Buffalo 4TB LinkStation Pro Duo LS-WVL/R1 Network Hard Drive Array
The 4TB LinkStation Pro Duo LS-WVL/R1 Network Hard Drive Array from Buffalo is a full-featured network storage device, perfect for use in home and small business networks. The array features a Gigabit Ethernet interface and can be configured as a RAID 0 or 1 -- allowing you to tune it for higher performance, or to use mirroring for data protection. It is powered by a 1.6GHz CPU that is capable of delivering sustained network data throughput of 72MB/sec.
The drive is compatible with Mac and Windows client systems alike. You'll be able to access data when you're away from home via Buffalo's free WebAccess service. It works in any web browser, and there is an app available for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad users. NovaBACKUP Professional software for Windows is included, and Mac users will be able to use the drive for backup via OS X's integrated Time Machine application. The LinkStation Pro Duo also supports BitTorrent downloads and DLNA/UPnP AV media streaming.
Overview
- Network Attached Storage
-
Connect LinkStation Pro Duo to any Ethernet port or to the back of your wireless router and instantly access storage from any computer on the network. Store or back up digital photos, MP3s and documents on one hard drive and access it from any computer simultaneously
- Shared folders can be accessed by everyone on the network
- Protect private folders and files from unauthorized access
- Back up every computer on your home network to one location
- 2-Drive RAID Storage
- The LinkStation Pro Duo features two hard drives configured in RAID 1 mirroring. It provides automatic and continuous data protection as data is mirrored onto both drives, protecting data in the event of a drive failure. If a drive fails, simply replace the failed hard drive and the RAID 1 mirror will automatically rebuild. The LinkStation Pro Duo can also be configured in RAID 0 Striping mode, combining both hard drives into a single, large capacity and high performance data volume offering maximum capacity. In RAID 0, if a single hard drive failure occurs, all data is lost
- High Speed
-
Optimized for maximum transfer speed, LinkStation Pro Duo utilizes an upgraded processor and RAM, offering greater than twice the data transfer speed of competing devices
- 1.6GHz CPU
- DDR3 RAM
- 72MB/sec transfer rates
- Whole Home Backup
- Five licenses for NovaBACKUP Professional for Windows and a built-in Time Machine Server allow for back up of all PCs and Mac computers in your home to a central, always available storage device. Put an end to moving USB drives between multiple computers
- Free WebAccess Service
- Access and share your files quickly and securely from any computer over the Internet with a standard Web browser. BuffaloNAS.com makes sharing and accessing remote files easy. It even resizes your photos for optimized streaming over the Internet
- Access Data From Your iPod touch, iPhone or iPad
- Free Buffalo WebAccess iOS apps on the Apple iTunes App Store allow you to access your LinkStation and those of friends and family. Upload photos and videos to an authorized LinkStation or access terabytes of multimedia files and documents directly from your Apple mobile device or a computer
- Multimedia Server
- An integrated DLNA Certified server streams multimedia content to any DNLA or uPnP AV media playback device such as PS3, Xbox 360, many network enabled TVs, digital photo frames, and more
- BitTorrent Downloader
- Powered by the leading BitTorrent client, uTorrent, LinkStation Pro Quad can download any BitTorrent files automatically without your PC being on. Simply paste a torrent URL into the LinkStation uTorrent application and then turn off your PC
- iTunes Server
- The LinkStation Pro can act as an iTunes server for any computer on your network
- USB 2.0 Port
- Attach a printer to the network, add a USB hard drive for additional storage or backup or connect to a UPS for AC power failure management
- Eco-Minded
- With the power savings feature you regulate the power usage of your LinkStation at predetermined times, shutting the unit down and reducing energy consumption
- TurboPC with Turbo Copy
- Enhance the overall performance of your PC
- Network Servers
- FTP and print servers included with the firmware
- Direct Copy
- Plug in your USB hard drive or camera to quickly offload pictures
- No Annual or Monthly Fees
- There's no monthly fee to use any features or services, including WebAccess with iPhone and iPad support, or to add multiple users and groups
- Free 24/7 Tech Support
- Get access to 24/7 US-based tech support
Go To
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 4TB (2x2TB) |
| Interface |
1x 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45) 1x USB 2.0 (A) |
| Drive Speed | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Buffer | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Average Seek Time | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Sustained Data Transfer Rate | 72MB/sec |
| System Requirements |
Operating System: Windows 2000, XP, Vista (32/64-bit), 7 (32/64-bit); Windows Server 2003, 2003 R2, 2008, 2008 R2; Mac OS X 10.3.9, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7 Ethernet network Note: Only basic hard drive functionality is supported when using Mac OS X |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Mounting | Desktop |
| Power Requirements |
AC: 100-240VAC, 50/60Hz Consumption: 26W (Average), 48W (Maximum), 0.7W (Standby) |
| Environmental Requirements | None |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 8.1 x 5.1 x 3.4" (20.6 x 13 x 8.6cm) |
| Weight | 5.1 lb (2.3kg) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 6 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
67%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Fast (4)
- Compact (3)
Cons
- Complicated to set up (3)
Best Uses
- Reviewer Profile:
- Power user (3)
- Primary use:
- Personal (4)
- Computer Platform:
- PC (4)
Reviewed by 6 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-6
Pros
Cons
- Complicated To Set Up
- Insecure
Best Uses
Comments about Buffalo 4TB LinkStation Pro Duo LS-WVL/R1 Network Hard Drive Array:
I purchased this drive to put pictures on for my family to access. Long story short there were a lot of problems setting it up, and 2-3 weeks later it stopped being able to be access from the web. i spent 6...that right 6 hours on the phone with tech support until finally they would swap it out for a $30.00 processing fee! They are crazy!
PS- Also couldn't set to SSL like it said it could without having access problems.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Fast
Cons
- Complicated To Set Up
- Documentation
- Software
- Tech Support
Best Uses
- Backup device
- Replace Windows Server
Comments about Buffalo 4TB LinkStation Pro Duo LS-WVL/R1 Network Hard Drive Array:
I have to admit I purchased this HD partly because of the positive comments from this site as well as others. Unfortunately I have had a very different experience. I have had problems with the hardware, software, documentation and tech support. It took three days to set up, configure, format as a Raid 1 array, and copy all the software over to the hard drive. About one hour after I had all this done a red light on the front of the unit started flashing. The error message said one drive was experiencing significant errors and was no longer reliable. Fortunately since I set it up in a Raid configuration I hoped the second drive would continue to operate as advertised in the documentation. A couple hours later the entire unit had powered down. Cycling the power switch did no good. I finally had to remove all power and it came back up. It had disabled the defective hard drive completely. I talked to tech support and they casually said "yea it is completely bad" "just send it back and tell them to send you a new one". No consideration or apology for the amount of time I spent setting it up or the time I will spend on the replacement. On a positive note it is much faster than the Windows server it replaced. [...] I would rate the software, documentation and tech support very poor. Until I have significant reliable run time I could not recommend this product.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Compact
- Fast
Cons
- Complicated To Set Up
Best Uses
- High Volume
Comments about Buffalo 4TB LinkStation Pro Duo LS-WVL/R1 Network Hard Drive Array:
Be aware that the unit comes set up as RAID 0 so that you have the full 4TB of space and no mirroring. I bought the unit so that I would have a more secure back up of my business files. If you want to have it set up for RAID 1, you need to reconfigure the unit which is not very straight forward and take some time to recomplie the entire drive. For someone who is fairly tech savy but not an expert, this took some time and trial an error. I also am having problems setting up remote access but I just haven't invested the time yet to figure it out. Also, keep in mind that all of the software and firmware that came with the unit is subject to an update, so build some time into the set to download all of the new software. I have an older LinkStation which is fairly slow backing up, this unit seems much faster than my older unit. I am not huge fan of the NovaStor application that comes with the drive. I use Memeo and that seems to work pretty good so far.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Manage
- Easy To Set Up
- Fast
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Buffalo 4TB LinkStation Pro Duo LS-WVL/R1 Network Hard Drive Array:
I read a lot of reviews for this product that said it was difficult to set up. I did not find this to be true in my instance. I am not a dedicated IT guy, but probably have more than an average amount of experience. I did reach a point where I did call support because of a poorly worded warning in the setup software. To my total surprise I got a US based native English speaking support person, and he knew his stuff to boot! He confirmed what I thought, and stayed on with me till I finished about 15 minutes of setup, even though I said I did not have any more questions. I wish more companies had support like that. (this was at 10:00 at night no less).
The unit comes configured for raid 0 (that way people get the 4TB in the name) but I wanted raid 1, but this took nothing more than a couple of clicks then about 10 hours for the system to rebuild itself - during which time you can still use the unit. I can not comment on the backup application that comes with, as I did not buy this for that use.
Pros - it is just what it says and was easy to get going
Cons - have not found any to this point
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Compact
- Easy Setup
Cons
- Confusing UI
- Slow
Best Uses
- Business
- Home
- Network
Comments about Buffalo 4TB LinkStation Pro Duo LS-WVL/R1 Network Hard Drive Array:
I was looking for a NAS to backup files and host media for streaming. When I read about the LinkStation it definitely fit the bill, and I was excited to see it included uTorrent right on the device. I'm really happy with the full set of features, many that I haven't had a chance to use yet.
The main issues I have with the device are:
- Speed - I have the LinkStation attached to my wireless router so I can understand transfers to the device being slow, but copying files between shared folders on the drive are just as slow.
- Limited uTorrent client - The version of uTorrent that runs on LinkStation has some functionality disabled or removed. Features such as adding torrents from RSS feeds, auto loading torrents from a watched folder, and IP Blocking are missing.
- Frequent disconnecting - If you access the LinkStation's UI it will often disconnect the drive, stopping any file transfers.
Despite it's downfalls, the LinkStation still has a full set of features that makes this device worth looking into.
Pros
- Fast
Cons
- Hard To Set Up
Best Uses
Comments about Buffalo 4TB LinkStation Pro Duo LS-WVL/R1 Network Hard Drive Array:
took some time to set it up but once set up it works as promised. one thing that was out of the ordinary was the 6hours per terrabyte to reaarange to raid 1 (took a whole day)
also the interface for android is clunky
otw time machine works fine and the windows computers in the house can access it without problems
- Primary use:
- Personal
Displaying reviews 1-6
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- Price: $2.63
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What's in the Box
- AC Power Adapter
- 1-Year Limited Warranty
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