Network Storage for the Home with the D-Link DNS-323 - Features
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The DNS-323 is literally bursting with features; it has two drive bays for standard 3.5" internal SATA hard drives. Using the SATA interface makes sense to assist with faster read and write speeds and ensure that the device stays compatible with current technology. A built in FTP server allows you to easily access and download files remotely across the Internet, although your router would also need to support and be configured to allow this access.
An integrated USB print server lets you to print across the network to a printer from any computer on the network. It also features a Universal Plug n Play media server that provides the ability to stream audio, video and picture files to compatible media players, as well as a dedicated iTunes streaming sever. Adjustable power management ensures that disks are powered down after a defined period of inactivity to save energy and help extend the life of the drives.
Yet another of the great features of the device is that it doesn't specifically need DHCP to be already running on your network for it to work. If it does not detect DHCP when it boots up, it will assign itself an IP address of 192.168.0.32 automatically. It can even provide DHCP services to the rest of your machines if required.
The setup and configuration of these features is done with ease in the administrative web interface. Setting up the iTunes server consists of selecting the folder on the device that holds your iTunes music library and clicking enable. When iTunes is next launched, the DNS-323 appears in the Source column at the left. It couldn't have been easier.
Setting up the FTP server was a little more complex as configuration of my router (a Netgear DG834GT), was also required, however even including this, the set up was straightforward and quick to achieve. As before, a folder to serve files from needs to be selected, but this time a user must be chosen as well. The FTP server is started automatically once these options have been set and is then accessible.
Setting up a network printer using the device's built-in print server was almost equally as easy. The DNS-323 picked up a HP Deskjet 460 as soon as it was connected, without even having to reboot the device, and displayed the printer's make and model on the status page. The documentation section of the configuration pages, strangely, contains no information whatsoever regarding the print server or how to set things up. It wasn't needed in the end but I'm sure some people would have liked to have had some guidance at least.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to test the UPnP facility as I don't have any UPnP network AV devices, but if the rest of the features are anything to go by, it is sure to be a painless and fulfilling exercise.
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