LinkStation 710

Works great for the Time Machine backups on Mac Tahoe 26.2. Easy to setup by following their quick start guide and downloading the software. I had to do two firmware updates before using it; took about 30 minutes. Downloaded the owners manual and it easily walked me through setting up the Time Machine backup. First backup takes a few hours. Accessing the drive via Finder is easy and drive is very fast. I've got it plugged into my Xfinity cable modem with the supplied cable. The drive offers more than I need. I'm not doing the web access or iPhone connection. Noisy when doing the backup. Fits nicely on the desk. Hope it will have a long life like my Mac AirPorts. Going to run both the Buffalo and AirPorts for a bit to make sure all is well and until Mac stops supporting the AirPorts.

I gave this a chance because the price was so much better than the Synology NAS since disks were included. I have been trying to get network-attached storage set up so that I can have a location for my Time Machine backups. What I do like about it: - Disks are included which theoretically make things easier (and cheaper) - It has two drive bays and RAID 1 is automatically enabled, which is probably what most people want. - It also has some utilities for working with RAID including RAID scanning. - It has clear instructions for how to turn it on/off without damaging the disks. - The box itself is stylish and not overly large Setup was a bit worse. The Quick Start guide is sort of like an IKEA instruction booklet - not the greatest but you can figure out what they want you to do. However the user interface was otherwise a little confusing, for example they have two separate iPhone apps in addition to the laptop app, the download page is a bit clunky, there aren't any downloads for recent Mac versions (you have to go with a several-year-old Mac version), etc. On the whole the software was not confidence-inspiring. But whatever, that didn't bother me too much - I just wanted to get Time Machine setup. As long as that works, I don't care about the rest. So I followed the instructions and it seemed like it was working. But then it just cut out and stopped. This happened several times. From Googling I got the idea to ping the NAS to see if it was connected, and sure enough, the problem seems to be that the NAS and the laptop can only connect intermittently. From the record of my pings, I can see that they are connected 5-10% of the time, and disconnected the rest. That's not a great ratio. The NAS is connected to my WiFi router by Ethernet. My laptop, WiFi router, and NAS are all in the same room. I purchased my WiFi router 2-3 years ago. During the time when my laptop cannot connect to the NAS, I can still browse web pages. That's particularly confusing because it means that there's no problem with my laptop's connection to the WiFi router, and the router and NAS are connected by Ethernet. I'm not sure what I'm missing. Unfortunately this seems to be a common problem with NAS routers, and I don't really know the solution. My old Apollo had a similar problem I think. However, I think that Buffalo should provide troubleshooting instructions for attempting to address these problems. If they can't fix this problem, I think they should just stop selling their product.

The NAS just arrived a little bit ago. I found the quick setup guide to be very easy to follow mostly because all the steps are so simple. If you need more detailed instructions, the full manual is available for download. I'd say it took me about 5 minutes to hook it up to the network, turn it on, download the software, install it on my PC, and have it up and running. It took me about 10 more minutes to read about setting up folders and set up what I wanted. It was so simple I probably could have skipped the instructions. Then it took me about 15 minutes to set up the DLNA server, which I am completely new to, and have it running on my Roku TV with the Roku Media Player. So far it seems to be working flawlessly, ofcourse we will have to see if that lasts. Pros: 1) Extremely cheap when you consider it comes with two 2TB hard drives installed. 2) Super easy setup 3) Super easy and very simple web interface 4) Have it working on multiple computers and my DLNA Roku very quickly 5) EULA was super short and simple unlike some other NAS companies that I saw have EULAs requiring that you allow them the right to audit your use of the device, access your site, see your books, etc. Are you kidding me? 6) Has a USB connection for an external drive which I think will come in handy Cons 1) Maybe lacking in utilities compared to some other companies. I just wanted very basic functionality so I'm actually happy without all the extras. 2) Speeds copying data over the network to the drive so far have been about 17 MB/s for one computer and combined 24 MB/s when copying from two computers at once. I don't know how much of that is the device and how much is the other drives I'm copying from. But, it does seem a little on the slow side to me.

Device works well, and support is quite responsive. I am on my third - a 220, and two 720's. They work great for data storage. And when the DLNA feature works, it makes it easy to stream media within your house. But that is broken. Would have given 5 stars, but DLNA server has been broken since the December update, and this is March. I have tried their test firmware update, and it works fine. Installed it a month ago, on my OLDER 720 DLNA is an advertised feature for the home versions (NOT SOHO). If you are a home user, you want that version, as it lets you store media and play it in your house on devices like ROKU, phones, tablets, etc. I will state this is a great network storage device, and its backup feature means you can back up the data, too, without going over the network (attach a POWERED usb external drive) But I also use the DLNA feature to stream to our two ROKU devices and tablets.

The BUFFALO LinkStation 710 8TB 1-Bay NAS Network Attached Storage is a reliable and efficient solution for individuals and small businesses seeking centralized storage and easy access to their digital content. As someone who values simplicity, reliability, and versatility in data management solutions, I find this NAS to be an excellent choice for streamlining storage and enhancing productivity. First and foremost, the storage capacity of the LinkStation 710 is impressive, offering 8TB of storage space for housing large volumes of files, documents, media, and more. Whether used for personal use or small business applications, this NAS provides ample room for storing and organizing digital content, making it easy to access and share files across multiple devices and platforms. Additionally, the performance of the LinkStation 710 is commendable, thanks to its powerful hardware and efficient software management. The dual-core processor ensures smooth and responsive operation, while the built-in DDR3 memory enhances data transfer speeds and multitasking capabilities. Whether streaming multimedia content, backing up files, or accessing data remotely, this NAS delivers consistent performance with minimal latency. One of the standout features of the LinkStation 710 is its user-friendly interface and intuitive setup process. The web-based administration interface allows for easy configuration and management of the NAS, making it accessible to users of all skill levels. With features like automatic data backup, RAID support, and remote access via mobile apps, BUFFALO has designed a NAS that meets the needs of both novice and experienced users alike. Furthermore, I appreciate the versatility and connectivity options offered by the LinkStation 710. With multiple USB ports and a built-in Gigabit Ethernet port, users can easily expand storage capacity, connect peripherals, and share data with other devices on the network. The ability to integrate with cloud storage services further enhances flexibility and accessibility, allowing users to seamlessly sync and backup data across multiple platforms. In terms of reliability, the LinkStation 710 excels with its robust build quality and data protection features. The durable chassis and fan-less design ensure quiet operation and long-term reliability, while features like RAID support and automatic backup provide peace of mind against data loss. With BUFFALO's reputation for quality and durability, users can trust the LinkStation 710 to safeguard their valuable digital assets. Overall, I am highly satisfied with the BUFFALO LinkStation 710 8TB NAS Network Attached Storage. Its ample storage capacity, performance, user-friendly interface, versatility, and reliability make it an excellent choice for individuals and small businesses seeking a streamlined and efficient solution for data management. Pros: Ample 8TB storage capacity for housing large volumes of digital content Powerful hardware and efficient software management for consistent performance User-friendly interface and intuitive setup process for easy configuration and management Versatile connectivity options including USB ports and Gigabit Ethernet Robust build quality and data protection features for long-term reliability Cons: May require some initial setup and configuration for optimal performance Higher price point compared to basic external hard drives, but worth the investment for the features and capabilities offered

The installation is fairly simple, and the Ikea-like Quick Setup Guide is quite adequate for making the initial setup easy. The problem I encountered was using the software to configure the unit. It failed to find the unit but gave no errors or clues about what might be wrong. The claim was that the support is great so I thought it would be moderately easy to get an answer. I was wrong. I found the support page on their website but the only telephone option was to call sales. The victim must enter the serial number of the unit which is not all that easy to find. I entered my number and was directed to enter a message to support. I received no acknowledgement that my support query had been accepted so I kept searching on the interweb for possible reasons for my unit not being detected and found that it had to be on the same subnet. After rearranging my network, I was able to configure the unit but then could not create the shares with various issues. I found an article about having to create Windows credentials and that got me closer but still no joy. I had registered my unit as a first step. As I was trying to research the issue, I received an email telling me that my warranty had been accepted. I went back to their support page and, this time, after entering my serial number I was given a support telephone number to call. The support person was helpful and knowledgeable. He corrected the settings being still set to being DISABLED which he indicated were the default. I still have a hard time believing that the unit comes with the shares being disabled but it works, now. Buffalo needs to improve the software side of the installation and give their victims hints and guidance about what may be causing issues. I have installed the backup software, but it seems rather lame and ineffective. Hopefully, it is better than it appears on first blush.

I've been doing HD backups for my personal use and home office for 30 years. Since 2020, I've been using Buffalo LinkStations. One criterion that I used in selecting Buffalo is that it can simultaneously support both Mac (TimeMachine) and Windows (simple drive mount + copy) backups to different partitions. It does this, reliably. Workhorse backup is over WiFi, and it's slow but usually dependable. I've had a number of these drives over the years - mean time to failure has always exceeded the warranty so far. Note to casual users from someone who's been in The Business: Do not use one backup drive. The time you find out it's not working is the time you need it. I have 2-3 and swap them out every month or so. Keep one in another location if you can. NEVER EVER EVER use a backup drive as your sole repository for anything important. I also use cloud backup as an alternative just in case (i.e. a home fire, burglary), but restoration of terabytes from cloud would be extremely slow. ALL drives fail so don't let that hurt you. Quirks: Buffalo is a Japanese company. I used to work in software for a major Japanese company, and Japanese software design is, well, um.... DIFFERENT. Let's just say non-intuitive. That said, once you figure it out Buffalo's software is actually really good. In fact the best I have dealt with. Software from other manufactures is sometimes totally clueless as to what their users need or even downright hostile. Also the documentation... good luck with that. Think of it as a puzzle you are solving for a prize. I just ordered two more and thought it was about time I did a review.

I am another victim of Buffalo's outdated technology and I WANT MY MONEY BACK!!!! It would be the least thing they could do since I have to pay for my own data recovery thanks to deceptive marketing. I am extremely disappointed with my LinkStation 710 8TB. I purchased it on June 12th, 2021. I called customer service the day I received the drive. I knew something was not right with it since the device made clicking sounds every so often, but I was reassured that there was NOTHING wrong with the drive. The customer service guys kept saying "It was the new hard drive spinning up and it will settle in the case after a while" or "it is just the fan keeping the drive cool. You have nothing to worry about. The S.M.A.R.T. technology will notify you if there is a problem with the drive." I purchased this LinkStation because I was worried about the life of my current backup system and I was running out of space. I have a GoFlex drive that is more than 10 years old and I thought I would upgrade the system for a better piece of mind. Boy was I wrong. My LinkStation just completely stopped working one night in the middle of a transfer. THE DRIVE WAS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OLD. On Dec 6th, 2021, I had to ship the broken product to a data recovery company. I thought I had nothing to worry about since my product had a 3 year warranty. I should have checked the fine print. The warranty only covers the drive itself. I was fooled by the FREE DATA RECOVERY evaluation sticker on the product. Deceptive advertising on the product. What really ticks me off the most is the fact that Buffalo did not cover the recovery cost since it was directly due to the failure of their product. They handed me off to an independent data recovery center and I have not heard from them since. How is that for customer service? I feel they have misled me from day one and I want my money back. It is the least they can do to offset the cost of me trusting them with my precious memories and important personal data. The LinkStation was equipped with S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) to monitor the internal drives and detect and report various indicators of reliability and to anticipate drive failure. I guess that never worked. How can I continue to place my trust in a device that cannot perform as expected? It has been one thing or another leading up to the device shutting down completely. The technology was old and outdated. Buffalo did not even respect their customers enough to update the user manuals for their devices. It is a shame that my GoFlex home (purchased in 2010) has OUTPERFORMED and OUTLASTED the LinkStation purchased on June 12th. I have uploaded a picture of them side by side. The item with the green light is the drive that is still running (hint: IT is NOT the BUFFALO LinkStation). DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT. DO NOT THROW GOOD MONEY AT AN INFERIOR PRODUCT.