Customer Reviews

Iomega StorCenter ix2 - 2 TB (2 x 1 TB) Network Attached Storage 34299

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

This product is one of a number of network attached storage (NAS) devices on the market targeted at small offices and home users. If you're not familiar with NAS devices, the concept is simple: A NAS device contains one or more hard drives and plugs directly into your network (i.e., your router). When compared to simple USB hard drives that plug directly into a computer, a NAS offers a number of advantages:

1) It is accessible to any computer on your network. This is convenient at home, since you can use the NAS as a central repository for files (documents, photos, music files, etc.) that you might want to access from any of a number of different PCs. In a small office, having a central storage location for key files (client documents, contact lists, etc.) can be critical.

2) In principle, you could achieve the same benefit by attaching a big USB drive to one PC, setting that PC up to share its files, then leaving that PC on all the time. But these NAS devices are better optimized for file sharing, use far less energy, and take up far less space than a full PC.

3) Most of these NAS devices have something called RAID. They have (or allow you to install) multiple hard drives in the same unit, then they write every bit of data to multiple drives. This way, if one drive fails (as they are prone to do), the NAS can automatically switch over to the other drive and you don't lose any data. One HUGE warning, though - RAID only protects you from drive failure. NAS devices still have plenty of "single points of failure," including the power supply, controller, etc. I lost all of my data on a LaCie Network Disk because of a software glitch in the unit, even though all the individual drivers were fine. RAID reduces your risk of losing files, but it does not eliminate it.

4) Because the NAS is always available to any PC on the network, it's a great solution for backing up individual PCs, in addition to operating as a file server.

I am currently using a number of different NAS products in both my small business and my home. Here is a summary of the pros and cons of the three models I am currently using: Netgear's ReadyNAS Duo, EMC Iomega's ix2, and LaCie's Ethernet Disk RAID NAS. I'll call out only areas in which I see significant differences between the products. Also, this review is intended mainly for small office users - the features you might care about for a home NAS are likely to be different (e.g., you'd probably care about how well it works as an iTunes library or for streaming movies, neither of which is key in our office setting). Here goes:

1) Iomega ix2. Iomega is now owned by EMC, the company that creates the monster-sized storage devices for big corporations. The ix2 is incredibly small - it takes up about as much space as a tape dispenser. Of the small office NAS products I've installed, it has the easiest setup - the configuration menus aren't quite Mac-like, but they're the closest of any NAS I've used. The ix2 does the best job of setting up multiple users - it automatically creates private folders for each user and makes it very easy to control permissions to shared folders. The ix2 is by far and away the lowest cost NAS I've used, at under $200 for a 1TB configuration. The ix2 comes with two drives preinstalled, but the drives are not user replaceable; I would have liked replaceable drives, but I'm willing to live with this tradeoff since it yields a very small and cheap unit. (Some users think non-replaceable drives are a show stopper. Personally, I'm just counting on my RAID to prevent loss of files if a drive fails. If a drive does fail, I'm more likely to replace the whole NAS, given the rate at which features are improving and prices are dropping, rather than just replacing the drive.) The ix2 excels as a backup solution for PCs - it comes with software to automatically backup any PC on the network to the devices. One important missing feature, though, is the ability to back up the NAS to another storage device on your network - this is very important in an office setting if you are using the NAS as your primary file server, rather than as a backup for your PCs. Because of this missing feature, we use the ix2 as our backup storage device, not as our primary file server. The ix2 has proved highly reliable and trouble free - like the ReadyNAS Duo, it runs for months at a time without anybody having to tweak anything.

2) Netgear ReadyNAS Duo. This is a smaller, two-drive version of Netgear's ReadyNAS product (originally developed by a company called Infrant, which Netgear acquired). It takes up very little space, uses relatively little power, and is fairly quiet. Reads and writes to this device are very fast, which is important when running backups. The ReadyNAS has a particularly robust feature set when it comes to backing up the NAS to another device on the network. This is important, since even with RAID, it's possible that the whole device will fail (e.g., if the power supply goes bad), so you want to make sure you back up your NAS regularly. Setup isn't hard, but you have to know what you're doing - this device is clearly targeted at somewhat technical users who know the terminology and are willing to work through all the configuration menus. This is our primary file server in our office, and it has been a reliable workhorse. About once every 2-3 months, I need to log on to fix something that has glitched - other than that, the ReadyNAS Duo has required no effort beyond setup. It's one of the best small NAS products I've used.

3) LaCie 301160U 1TB Ethernet Disk RAID Network Attached Storage. If you've gotten the impression that I love the ReadyNAS Duo and ix2, you're right. Balancing the cosmic scales is the LaCie Ethernet Disk, which caused us nothing but headaches. The LaCie NAS configuration menus are opaque, even to a reasonably knowledgeable person. The device is hard for users to find on the network. The device is painfully slow - backing up large numbers of files to or from the device takes forever. It does not come with software to back up PCs to the device, and it lacks the feature to back itself up to other devices. It's big and noisy. And, most importantly, it's unreliable. On multiple occasions, the device simply disappeared from the network, forcing us to reset the device (which takes a while). The last time this happened, the device couldn't read its hard drives when it rebooted. I spent hours with LaCie tech support, but nothing worked. We ended up losing ALL of the files on the device. LaCie ended up replacing the device, but that didn't save our data. Having read other reviews with similar complaints, I know my experience wasn't a fluke. This is not a reliable product.

4) HP MediaVault. I have a MediaVault 2100 installed at home, and I really like it. It has more consumer-oriented configuration and usage menus than the products reviewed above. It also does a nifty job of handling media files, which is more important at home. In particular, it works as a great central iTunes library, automatically sweeping music files from my individual PCs up to a central shared folder on the NAS. The individual PCs in turn can then access the NAS folder (as if it were an attached iPod). This means that everybody in the house has access to any songs anybody else has downloaded. I tried using the MediaVault briefly in our office, but it didn't work nearly as well as the ReadyNAS or ix2. It wasn't fast enough and (true to its name) the setup options seem clearly designed for a home multimedia environment rather than an office file environment.

In a nutshell, I've been very pleased with my Netgear ReadyNAS Duo and Iomega ix2 in the office, and with my HP MediaVault at home. The LaCie NAS was very bad, and the Buffalo products I've used have been OK but usually not the best in class. I hope this helps.

UPDATE 12-November-2009
The newer version of the ix2, the ix2-200, says it addresses the two issues I had with the first version. Specifically, it now includes device-to-device replication, so you can automatically back up the ix2 to another storage device on the network. This means we can use it as the primary file server in our small office, not just as the backup server. Also, the drives are now removable. The new model also provides web access to files.

After everything is said and done, the Iomega StorCenter ix2 is an excellent network storage solution for consumers and small businesses. The amazingly simple software installation and setup combined with the amount of storage and reasonable transfer speeds make the Iomega StorCenter ix2 one of the best stand-alone network storage solutions I've tested.

Like almost any networked attached storage enclosure, the Iomega StorCenter ix2 doesn't offer the same speed as an eSATA drive connected directly to your computer. Likewise, the ix2 suffers from some degree of security vulnerability unless the network is well secured. In other words, if you just plug this drive into your unsecured wireless router at home and don't use a password on the StorCenter ix2 itself then just about anyone in range of your router could have access to your files. Nevertheless, these minor issues are common to all NAS enclosures.

Overall, the Iomega StorCenter ix2 offers a remarkably easy-to-use stand-alone network drive and gives you lower power consumption than a full desktop running as a networked drive. Road warriors and netbook owners who are either worried about the security of their laptop hard drive or have limited storage space on their netbook might want to consider the purchase of this NAS for their home networks.

Pros:

* Easiest setup software I've ever used
* Fast transfer rates over 1Gb Ethernet, acceptable over 100Mb Ethernet
* USB connectivity for more storage
* Solid build quality
* Reasonably compact

Cons:

* Hard drives are a little noisy
* Difficult to access drives inside enclosure if repair is needed

I like the unit's concept and have a second unit on order even now. I have three or four (depending on the day) computers connected to my home network, two hard-wired to an ethernet switch and two that connect through a wireless router. The router and the switch are hardwired to each other. The first StoreCenter is plugged into the switch as well and all four computers were able to access the NAS with no trouble. I also have the LinkSys LELA software running and it saw the NAS right away.

My plan from the outset was to manually perform backups on an as-needed basis, which has worked out well for my operational needs. The bad news for me is that the automatic backup software that accompanied the NAS worked ONE time, and would not make any subsequent backups. Once my second unit gets here, I may investigate the backup software further as time allows. However, since my computer usage is not driving a business, daily backups are not a requirement for me.

I would recommend the unit based on its small size, the fact that my LinkSys WRT54G and LELA software, and my NetGear ethernet switch had no connectivity issues, and that Windows XP has no trouble recognizing the NAS. If you need a plug-and-play automatic backup device I would recommend a bit of caution at this time.

I run a network of 8 computers at home (Mac, PCs, Linux) and got this to replace an aging file server PC running Linux, with USB disks connected. Turns out the performance is abysmal, even running on a Gigabit LAN. And the software is flaky - it won't start up, for example, or changes won't get saved. Bizzare!

I ended up replacing Linux on my file server with FreeNAS and now get better performance and all the capabilities that Iomega offers, with stable running to boot. This one goes right back! Very disappointed...

This is a great NAS unit, at a great price. The setup was flawless, and my PC's and Macs all see the unit - where I have safely dumped all of my data (photos, scanned documents, tax records, iTunes backup, etc). Highly recommended!

Amazon provided an accurate description of the item (although EVERYONE's photographs make one believe this item is much bigger than it actually is), had a significantly lower price, provided a new, sealed unit, and has good customer support means I have felt comfortable with. The item shipped immediately and was straightforward to set up and configure. I now use this product between 5 computers, 3 Windows XP and 2 Linux machines on a hybrid wired/wireless network. Each can store and share files, even with each other. I am glad I bought it, have no regrets buying it from Amazon.com, and would not hesitate to get another if needed.

I fell into an amazing deal on this unit (a hair over $200).
Had I paid full price, my overall rating would have been lower.

This NAS was easy to set up. No witchcraft required.

For some reason when I boot my PS3, it sees the NAS as a Microsoft network storage device, and thus it will not read the data correctly. My only recourse is to reboot the NAS every time I want to access the files via my PS3. After rebooting the NAS, the PS3 correctly identifies it. I'm guessing this is a Sony issue, since every other device I have correctly identifies and reads the NAS. Streaming movies to the PS3 has been flawless.

Reboot time is pretty slow. I haven't timed it, but I'm guessing it's about 2-3 minutes.

File transfer rates are strange. On my wireless N network, transfers from my laptop to the NAS are acceptable, but when I want to move files from one user folder on the NAS to another, the speed drops to very unacceptable levels. For instance, this morning I was transferring a 1.2GB CAD file from one user to another. The first attempt reported it would take an hour! The second attempt reported 35 minutes. It is currently transferring with a reported 22 minutes left. Totally unacceptable.

I have connected several different external hard drives and each of them has been detected and connected to without any issues.

Others have reported that the unit is noisy. I wouldn't want to try to sleep in the same room with it, but other than that the noise is acceptable.

Overall, it's a fairly decent network storage devices, but I wouldn't pay more than $300 for it.

You need to take this drive for what it's worth. It is a NAS with 500GB of storage in a RAID I configuration. I had no problem with the installation and quickly had it on my network and up and running in a matter of minutes. Speed has been not an issue for me. I have a home network with about 6 users on it and use the IOMEGA for music and photos mostly. The user interface while easy to use is very quirky. I cannot get my laptop or any of the PC's on the network to keep the share. Everytime someone reboots they need to reattach to the drive. I have had to write a logon scrip to disconnect and re-connect the drive on start-up.

Where most of the products for me live or die is in support. Unfortunately after only five months of use one of my drives developed a loud noise and failed. I was able to reboot and get it working again only to have it repeat. I usually find chat support quick and adequate so I gave it a try. My technician, Christopher really didn't want to hear my diagnosis and forced me into a step by step process. Several times I asked him to tell me the plan and he said he was trying to do everything in his power to get it to work before replacing it. Turn it off, turn it on, reboot, etc. Then when he mentioned I needed to back everything up because we were going to reformat I began to get suspicous. I had to convince him that it needed replacement (personally I though the loud grating noise was indicative but then again I have not been trained by IOMEGA, just 25 years or experience in IT). He tried to tell me that I had to call into phone support which I declined. Finally he seemed to get irritated at this point and said, and I quote "I would like to replace the drive.----NOT THE UNIT, but the drive." (his caps, not mine) That's all I had asked for in the beginning. He said I would receive and email with my case # and the steps to take from there. I never received an email. Had to call in to get it. When I called in for my RMA number that person was probably one of the most laid back people I have talked to. Just going on how the computers were slow, the grid they were on sucked (his words). Was literally typing iwth one finger (I could hear it). Took 20minutes to get a RMA and a credit card in the system. Then when the drive had arrived there were NO INSTRUCTIONS. I did a search of their web support and finally found a link which was BROKEN. There chat was closed on the weekend, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

So here I am, Saturday with one drive running, and one in the box :-)

Summary: Good drive, RAID I (nice), lots of storage, quirky software and ABYSMAL technical 'support'. I would look at other options before buying from IOMEGA again...

Setting up took a couple of minutes. Bluetooth and lotsa room wid 2 TB is plain charm on my investment.

Wanted a central repository for all the photos, music files and work-related files in my computers (I have 4 of them - 2 Windows XP and 2 Mac machines), and the NAS server seemed the right choice. Also I will have the option of using multiple hard drives on it (using 6 hard drives now).

Connected to my Belkin wireless router, the Iomega StorCenter is immediately ready. One of my drives containing important work-related files crashed three days after I installed the NAS. But fortunately, my StorCenter had the RAID feature so all the data were safely written in another hard drive. Thankfully, dint lose anything! The print server is a friendly gain. It helps to easy-connect to my inkjet which was lying idle for long. Found it difficult to remove the unit's cabinet when my one of my drives needed a repair.

Lesser noise is always welcome!! For home, I think there cant be a better stuff than this.