Customer Reviews

Chili Systems ChiliBox 160 GB Wireless Network Server CB160W

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

If you read no further, read this: BUY THIS SERVER!

First some background: I'm no novice to small office servers and networks. I've had them all (I think) Cobalt Qube, BOSS, Triton , and Toshiba Magnia SG20, 30...you get the idea.

I read about the chilibox and decided it has all the features I need. Pleanty of storage space, external USB hard drive (for back up ) Wireless 802.11g built in...

The chilibox arrived friday afternoon and I started to set it up friday evening and ran into a snag so I thought "there goes my evening!" then I noticed on the quick start guide the tech support phone number, what a suprise! (most companies try to hide the tech support phone numbers) it was 8:00 PM but I gave them a call anyway, of course I was routed to voice mail so I just hung up in disgust and I knew I would have to wait untill monday.. Imigane my suprise when tech support called me back five minutes later! I didn't even leave a message. (Sorry Chilibox tech support, I didn't know you were different from the rest)

Tech support talked me through setup and discovered a step I missed and I was up and running in five minutes.

one half hour later I had my whole office up and running both wired and wireless... even remote users, file shares, and automated backup. what a pleasure to use this server.

James Hatsis

The description on which I ordered this product specifically says it is wireless. In doing extensive research and disassembly of the product it is clear this model is NOT wireless capable, therefore false advertising applies. It is possible to make the product respond to wireless by adding a wireless router, which cannot be controlled from a Chilibox because nobody can provide login credentials to login to the local machine. Login is accomplished through web access from another computer which can also do the same sort of web access into 99% of all home/small business class wireless routers and access points. 160GB hard drive on board is nice for small business email. The lack of upgrade capability without reloading the machine from scratch means it cannot be used for medium and large sized businesses, clubs, and other organizations.

Unfortunately I bought this box in the summer of 2006 but haven't had time to install it until today (Jan 2007). So I can't return it anymore. My biggest problem, beside the fact that I couldn't make this thing work, is that it's making this whistling, shrieking noise that is completely nerve wrecking. Even if it WAS working after going through the setup procedure several times,I would still not use it because of the noise.
I wouldn't recommend this product at all.

I think this company went under. Box won't stop beeping, lost remote access (indicating their server is no longer functional), no customer support, phones disconnected, been waiting for email response for three weeks. Thanks loosers!

After reading the Chili Systems description of this do-it-all unit, I had to have it. I was disappointed to find sketchy instructions and a basically closed system that won't even function as a basic web server. Tech support can't even figure out how to adjust the NAT and firewall for remote desktop and other web access functions. Local technicians are available in about 6 of 50 states. Not good if your business depends on this thing working. The Chilibox is just a simple, limited feature Linux box in a pretty package. You would be much better off taking any junker PC and loading up a version of freeBSD (available anywhere online... for free). You will have a newer version of a fully functioning web server, firewall, DHCP, file server, mail server, etc. Actually, that's what I'm going to do right now.