ZyXEL NSA220 Review (Nas & Media Streamer).

[pepsi]

First off, I bought the NSA220 to compliment my DLink DNS313, this NSA220 blows it away (hopefully DLink will update 313 firmware soon).

First off, update the firmware, download this from the US site as the UK site doesn't have it!! (2.10 was the latest at time of writing). Updated firmware gives an iTunes, Web, RSA server (FTP already built-in) and a BitTorrent client which is really, really handy and works great which if like myself you don't want to leave a power hungry PC downloading stuff all the time.

My primary use ifor the NSA220 is as a media server, serving stuff to a Showcenter200 and a Snazio 1350 (both via a wired network), it does this great and comes out of the box ready to do so. I configured for my own settings to set up different folder names for different media, etc. All was really easy to do. The media server up-dates as soon as media is copied to it, my Dlink needed to be updated via the web interface everytime new media was added, not a prob. but just didn't seem that well thought out. My PC based media servering software didn't need this either!

The NSA200 does DHCP but I configured for fixed IP which it did no probs.

The Web, FTP and RSA server are included but I've switched off cos I won't use but could be handy for a house > work person that needs files.

All round a great piece of kit that just works and is simple to set-up and maintain. There is little noise from the device and it looks cool being all white (glossy) with a nice blue power button.

I've not played with any of the back-up features yet as I'm not gonna use these but for a Media Server that is stand-alone and can serve to any DLNA device it's great plus I'll now use the BitTorrent client on it aswell.

[lbphillips]

on your recomendation I have just ordered one of these (no pressure though ) and a couple of samsung 500gb drives. Going to be running it in RAID 1 mode.

Please let me know if you come across any issues...

[pepsi]

lbphillips, no issue's so far, everything works fine. I to have just got 2 x 500gig Samsung drives as I only used 40gig to test. Just make sure you get the latest firmware. I tested the torrent clietn last night and it worked a treat, I setup 9 torrents, went out and came back 2 hopurs later and all we're downloaded.

[lbphillips]

pepsi,

Thanks for the update. Should arrive Monday, so I will keep you posted on my progress.

Since ordering I have read some dodgy reports about data corrupting when using raid. I hope this is fixed in the new firmware. I also saw the the US firmaware appears to be a lot more advanced than the one available from the UK site.

lb

[pepsi]

lb,

As for "data corrupting when using raid", nothing so far. I popped in a Pair of matched 500gig drives on and built a Raid 0 array in 5mins. I'm still running my DNS313 so I keep a copy of all my stuff. I'm gonna run for a month to see what happens before I decide to ditch the 313 and get another 220 (cos it does look nice).

For note, I also tried a Buffalo Terrastation Live a few weeks back, was pants, the same basic media server software as teh DNS313 with Raid5 for £500..! was huge, made a hell of a noise and used electricity like it was a fully blown Super Computer.

[lbphillips]

All set up and seems to be working fine.

turned off most of the services I did not want ( all but media really).

So far really impressed.

Only concern though is transfer rates. I don't know whether it is a problem with vista or my machine, but only getting between 4-6meg transfer rate when dumping stuff to the drive. This is in a raid configuration.

[pepsi]

Glad your happy.

I get the same transfer rates, I take it your going through a 100mb switch? I'm getting a 1gig switch to link all my non-direct internet devices to with a single uplink to my Gateway switch, this should help improve overall uploading (dumping) of content onto 220.

Apart from that is everything okay. I can't get the iTunes server to appear on iTunes, my 323 has one but thats stopped appearing now aswell, it's not importatn but handy to know why. I also got the 220 picking up by my Pinnacle Soundbridge no probs so audio streaming works fine aswell which my 323 had issue's with (worked but was content fussy).

I also like the fact that you can power-off the 220 via a web browser if required.

Have you tried the Torrent downloaded yet?

[iwf]

Hi guys

How you getting on with the NSA-220?

While surfing for NAS devices I came across the Zyxel device. Seeing a link to this dear forum I was wondering how things were going with it.

regards


iwf

[pepsi]

re: NSA-220?

I'm getting on great with it. After a month of using I have switched of my Dlink 323 as the NSA-220 is just better in overall operation. I'm actually gonna buy another NSA-220 to act as a backup storage system.

[lbphillips]

not too bad here as well.

The only problem is speed, but from what I read this effects most NAS RAID drives.

Copying stuff to and from the drive can take a while, but I don't mind becasue of the peace of mind.

One other thing that niggles slightly is spin up time. The drive go to sleep after inactivity, so when you browes the network it can take a while for the device to register.

Of course some of my problems could be to do with Vista's known network copying issues.

My original 'special' Xbox can see the device and I can play media off it.

My 360 does not see the device but I have not really investigated this.

My PS3 sees the device and allows media to be streamed. However the directory sorting is all out of whack. Don't know which end this problem is at though.

[indothai]

Hi Everyone, I'm first time poster here.

Does anyone know the bittorent ports that it (nsa-220) uses? And is there any way of changing those ports?

[fingery]

Originally Posted by indothai

Hi Everyone, I'm first time poster here.

Does anyone know the bittorent ports that it (nsa-220) uses? And is there any way of changing those ports?

You need to forward tcp/9090 to the NSA220. No you can't change the port.

I hope they address this in coming firmware along with the ability to change the port the web interface uses

[iwf]

thanks guys for the update.

I ordered one of fri only for Dabs to screw up the next day delivery.

spin up time could be an issue but hey at £150 for a NAS its worth the gamble

thanks again


iwf

[indothai]

Fingery, thanks for the info.

Anyone know if there are any mods or hacks for the NSA-220?

[mthatt]

I agree that this NSA contains some very nice features, BUT i bought if for one reason:

Media Server to my Xbox360 as client!

And as lbphillips i can't get it to work.

I've tried every thing but nothing works.

I have also been i contact with Zyxcel support in denmark, and they tould me it should work fine and that they had af Xbox360 running as a media client on af NSA220 at their office!!

I've tried all firmware I can get my hands on, but no luck.

Can anyone out there help me or have anyone out there the same problems?