DSM-G600, DNS-3xx and NSA-220 Hack Forum

youknowho · 2008-09-25 19:52:51

I've read lots of reviews and user comments, and for my price range and requirements (NAS, 2-bay, gigabit ethernet connection) the DNS-323 looks like the best bet. I do have a few concerns/questions though:

1. Even with the 1.05 firmware RAID 1 looks shaky. I could just have two identical drives in standard mode and copy everything to both drives I guess...

2. Has anyone managed to use the USB printer port to connect additional USB storage? (This is a major design oversight IMHO). I was reading a bit about modding the DNS-323 and it sounded like there are unused USB interfaces available inside the unit, so maybe a solution involved using those?

3. The DNS-323 is two years old and I get the feeling a successor is on the horizon (yes I've seen the DNS-321). Something with USB ports, more RAM, etc. Then again it's taken two years to iron out kinks in the DNS-323, so maybe these devices are hard to "get right" and D-Link is happy with just releasing firmware updates instead of an improved model?

Thanks for your input.

rcblackwell · 2008-09-25 21:15:39

youknowho wrote:
I've read lots of reviews and user comments, and for my price range and requirements (NAS, 2-bay, gigabit ethernet connection) the DNS-323 looks like the best bet. I do have a few concerns/questions though:

1. Even with the 1.05 firmware RAID 1 looks shaky. I could just have two identical drives in standard mode and copy everything to both drives I guess...

2. Has anyone managed to use the USB printer port to connect additional USB storage? (This is a major design oversight IMHO). I was reading a bit about modding the DNS-323 and it sounded like there are unused USB interfaces available inside the unit, so maybe a solution involved using those?

3. The DNS-323 is two years old and I get the feeling a successor is on the horizon (yes I've seen the DNS-321). Something with USB ports, more RAM, etc. Then again it's taken two years to iron out kinks in the DNS-323, so maybe these devices are hard to "get right" and D-Link is happy with just releasing firmware updates instead of an improved model?

Thanks for your input.

I don't believe RAID is an issue with firmware 1.05. My original configuration was RAID until I decided a better approach would be two individual disks.

With ffp I've configured a USB drive that contains ffp and my website. It's neat knowing my site is available while the drives remain in sleep mode.

fordem · 2008-09-25 21:49:21

1 - Maybe you should research what RAID1 is all about - two identical drives in standard mode will not do what RAID1 does nor vice versa.
2 - Have you searched the forum or read the wiki - many folk are using the USB interface to add additional storage - and this is the first I'm hearing about unused USB interfaces inside the unit.
3 - There's also a DNS-343, more drives, RAID5, more RAM ....

bdam · 2008-09-25 23:32:44

From what I can gather, you are right, this unit isn't the greatest RAID 1 unit. You can't hot swap, you're liable to lose the data on the good drive when you replace the other, and it might very well hang up a 94% when it does. That being said, this is not an expensive RAID unit, it's a cheap NAS that also supports RAID 1. In that respect, it's a great little piece of hardware.

bq041 · 2008-09-26 00:53:41

The raid capabilities of the unit are actually quite good. The flaw lies in the DLink software (web admin and scripts) used to manage / monitor the array. I have done several manual setups and reconfigures with no problems or data loss. That being said, out of the box, there are problems, but with a little effort, they can be worked around.

As for unused USB, when a device is plugged in, it falls into bus 1, level 1, not level 0. Subsequently, if you put on a hub and then connect a device, the hub will reside on level 1 and the devices will reside on level 2, and so on and soforth. The DNS has a hub built in which is on level 0. My guess is that it is a 1 port hub, which is actually the physical interface between the system and the port. The fact that is says it is a hub is probably what is causing the confusion.

Code:

/proc/bus/usb # cat devices

T:  Bus=01 Lev=00 Prnt=00 Port=00 Cnt=00 Dev#=  1 Spd=480 MxCh= 1
B:  Alloc=  0/800 us ( 0%), #Int=  1, #Iso=  0
D:  Ver= 2.00 Cls=09(hub  ) Sub=00 Prot=01 MxPS= 8 #Cfgs=  1
P:  Vendor=0000 ProdID=0000 Rev= 2.06
S:  Manufacturer=Linux 2.6.12.6-arm1 ehci_hcd
S:  Product=EHCI Host Controller
S:  SerialNumber=ehci_platform.20865
C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=c0 MxPwr=  0mA
I:  If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=09(hub  ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=hub
E:  Ad=81(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS=   2 Ivl=256ms

T:  Bus=01 Lev=01 Prnt=01 Port=00 Cnt=01 Dev#=  7 Spd=480 MxCh= 4
D:  Ver= 2.00 Cls=09(hub  ) Sub=00 Prot=01 MxPS=64 #Cfgs=  1
P:  Vendor=0409 ProdID=005a Rev= 1.00
C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=e0 MxPwr=100mA
I:  If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=09(hub  ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=hub
E:  Ad=81(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS=   1 Ivl=256ms

T:  Bus=01 Lev=02 Prnt=07 Port=01 Cnt=01 Dev#=  9 Spd=480 MxCh= 0
D:  Ver= 2.00 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS=64 #Cfgs=  1
P:  Vendor=090c ProdID=6000 Rev= 1.00
S:  Manufacturer=Generic       ,   .
S:  Product=USB2.0 Card Reader
S:  SerialNumber=12345678901234567890
C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=80 MxPwr=500mA
I:  If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=08(stor.) Sub=06 Prot=50 Driver=usb-storage
E:  Ad=81(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
E:  Ad=02(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=31875us

T:  Bus=01 Lev=02 Prnt=07 Port=03 Cnt=02 Dev#=  8 Spd=480 MxCh= 0
D:  Ver= 2.00 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS=64 #Cfgs=  1
P:  Vendor=090c ProdID=1000 Rev=11.00
S:  Manufacturer=USB 2.0
S:  Product=USB Flash Drive
S:  SerialNumber=X53345g54000181
C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=80 MxPwr=100mA
I:  If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=08(stor.) Sub=06 Prot=50 Driver=usb-storage
E:  Ad=81(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
E:  Ad=02(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=31875us

Last edited by bq041 (2008-09-26 00:57:13)

youknowho · 2008-09-26 21:10:58

Thank you for the responses. I have one last question about using the USB printer. I've searched for an approved printer list but haven't found one. I have a HP Deskjet 812C. Any way to find out ahead of time if it will work?

fordem · 2008-09-27 01:19:53

Not really - it's a "try it and see" type thing.

Having said that I believe the DeskJet 812C is an older HP deskjet - if it is I suspect you'll have difficulty.

Nuri · 2008-09-27 14:40:16

I have Canon Pixma ip1500 inkjet printer and it works good in DNS-323.

knireis · 2008-09-27 15:35:21

me an HP Deskjet 930C, also an oldy but works fine

fordem · 2008-09-27 15:53:30

I would guess if a 930 works the 812 would - but that's just a guess - they're about the same age and use similar technology.

youknowho · 2008-10-11 22:02:27

Well, my HP DeskJet 812C doesn't work with the DNS-323. Ditto for my rommate's HP LaserJet P1006. All that shows up in Windows XP's dialogue box is "Microsoft Windows Network" with no options to expand underneath it, so I'm assuming that means it didn't work.

fordem · 2008-10-12 03:13:59

youknowho wrote:
Well, my HP DeskJet 812C doesn't work with the DNS-323. Ditto for my rommate's HP LaserJet P1006. All that shows up in Windows XP's dialogue box is "Microsoft Windows Network" with no options to expand underneath it, so I'm assuming that means it didn't work.

It's usually a lot easier to get the print server working by installing the printer drivers with the printer directly attached to the PC and then editing the port -

See the details in this post.

The LeaserJet may be more difficult to get running - some of them require font's (firrmware) to be downloaded first, there are instructions somewhere in the forum.

youknowho · 2008-10-12 23:13:59

fordem if you were here I would give you the biggest high-five ever right now!!! Thank you so much for that tip! The HP DeskJet 812C now works flawlessly over the network.

fordem · 2008-10-12 23:47:01

You're welcome - I just try to give back some of what the folks here have given me

DSM-G600, DNS-3xx and NSA-220 Hack Forum

Announcement

#1 2008-09-25 19:52:51

Debating about purchasing the DNS-323

#2 2008-09-25 21:15:39

Re: Debating about purchasing the DNS-323

youknowho wrote:

#3 2008-09-25 21:49:21

Re: Debating about purchasing the DNS-323

#4 2008-09-25 23:32:44

Re: Debating about purchasing the DNS-323

#5 2008-09-26 00:53:41

Re: Debating about purchasing the DNS-323

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#6 2008-09-26 21:10:58

Re: Debating about purchasing the DNS-323

#7 2008-09-27 01:19:53

Re: Debating about purchasing the DNS-323

#8 2008-09-27 14:40:16

Re: Debating about purchasing the DNS-323

#9 2008-09-27 15:35:21

Re: Debating about purchasing the DNS-323

#10 2008-09-27 15:53:30

Re: Debating about purchasing the DNS-323

#11 2008-10-11 22:02:27

Re: Debating about purchasing the DNS-323

#12 2008-10-12 03:13:59

Re: Debating about purchasing the DNS-323

youknowho wrote:

#13 2008-10-12 23:13:59

Re: Debating about purchasing the DNS-323

#14 2008-10-12 23:47:01

Re: Debating about purchasing the DNS-323

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