D-Link DNS-320 ShareCenter 2-Bay Network Storage Enclosure

With shared storage serving as an essential element in today's digital home, the D-Link ShareCenter DNS-320 2-bay network-attached storage (NAS) device enables you to easily share documents, files, and digital media with everyone on your home network. The expandable DNS-320 allows you to add up to two 2 TB SATA drives (for 4 TB of total storage*), offering plenty of space to store tons of digital photos, thousands of hours of digital music, or hundreds of DVD-quality movies. And adding a drive is a breeze with the D-Link tool-less design.

The front of the DNS-320 with USB port (see larger image).

 

 

The rear of the DNS-320 with Ethernet port (see larger image).

Whether streaming movies, sharing files, or storing video from a network camera, D-Link ShareCenter storage solutions are designed to let you work, play, and share from any room in the home or from a remote location over the Internet. A complementary piece to D-Link's digital home solutions, you can utilize ShareCenter products for a number of applications--whether it's connecting directly to the wireless router, storing video from mydlink-enabled IP cameras, or streaming video to your TV using the Boxee Box by D-Link.

Using the USB port in the DNS-320, you can share a single printer among all of the computers in a household over the network. Additionally, you can automatically download content from the web without powering on a PC with the integrated Peer-to-Peer Downloader or access files at top speeds without bottlenecking with the Gigabit Ethernet port.

The DNS-320 includes its own internal 800 MHz processor, a simplified interface, and software for finding and managing files. Its rugged, compact design makes for easy desktop placement. And it includes both AFP and Time Machine support for Mac users.

The DNS-325 model includes a faster internal processor plus support for specialized server apps. See a comparison of the two ShareCenter devices.

 

Key Features

• RAID technology to protect your data in the event of a hard drive failure

  

• Capable of streaming audio and video to compatible UPnP-enabled devices

  

• Gigabit Ethernet port for ultra-fast wired connectivity

  

• Built-in Peer-to-Peer (P2P) downloader for downloading digital media from share sites without having to power on or connect your PC

  

• DLNA certified for wireless media streaming to other compatible devices

  

• Up to 4 TB of storage from two SATA hard drives (2 TB apiece; hard drives not included)

  

• Stream movies from your ShareCenter to your TV using the Boxee Box or other compatible media player such as PlayStation 3 or Microsoft XBox 360
• USB Print Server enables you to share a printer with the entire family
• Set permissions and quotas
• Create a fail-safe protection solution from accidental data loss on your PC
• Automatically back up your data with the included backup software, plus set schedules and rules with incremental backups
• Apple Time Machine support (for Mac Users)
• Remote backup application supports backup to a storage device at a second site to protect data in the event of a catastrophe
• Built-in Web File server and FTP server allow users to easily access important documents remotely, over the Internet
• 3-year limited warranty

B.Y.O.D. (Bring Your Own Drives)

One of the best things about this ShareCenter device is that it comes without built-in hard drives. That means added flexibility and reduced strain on your wallet. Rather than being handed any old hard drive, you're free to hand pick the one that is the best fit for you. Choose the size. Choose the brand. Search for the best deal. Buy one. Buy two. The DNS-320 has two bays that can hold two SATA hard drives with up to a total of 4 TB of storage (2 TB per hard drive).

Back It Up

Keeping all of your important files on your computer without backing them up is like owning a house and not insuring it. It's important to back up your files so if the unexpected happens, you still have a backup in place. When used with two hard drives, this 2-bay ShareCenter device allows you to back up files in full or incremental backups and comes with four different hard drive modes so you can best configure it to your needs.

• Standard mode creates two separately accessible hard drives
• JBOD (Just a Bunch of Drives) combines both hard drives in linear fashion for maximum space efficiency
• RAID 0 provides faster speeds by combining both drives in a striped configuration, which means data is distributed across both drives in the enclosure.
• RAID 1** causes the drives to mirror each other, providing maximum protection. If one drive fails while configured as RAID 1, the unaffected drive continues to function like a single drive until the failed one is replaced. When a new drive is inserted, it's restored--returning full protection to both drives.

In addition to content back-up and RAID support for data protection, the DNS-320 also features remote access to files through a built-in web file server app and FTP server. With the included remote backup application, you can easily backup content to a second storage device at another location to protect against data loss in the event of a catastrophe.

The Power of Gigabit

This ShareCenter device comes with a 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet port, giving you blazing fast speeds so you can back up and access your stuff without the wait.

D-Link Green

While this may look like your average storage enclosure, it's not. This is a D-Link Green storage enclosure, which means it's as good for your wallet as it is for the environment. This product:

Features a fan that only comes on when hard drives need cooling Allows hard drives to enter sleep mode when not in use to conserve electricity and prolong the life of the hard disk Complies with the European Union's RoHS directive that restricts the use of certain hazardous materials Uses recyclable packaging to help reduce waste that goes into the environment

What's in the Box

ShareCenter 2-bay network storage device, power adapter, Ethernet cable, quick installation guide, CD-ROM

How Do I Insert Drives Into My ShareCenter Device?