Entered CNET Catalog: 05/03/2006
SKU: 0742709333491
Manufacturer: Iomega
Manufacturer description
The Iomega StorCenter Wireless Network Storage 1TB is the only network hard drive that combines maximum storage capacity with the ease of wireless networking for a powerful data storage solution that is essential for digital enthusiasts or small office networks. Secure your data with RAID 5 built-in and WEP and WPA wireless security! RAID level 5 data protection secures even your most data-intensive projects and allows for reliable recovery in case of a failure. Dual antennas ensure a rapid data transmission stream. Plus, two USB 2.0 ports allow for expanded network storage or backup by connecting additional external hard drives. And with print server capability, simply attach a USB printer for shared access.Product summary
The good: The Iomega StorCenter Wireless NAS drive is a speedy performer, offers wireless connectivity, a good software package, a variety of RAID arrays, and a bunch of extras.
The bad: You can't swap out the hard drives in the Iomega StorCenter Wireless drive, the fan is annoyingly noisy, and we had problems using Iomega's Discovery utility.
The bottom line: With the Iomega StorCenter Wireless NAS drive, you get storage, backup, and so much more, all at a reasonable price, though we don't quite see the need for wireless capability. This NAS drive should please both SOHO users and home users who want a drive that works and plays.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 06/30/2006
The Iomega StorCenter Wireless NAS drive a big, solid piece of hardware. With its blocky shape and silver-and-black enclosure, it screams "computer equipment that sits in the corner." The drive is heavy, and the whole unit feels well constructed. The front of the drive houses only three LEDs and a black plastic grid through which you can see the drives inside. Unlike the Buffalo TeraStation, you can't open the enclosure to swap out drives, a feature that comes in handy should one of the four drives fail. The team at Iomega felt there was too much risk of user error when trying to swap out hard drives, especially among the inexperienced. (Should one of the drives fail, you can send the unit back to Iomega for repair.) The back of the drive sports a Gigabit Ethernet port, two USB 2.0 ports for connecting additional hard drives or printers, a small power button, and two screw-on antennas. The back is also where the noisy fan lives. The supplied ports and connections are sufficient, though the Buffalo TeraStation provides two additional USB ports on the front of the drive for maximum flexibility and expandability.
Setting up the Iomega StorCenter Wireless NAS drive is fairly straightforward. You have three options for connecting the drive: to your network via Ethernet cable, to your network wirelessly, or directly to a PC via Ethernet cable. If you want to connect it wirelessly, you'll still need to install the drive and configure it over a hardwired connection first. Simply connect the drive to your router with an Ethernet cable, plug the drive in, and power up. Once the blue LED on the front remains steadily lit, you can install the Iomega Discovery Tool and the Iomega Backup Pro software onto your PC from the included CD.
The Discovery Tool is supposed to scan your network and identify the StorCenter drives on your network, as well as assign a drive letter. It also lets you configure the RAID settings for your drive. With our test unit, we were unable to use the Discovery Tool successfully, even with the help of an Iomega support technician. The drive did show up in Windows' Network Places directory, however, so we were able to ping the drive to get its IP address, access the Iomega drive configuration utility directly via a Web browser, and map the network drive using Windows XP. If the tool works for you, you should be able to take the CD to each PC on your network and install the Discovery Tool in order to map the drive on that computer. The Discovery Tool also lets you set up a RAID array on the drive (the default setting is RAID 0). The helpful support technician couldn't figure out the problem, and Iomega's representative told us he hadn't heard reports of problems with the Discovery Tool.
Once we were in the drive-configuration tool, there were a number of settings we could change. You can arrange the four drives into a number of RAID arrays, which can help increase write speeds or provide safeguards for your data: RAID 0 (striping); RAID 5 (striping with parity; this reduces the drive's capacity by 25 percent); and RAID 0+1 (mirroring striped disks; this will reduce capacity by half). For comparison, the Buffalo TeraStation Home Server doesn't offer RAID 0 or RAID 0+1 modes. You can also manage user permissions, shared folder settings, and disk management.
If you like, you can configure the drive to operate wirelessly as a client or an access point. The configuration utility walks you through all the necessary steps, including identifying a network (or naming one, if using the Iomega drive as an 802.11g access point), choosing a static or dynamic network mode, and entering a security key (the drive supports WEP and WPA-PSK wireless security). Most people won't find the wireless capability necessary; you can simply hard wire the NAS to your router for access over the network, but the wireless capability doesn't add much to the final cost of the drive, so no harm there.
The drive has other features as well, including backup via Iomega's proprietary Iomega Automatic Backup Pro (IAB Pro) software, a built-in print server, and a media server that will work with a UPnP media adapter. With IAB Pro, you can set up scheduled backups of the PCs on your network, ranging from incremental backups of selected folders and files to full system backups, which you can use to restore a PC in case of data disaster. (Incidentally, through the configuration utility, you can also set backups for the StorCenter NAS drive itself, either to USB-attached hard drives or to another NAS drive on your network.) Unfortunately, the IAB Pro software works with Windows 2000 and XP machines only. The media server capability lets you use the StorCenter Wireless as a central repository for your high-definition video, music, and photos. You'll need a third-party UPnP media adapter, such as the D-Link MediaLounge, for your TV to interpret the signal.
Performance-wise, the Iomega StorCenter Wireless NAS is the fastest such drive we've tested, though we have to qualify that finding. On the CNET Labs' test bench, over an Ethernet connection, the Iomega wrote our 5GB test folder of mixed file types in a hair over 19 minutes. It read back the same folder in 17 minutes, 32 seconds. While the Iomega's write performance was faster than that of the Buffalo TeraStation Home Server, it's worth noting that we tested both drives at their default setting, which for the Buffalo drive was RAID 5 and for the Iomega drive was RAID 0. The RAID 5 setting normally slows down write speeds a bit, so if you configure the Iomega drive in a RAID 5 array, expect to see slower performance.
Iomega backs the StorCenter Wireless NAS drive with a one-year warranty. Toll-free phone support (while it's under warranty) is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. If you opt for Iomega's additional service plan, you can access tech support 24/7. You can also conduct an online chat with tech support via Iomega's site or fill out an e-mail form. Iomega's site has a user forum, FAQs, how-to videos, and downloadable manuals, drivers, and software.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
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5GB read test | |
5GB write test |
**Tested in RAID 5 mode
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10out of 10 user reviews
Great Products but VERY POOR support
Pros: Iomega do good products, No doubt about it. But you need to think, is it worth purchasing with a warranty that basically covers nothing.
Cons: If and when your storage product fails, you must pay 20 euros to talk to support.
There on line chat does not really have any effect as you will be directed to email. and the email support seems to keep resending the same email.
And ironically the support group is seperate from the recovery group so they will not be able to tell you how much this will cost and you then have to start from scratch again with the recovery services. So I warn you. Think Twice before purchasing from Iomega
out of 10 user reviews
Failed unit twice over, RAID??
Pros: None. Had access point wireless, but now disabled
Cons: Complete failure, sham RAID, powerblock failure, disabled features
Finally, just after the warranty expires, the dreaded red/blue alternating lights. Drive failure. But with RAID, no problem, right? There's no documentation for THIS model on rebuilding the array. Why? Well, you can't. If it's under warranty, you ship it back for a rebuild. Just check IOMEGA's own forums for the horry stories. (Note: Admin responses that pop up on the forums are the rudest I've ever seen!)
Now, I'm left with a failed drive. I may be able to rig some data recovery by removing the drives. And I may even be able to factory reset the drive. But, really, this $600 device is no longer with the time, and its unreliability ENTIRELY defeats the purpose.
I've never seen, by the way, such a huge discrepancy between the CNET rating and user ratings. Eek! If I knew then.
out of 10 user reviews
All units deployed have failed.
Pros: Fine when it works.
Cons: It inevitably will fail.
out of 10 user reviews
Nice idea, poor execution
Pros: 1 TB, wireless, multiple RAID configurations
Cons: Problematic firmware upgrade bricks many boxes
The first box arrived and, like any good user, I dutifully checked the Iomega support forums and site for any gotchas. A firmware upgrade was available, so I downloaded it. It did mention that the upgrade would remove a feature I was not interested in: the ability to use the StorCenter as a WAP. No biggie. As long as overall wireless client functionality remained, we were all good.
I performed step 1 and 2, which upgraded the web app which serves as your interface with the device. The new website looked innocent enough. Step three was to upload the BIN file so that the actual firmware could be unpacked and installed. 37MB should take a bit to upload. My web page refreshed instantaneously. That did not bode well. How could my upload be that fast?
I checked the status page and the firmware version read "v 2.22 ??" After a handful of searches on the iomega support forums, I noted that a number of other users suffered similar fates -- and the partially upgraded boxes all had version "2.22 ??". Their solution from Iomega was to return the product for a new one.
I hadn't yet even formatted my machine. I must admit that I had to make two calls. The first CSR must've failed to follow thru, because I never received my new box after two weeks. Being a patient person, I called again, but did not tongue-lash the next person. I received my new box within a week.
Unfortunately, the new box was not flashed with the new firmware, as I had requested. I held my breath while I performed the upload again, but the upload took this time!
The remainder of the process went thru to the end and my status page read v 2.22 20070820. Possibly date that the firmware was cut. I was up and running! I got the wireless portion going, unhooked it from it's hard connection and was busy uploading items to my new hard drive.
I configured it for RAID0+1, which meant I got half of the total 1TB, but all of the protection. Everything was great for a week and a half when I noticed that the problematic Discovery tool that Iomega provides couldn't locate my box.
Sure enough, it was off the network. When I hard-wired my box again, my worst fears were realized: the tell tale indicator that the firmware needed applying was back: the version number read "v 2.22 ??".
Despite the browser window having a title with the good firmware v 2.22 2008070820. How could this be? Iomega's third support call confirmed the worst, I would need another box.
If the open source community is looking for a great product to save from the clutches of incompetent handlers, this is it. It is a server with all the potential in the world. It just needs someone who knows how to program it.
This is my second StorCenter. The first one was bricked by Iomega's own upgrade.
The box itself is a decent piece of hardware. The problem is the weak web interface that runs it, and the low-quality of software that Iomega produces.
I suspect the Iomega Data Recovery department does a fair bit of business from desperate owners. I won't know since I am not going to associate with companies with questionable technical expertise.
I wish I knew about this before I saw the new-shiny.
I will be looking into a drobo with their sharing appliance next.
out of 10 user reviews
DO NOT BUY THIS
Pros: 1TB capacity
Cons: software makes unit nearly impossible difficult to use
out of 10 user reviews
Avoid this product at all costs - you will get burnt!
Pros: Network USB Sharing for practically any USB device
Cons: Buggy firmware, poor user interface, frequent lost of parameters, data lost
I was a network administrator for 5 years and currently work with setting up customized complex manufacturing computer solutions. I have lost confidence in Iomega products. With product life cycle becoming ever shorter, Iomega must have felt the need to rush this product to market without adequate testing. I strongly urge anyone considering this product to move on to another option.
out of 10 user reviews
DO NOT BUY!!!
Pros: make a nice paperweight
Cons: Iomega will not acknowledge much less fix a major flaw
I cannot believe that Ms. Yang rated this as 7.3 given that even the most basic amount of testing would have revealed a very basic flaw in the product when used for its intended purpose. Note that every one of the user comments have rated this as abysmal. I am forced to conclude her review was just a rehash of Iomega's marketing collateral.
out of 10 user reviews
Poorly conceived "lite" NAS
Pros: None that outweigh problems
Cons: Deliberately crippled beyond usability
IP settings -- you can enter a subnet mask, but anything other than factory default is refused.
NFS implementation: replaces file user/group with generic ids -- so useless for multiusers, or backup of multiuser data.
Speed: Maxes out at about 6 to 8 Mbytes/sec (SMB to Windows, or linux NFS; wired by gig ethernet), ie: at <12% of full Gigabit ethernet bandwidth.
Web admin interface is OK, but reformat function fails to show status -- claims unit is online when it's not, that kind of sloppy stuff.
In short -- misleading or false specs on the carton about network and linux/NFS capability, very poor performance. Use google-advanced to search iomegasupportforums dot com for details. I took this product back to the store, and made sure it got marked "return to vendor".
out of 10 user reviews
3rd broken StorCenter in 2 months
Pros: affordable
Cons: very difficult to get working, unreliable, poor documentation, bad tech support
out of 10 user reviews
Almost a great product
Pros: Wireless makes this a great drive for safe, remote archival
Cons: Software is incredibly buggy, loud, hot external power brick
Performance in RAID 5 mode is extremely poor, as is typical of a consumer device. That's fine for incremental backups. Use RAID 0 if you need any kind of speed. (There are no instructions for replacing a failed drive when you're using RAID 5).
Like CNET, I could not get the bundled software to work. I had to run a packet sniffer while turning on the drive to find its IP address. The web administration pages built into the hard drive didn't work much better. In one case the admin system crashed and I had to reset the drive to factory defaults. That meant loosing shares and login accounts, and running the packet sniffer again. The web admin pages accept information which may crash or permanently disable the network interface. For example, putting the LAN and Wireless network interfaces in the same subnet is allowed even though it causes random network failures. The DHCP option does not seem to work (and you'd never find the drive with the broken Discovery Tool application if it did). The online instructions are non-technical even though very technical information is required to make this drive work.
It's possible for this to be a very useful drive but it requires struggling at a highly technical level. Wait until iomega fixes their buggy software.
