the USB device compatibility list as HDD support appears to be hit and miss (my external WD HDD does *not* work with NV+ v2).

Although I do not have an OS6 unit, I read many comments that it was released a bit ahead of being 'ready'. You will potentially discover missing features/bugs/incompatibilities for a while longer. Basic NAS features, i.e. file storage as per your request are probably ok, but you should research an make yourself comfortable with current status. It is very different to previous units.

Oh yea, thanks Tony, I definitely want to check that USB device compatibility list...
I just found NAS rankings on http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/nas/nas-reviews/32161-netgear-readynas-rn102-reviewed
Wow, Nice performance Rankings for NAS units on smallnetbuilder... They have NAS's grouped well - SOC's, Atom, etc...
I just found it, and the undisputed #1 preforming SOC NAS is ZyXEL NSA325 - just walks away from most in performance, especially in USB3 performance.
ReadyNAS 102 USB performance is listed as a CON! Real Slooooow, in fact its usb performance doesn't even come up to USB2 speeds (oops.) [and when ya look up ARMada 370 (SOC - SystemOnChip) it only lists "Two USB 2.0 host/device ports with integrated PHY" (hmm... Ref: http://www.marvell.com/embedded-processors/armada-300/assets/Marvell_ARMADA_370_SoC.pdf). Maybe those USB3 ports only work with the Intel Atom chipped RN3xx series and up...

I'm just learnin bout these NAS's.... Sorta like the ZyXEL NSA325 - FAST, #1 Performer in its SOC class, later, am still doin research (as suggested)

Well, research is done and I got a Nice NAS...
I tried a ZyXEL, it worked for about an hour - stopped working, all light up but couldn't be seen(or respond) on the LAN - RMA Time! (Sent it back)
Read so many disappointing reviews about ReadyNAS - I couldn't go there...
Got a Synology DS213+, 2 WD 3T reds and a 2T WD USB3 external - WOW! 5T NAS, 3T redundant and 2T more just FAST!
It "ALL" works Perfectly, the First time! (no bugs at all[that I've found anyway]) - And Its FAST!
Network Shares (Public and private) work perfectly, just like from a Windows file server.
Network image Backup(to the NAS) no problem from any machine and Fast, Network Recovery is tricky, but works...(copy down from NAS to an external USB drive - then recover from the external plugged into the recovering machines USB2 port so its seen a recovery boot time - that works!)
Synology DSM(DiskStationMgr) 4.3 - No Problems , and Smooth (no messin round wastin time) - Pricy, but it just works!