Buffalo network-attached storage series

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Buffalo network-attached storage series
TeraStation 6000.png
Buffalo TeraStation
Manufacturer Melco
Type Network-attached storage
Operating system Linux, Windows Storage Server
CPU PowerPC, MIPSel, ARM
Connectivity 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T
Website https://www.buffalotech.com/

The Buffalo TeraStation network-attached storage series are network-attached storage devices.

Contents

The current lineup includes the LinkStation and TeraStation series. [1] These devices have undergone various improvements since they were first produced, and have expanded to include a Windows Storage Server-based operating system. [2]

History

Buffalo released the first TeraStation model, the HD-HTGL/R5, in December 2004. The second generation models, the TS-TGL/R5, was released the following year with uninterrupted operation and improved operational stability. This was followed up with the TeraStation Pro and the TeraStation Pro II in 2006, which offered iSCSI support, as well as 2U rackmount models. in 2008, the fourth generation TS-X models were released with hot swapping and replication, along with IU rackmount versions.

TeraStation

TeraStation 6400RN 4-Bay Rackmount TS6400RN front top.png
TeraStation 6400RN 4-Bay Rackmount
TeraStation 51210RN 12-Bay Rackmount TS51210RN.jpg
TeraStation 51210RN 12-Bay Rackmount

The TeraStation is a network-attached storage device using a PowerPC or ARM architecture processor. Many TeraStation models are shipped with enterprise-grade internal hard drives mounted in a RAID array. Since January 2012, the TeraStation uses LIO for its iSCSI target.

TeraStation Models
SeriesFeaturesCPURAMForm Factor
TeraStation 5020 WSS Hot-swappable drives, integration with third party cloud providers, data replication, rsync integration, duplex firmware; WSS models includes Windows Storage Server 2016 operating systemIntel Atom C33388GB DDR4 with ECC2-, 4-, or 6-bay desktop and 4-bay rackmount
TeraStation 3010 Series Hot-swappable drives, integration with third party cloud providers, data replication, rsync integration, iSCSI target support, duplex firmwareAnnapurna Labs AL-212 Dual-Core 1.4 GHz1 GB DDR32- or 4-bay desktop and 4-bay rackmount
TeraStation 5010 Series 10 GbE networking, hot-swappable NAS-grade drives, integration with third party cloud providers, data replication, rsync integration, iSCSI target support, duplex firmwareAnnapurna Labs AL-314 Quad-Core 1.7 GHz4 GB DDR3 with ECC, 8 GB DDR3 with ECC (12-bay rackmount)2-, 4-, or 8-bay desktop and 4- or 12-bay rackmount
TeraStation 6000 Series 10 GbE networking, hot-swappable NAS-grade drives, snapshots, integration with third party cloud providers, data replication, rsync integration, iSCSI target support, duplex firmwareIntel Atom C35388 GB DDR4 with ECC 4-bay desktop and 4-bay rackmount

LinkStation

The LinkStation is a network-attached storage device using a PowerPC or ARM architecture processor designed for personal use, aiming to serve as a central media hub and backup storage for a household. Compared to the TeraStation series, LinkStation devices typically offer more streamlined UI and media server features.

LinkStation SoHo LSSOHO.jpg
LinkStation SoHo
LinkStation Models
SeriesFeaturesCPURAMForm Factor
LinkStation 200 SeriesLow-cost NAS device designed for home media backup and streaming with features such as DLNA support and direct copyMarvell Armada 370 800 MHz dual issue ARM256 MB DDR32-bay desktop
LinkStation 500 SeriesDesigned for home office users, with more robust backup and streaming featuresRealtek RTD1195N 1.1 GHz Dual-Core256 MB DDR32-bay desktop
LinkStation SoHoDesigned to be an entry-level home office device with data storage and backup capabilities, direct copy, UPS sync,Marvell Armada 370 800 MHz dual issue ARM256 MB DDR32-bay desktop

Current Product Lineup

LinkStation

TeraStation 6400DN Desktop TS6400DN Front View.png
TeraStation 6400DN Desktop

The LinkStation is notable among the Linux community both in Japan [3] and in the US/Europe [4] [5] for being "hackable" into a generic Linux appliance and made to do tasks other than the file storage and sharing tasks for which it was designed. As the device runs on Linux, and included changes to the Linux source code, Buffalo was required to release their modified versions of source code as per the terms of the GNU General Public License. Due to the availability of source code and the relatively low cost of the device, there are several community projects centered around it. There are two main replacement firmware releases available for the device: the first is OpenLink [6] which is based on the official Buffalo firmware with some modifications and features added. The other is FreeLink, [7] which is a Debian distribution.

TeraStation

Like the LinkStation, TeraStation devices run its own version of Linux, and some models run Windows Storage Server 2016. Debian and Gentoo Linux distributions and NetBSD are reported to have been ported to it. [8]

Operation

The device in various iterations ships with its own Universal Plug and Play protocol for distribution of multimedia stored on the device. It can also be configured as a variety of different media servers [9] TwonkyVision Media server, [10] a SlimServer/SqueezeCenter server, an iTunes server using the Digital Audio Access Protocol, [11] a Samba server, an LIO iSCSI target, MLDonkey client, as well as a Network File System server for Posix-based systems. For use as a backup server, it can be modified to use Rsync to back up or synchronize data from one or many computers in the network pushing their data, or even having the LinkStation pulling the data from remote serversbeside the use of the Buffalo-provided backup software for Windows. It has also found use in a number of other ways, notably through its USB interface which comes configured as a Print server but can also use the Common Unix Printing System to act as such for a USB Printer. Users have managed to get it to use a number of other USB devices [12] with the version 2.6 Linux kernel's [13] enhanced USB support. Additionally, because the Apache HTTP Server software is already installed for the purpose of providing the Buffalo configuration screens, the device is easily converted to be a lightweight web server (with the Buffalo content deleted) that can then serve any content of the operator's choice.

Achievements

The LinkStation and TeraStation NAS devices have won various industry awards since their introduction, such as the TS51210RH winning Storage Product of the Year for the 2018 Network Computing Awards. The TeraStation has also won the SMB External Storage Hardware category of the CRN® Annual Report Card (ARC) awards, which recognizes exceptional vendor performance, for three years in a row.

See also

Related Research Articles

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Network-attached storage Computer data storage server

Network-attached storage (NAS) is a file-level computer data storage server connected to a computer network providing data access to a heterogeneous group of clients. The term "NAS" can refer to both the technology and systems involved, or a specialized device built for such functionality.

Disk enclosure Specialized casing

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USB mass storage device class

The USB mass storage device class is a set of computing communications protocols, specifically a USB Device Class, defined by the USB Implementers Forum that makes a USB device accessible to a host computing device and enables file transfers between the host and the USB device. To a host, the USB device acts as an external hard drive; the protocol set interfaces with a number of storage devices.

QEMU Free virtualization and emulation software

QEMU is a free and open-source emulator. It emulates the machine's processor through dynamic binary translation and provides a set of different hardware and device models for the machine, enabling it to run a variety of guest operating systems. It can interoperate with Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) to run virtual machines at near-native speed. QEMU can also do emulation for user-level processes, allowing applications compiled for one architecture to run on another.

sysfs is a pseudo file system provided by the Linux kernel that exports information about various kernel subsystems, hardware devices, and associated device drivers from the kernel's device model to user space through virtual files. In addition to providing information about various devices and kernel subsystems, exported virtual files are also used for their configuration.

Direct-attached storage

Direct-attached storage (DAS) is digital storage directly attached to the computer accessing it, as opposed to storage accessed over a computer network. DAS consists of one or more storage units such as hard drives, solid-state drives, optical disc drives within an external enclosure. The term "DAS" is a retronym to contrast with storage area network (SAN) and network-attached storage (NAS).

The NSLU2 is a network-attached storage (NAS) device made by Linksys introduced in 2004 and discontinued in 2008. It makes USB flash memory and hard disks accessible over a network using the SMB protocol. It was superseded mainly by the NAS200 and in another sense by the WRT600N and WRT300N/350N which both combine a Wi-Fi router with a storage link.

Western Digital My Book

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TrueNAS is the branding for a range of free and open-source network-attached storage (NAS) operating systems produced by iXsystems, and based on FreeBSD and Linux, using the OpenZFS file system. It is licensed under the terms of the BSD License and runs on commodity x86-64 hardware.

IBM storage Product portfolio of IBM

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Melco Holdings Inc. is a family business founded by Makoto Maki in 1975 and is located in Japan. The company's most recognizable brand is Buffalo Inc.

Network block device

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Storage area network Network which provides access to consolidated, block-level data storage

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SheevaPlug

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Thecus

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LIO (SCSI target) Open-source version of SCSI target

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OpenMediaVault NAS operating system

OpenMediaVault (OMV) is a free Linux distribution designed for network-attached storage (NAS). The project's lead developer is Volker Theile, who instituted it in 2009. OMV is based on the Debian operating system, and is licensed through the GNU General Public License v3.

StarWind Software American computer storage company

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XigmaNAS Software

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References

  1. "Home | Buffalo Americas". www.buffalotech.com. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
  2. "LS Hardware and Software information - NAS-Central Buffalo - The Linkstation Wiki". Buffalo.nas-central.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-02-26.
  3. "キャバクラお金事情". Type-g.com. Retrieved 2015-02-26.
  4. "NAS-Central Buffalo - The Linkstation Wiki". Buffalo.nas-central.org. Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2015-02-26.
  5. "Yahoo! Groups". Groups.yahoo.com. 2004-09-21. Retrieved 2015-02-26.
  6. "Category:OpenLink - NAS-Central Buffalo - The Linkstation Wiki". Buffalo.nas-central.org. 2006-08-14. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2015-02-26.
  7. "Category:FreeLink - NAS-Central Buffalo - The Linkstation Wiki". Buffalo.nas-central.org. 2006-08-14. Archived from the original on 2015-01-22. Retrieved 2015-02-26.
  8. "Terastation.org". Terastation.org. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  9. "Category:Mediaserver - NAS-Central Buffalo - The Linkstation Wiki". Buffalo.nas-central.org. 2006-08-06. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-02-26.
  10. "twonkyvision.de". Twonkyvision.de. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  11. "Alan's KuroBox Stuff". homepage.mac.com. Archived from the original on 10 December 2004. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  12. "Category:USB". Buffalo.nas-central.org. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  13. "Category:Kernel". Buffalo.nas-central.org. Archived from the original on 18 October 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.