Vantec NexStarLX
Last week, I picked up the new NexStarLX (NST-375LX) from Vantec USA. Vantec is known for producing high quality USB hard drive enclosures. The NexStarLX adds an ethernet port in addition to the USB 2.0 port, providing a cheap NAS solution for home users.
I combined the NexStarLX ($70 from NewEgg) with a 400GB Seagate Barracuda ATA100 7200RPM on special for $99 from Outpost.com. $169 for 400GB of NAS looked like a great deal. But looks can be deceiving.
As a NAS device, the NexStarLX sucks. It comes with essentially no security. During the setup, you can assign user names/passwords to directories, but the device never authenticates you when you access it. For a home user, this might not be a big deal, unless you want to prevent your kid from accidentally deleting your critical backups! Second, the device comes hard coded with the IP address 169.254.0.1. The only way to change this is to connect to it over your network. A cross-over cable comes in handy. When you login, the device will say it has DHCP client enabled, but the IP won’t change. If you want the NAS to use DHCP, you need to assign it a static IP on your network, reconnect to it, and then re-enable DHCP. Not a big deal, but definitely an annoyance.
Where the NexStarLX really falls down is its NAS abilities. I decided to use Microsoft’s incredibly handy SyncToy to back up about 200GB worth of photos, MP3s, and office documents from my main PC to the NexStarLX. SyncToy performs a bi-directional synchronization and is useful if you have multiple computers and want to make sure you are working on the latest version of your docs. The NexStarLX locked up repeatedly during my syncs, and I had to power cycle the device before I could reconnect.
To make sure it wasn’t SyncToy, I tried some normal file copies from Explorer. The NexStarLX just can’t handle large volumes of file transfers over the network. To make matters worse, I also locked up the device when copying from 2 different PCs at the same time, even though I was copying to different directories. Not good for a NAS device. I hooked the NexStarLX up to my USB 2.0 port and everything went fine. It is just the NAS buffer that seems to have a problem. Vantec may fix this with a firmware update in the future, but until they do, I cannot recommend this product.
I also have an old Buffalo Linkstation HD-120 which works flawlessly. NewEgg has the new 500GB version on sale for $345, which is twice what I spent on the NexStarLX, but is a much better solution. Vantec should stick to USB enclosures for now.
PJ said,
September 28, 2006
I had similar problems with the SimpleShare from SimpleTech. I finally returned it as it was not dependable what so ever.
Jerry said,
September 29, 2006
I used the aforementioned Silex device connected to a Seagate USB/Firewire drive. It’s a single user solution, but it works!
edgeblog » Jerry starts Gadget Workshop said,
October 1, 2006
[...] EdgeBack’s consultants rarely sit still for long. Because he aparently has too much free time, Jerry Gilreath just launched his new site dedicated to “the gadgets we own, the gadgets we want, and the gadgets that are kinda cool… and some neat things to do with them.” Jerry claims the site is like MAKE meets engadget. I say it is just plain cool. Look for future posts here in the security section and at Gadget Workshop on the security threats many of these “gadgets” represent. I posted a short review of the Vantec NexStarLX NAS enclosure. My next project will involve creative ways to exploit U3 software found on many USB flash drives including SanDisk to gain control of target PCs. -Bill Permalink [...]