Help with external storage choice attached to netgear r7000 nighthawk. USB 3.0 or ethernet ?

Lou-X · Dec 12, 2014

Hello. I would like to buy an external hard drive for backups and as media server (movies and music) for my home network.

I bought a netgear r7000 nighthawk last month (awsome) and I would like to invest my money into something can exploit its features. ( Atm original firmware but I think I will try soon the custom one)

R7000 has other than ethernet ports(of course) a usb 3.0 port.
I was thinking initially to buy a WD 3TB cloud storage ( the idea of access to my files also out of home was interesting) but I read on amazon comments that device has no usb 3 output, but only ethernet, and that it is very slow.

First question: Would be better for me buy a device with usb 3.0 connection or ethernet?

Second question: In both case is there any suggestion for devices other than WD 3TB Cloud or WD 3TB elements (this has very good price atm).

My budget is from the 120 euros of WD elements to a max of 180 euros circa (Cloud). I already saw that I cannot afford a NAS solution atm.

Atm my network is a 10Mbps and devices are my old good MB white (and my future PC), a Win PC, Two smartphones and in prevision a TV that I would like to link to my network.

Thank you in advance, cheers.
Luca

RealBeast · Dec 12, 2014

Your budget is not sufficient for a good Ethernet connected NAS so I would recommend the USB 3.0. USB 3.0 will be much faster than your 10Mbps network anyway and will not be a bottleneck. So get the Elements.

If your R7000 is working well, unless you have a lot of experience with custom firmware, I would stick with the Netgear firmware.

photonboy · Dec 12, 2014

WDMYCLOUD
http://www.amazon.co.uk/WD-NAS-Cloud-Personal-Storage/dp/B00FOKN7B0/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1418422364&sr=1-1&keywords=wd+my+cloud+3tb

I've had one for a YEAR now and it's awesome. Most reviews no longer apply since they fixed pretty much everything with updates. I don't like any of the other solutions and wouldn't attach a drive to the Netgear directly.

Seriously, ignore most of the bad comments. Some points:

1) 90MB/second over ethernet (timed a file to be sure)

2) Wi-Fi speed based on your network

3) DLNA media server (I've used with my WDTV HUB and my Samsung BD-H6500 bluray player to play stored videos)

4) Shuts down automatically.

5) Firmware updates are automatic

Basically I put VIDEOS on this to stream to media devices and use to create a backup IMAGE of the laptop using Acronis True Image (updated weekly).

The ONLY important thing you need to know is that you may need to press "WIN+R" then enter the device address to access it to transfer files over Windows Explorer. i have the same problem with other network devices so it's more of a Windows issue. Once that's sorted it's simple.

Lou-X · Dec 12, 2014

Thank you both for your answers. I surfed from forum to forum until now studying solutions (also discovered FreeNAS).

sora · Dec 12, 2014

photonboy :

WDMYCLOUD
http://www.amazon.co.uk/WD-NAS-Cloud-Personal-Storage/dp/B00FOKN7B0/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1418422364&sr=1-1&keywords=wd+my+cloud+3tb

I've had one for a YEAR now and it's awesome. Most reviews no longer apply since they fixed pretty much everything with updates. I don't like any of the other solutions and wouldn't attach a drive to the Netgear directly.

Seriously, ignore most of the bad comments. Some points:

1) 90MB/second over ethernet (timed a file to be sure)

2) Wi-Fi speed based on your network

3) DLNA media server (I've used with my WDTV HUB and my Samsung BD-H6500 bluray player to play stored videos)

4) Shuts down automatically.

5) Firmware updates are automatic

Basically I put VIDEOS on this to stream to media devices and use to create a backup IMAGE of the laptop using Acronis True Image (updated weekly).

The ONLY important thing you need to know is that you may need to press "WIN+R" then enter the device address to access it to transfer files over Windows Explorer. i have the same problem with other network devices so it's more of a Windows issue. Once that's sorted it's simple.

Oh yeah... The Western Digital MYCLOUD is definitely a very fast external storage system!

Lou-X · Dec 13, 2014

RealBeast :

@RealBeast I'm sorry if I tell wrong things because I'm kind a noobish in Networks field, I'm sure you can make this point clear for me: when I tell you my network is 10Mbps I talk about Internet connection. If I want use the r7000 as media server into a sort of Home network, since the router is kinda new, shouldn't it allow a faster connection under the wifi than 10Mbps? I'm not talking about how fast download a file from Google but how fast I download a file from my hard drive connected to the router.

photonboy :

Thank you for your feedback on that. I just discovered also that different kind of ethernet cable exists, so maybe some of those amazon reviewers were using slow speed cables?
Also, you say : "I don't like any of the other solutions and wouldn't attach a drive to the Netgear directly. " I don't get you, don't you attach the cloud to the router via ethernet?

I just want attach the storage to my router that is connected with ethernet to my macbook so I can manage it fast via cable and I would like to share all the content with other devices around my house using wifi.

RealBeast · Dec 13, 2014

In order to take advantage of the gigabit ports on your LAN (home network) you need to have all compatible and capable parts, your R7000 is but perhaps your cabling and adapters are not. 10mbs is an old standard that was later replaced by fast Ethernet (100mbps) and now gigabit for home use. 10gbps is now widely used in commercial applications and eventually will come to the home network when costs come down.

My point is that unless you upgrade the rest of your network to be faster than 10mbps, it would be a waste to buy an expensive storage solution.

I run a large (8 x 3TB RAID 6) home NAS that is custom built, but I've built many FreeNAS boxes and they are excellent running raidz but I think that would be overkill for you.

Lou-X · Dec 13, 2014

RealBeast :

Thank you for the explanation. That's the point, if my router is capable of that and if I buy a cat6 ethernet cable should I be able to run it or should I check also something else? (what do you mean with adapters?)
Now I have an old pc but I will update that soon, so if I can set it all up in order to run a gb speed would be great!

RealBeast · Dec 13, 2014

Any point in the network between two drives would need to support the faster standard to get the faster speed between them for transfers, so after switches and cables you would need to look at the Ethernet adapters (LAN adapters) on the individual computers or devices, although only the devices that you transfer a lot of data between would really matter.

CAT 5, 5e, and 6 are all gigabit capable depending on the length of the cable run or patch cable. The real issue will probably be the adapters on older machines, although if it is worth it for any particular device an Intel PCI or PCIe adapter is available that is not very expensive.

Lou-X · Dec 14, 2014

RealBeast :

okay thanks for all the infos. I decided to buy the WD cloud 3TB option, in order to see how it works at the moment (I checked my laptop adapter and it is gigabit) and to exploit it maybe better in the future .

Thanks again for the help

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