1.  What can NetDISK be used for?   

2.  How is NetDISK different from NAS or SAN?   

NetDISK is a better alternative to NAS or SAN. NetDISK is much more cost-effective, efficient and easy to use. It is for users looking for lower costs and storage associated with backup / archiving. Although both NetDISK and NAS are storage devices that are implemented over a network, NetDISK takes up less space than NAS or SAN products.
NetDISK utilizes NDAS technology allowing it to connect the hard disk directly to a network without a server. In NAS, the hard disk must be connected to a storage server, which must also be connected to the network.

3.  For NDAS mode, do I need drivers installed on each computer using NetDISK? 

Yes, the drivers need to be loaded on each computer that wants access to NetDISK. However, if you are using Windows Sharing, only one computer will need the software installed (Computer must be on as a "Host" computer).
The other computers will not need it.

4.  Is the NetDISK compatible with 2TB hard disks?

The NetDISK 351 & 352 are basically compatible with all standard 3.5" SATA hard disks. The 251 series currently has a 500GB capacity limit.

The preferred choice would be Green IT series disks of different manufacturers. Samsung's EcoGreen series or Caviar Green disks from Western Digital excelled during testing thanks to their extremely quiet operation and low power consumption. High performance hard disks, especially ones which have high starting current consumption of over 2.5 Amp, are not recommended.

5.  What kind of network hardware do I need with NDAS? 

While the majority of network switches and routers are compatible with NDAS, there are a few known exceptions. NDAS has had trouble when using:

DLINK-713P, 714P
SMC-7004AWBR, SMC7000VWBR
Linksys WAG54G
Linksys WPC11 Version 4 card
2Wire Modems

In some cases firmware updates or protocol settings have been reported to allow NDAS traffic, but we do not offer support for such workarounds. Some 2Wire users can use NDAS by installing a normal switch on the LAN and using the 2Wire product only as a modem.

NDAS devices also will not work when connected to a network hub. The network hub does nothing to direct traffic on the lan. Devices connected by a hub, need programs installed to capture and filter the network packets. NDAS devices do not possess such operating system level functionality. So NDAS devices must connect to the LAN by a switch or router. Switches and routers are able to direct the NDAS traffic at the packet level.

6.  Can I use the Ethernet port at the same time as the USB and ESATA ports?

Unfortunately connecting to the NetDisk with different interfaces at the same time is not supported. Please use only one kind of connection at a time.

If you need to connect by USB or eSATA, perhpas for disk maintenance or to off-load data to your media player, you can simply unplug the Ethernet jack, then connect by one other interface. It would be good to notify the other computer users in case they are performing any kind of read write operations. This is true for most NDAS devices. If a Network computer and the direct connected computer try to write at the same time, data corruption will occur. This is because, when the NetDisk is mounted via network, each computer treats the disk as it's own drive. The NDAS connected computers can manage their comunnication, but the USB and eSATA ports only communicate with the host they are plugged into. This is by design, and it is like that to maximize the data transfer speed through each interface.

1.  I am having trouble using Multi-write over wireless/wired connection. What do you recommend?    

Try a wired connection for our 3.X drivers and compare how it works. If you are using wireless with other computers, we recommend enabling the hard-wired computer first, then the wireless computer.
Please make sure you are running the same NDAS software version on all computers.
When using wireless, we also recommend 802.11g. When using 802.11b, we highly recommend hardwiring your computer when doing large file transfers because of the low bandwidth associated with 802.11b.

2.  How should I format NetDISK?   

We recommend formatting NetDISK via NDAS (Ethernet) mode.
If using NetDISK as a USB device only, then it is OK to format via USB. It is also recommended that you format NetDISK to NTFS if using Windows 2000/XP. Our 3.X drivers are only supported on NTFS, while 2.X drivers support FAT32. You can sure Disk Management (Windows) or Disk Utility (MAC) to do the format.

3.  How do I disconnect NetDISK?   

We always recommend using the Dismount option from your NetDISK Administrator Tool if connected via NDAS(Ethernet). You can use the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon in your System Tray to stop the NetDISK before disconnecting (this applies to either USB or NDAS mode). Close all windows that may be accessing the NetDISK.

4.  When I try to write to NetDISK I get a "write protected" error and cannot write to the disk.

The permissions scheme may need to be reset. Try disabling the NDAS device on all machines first, then
re-enable them one by one. If that doesn't help, try rebooting the machines and power cycling NetDISK.

A.What drive types and limitations (e.g. capacity) apply to the drives supported by the NetDisk 352ND?
SATA hard drives, no capacity limit.

B.Simply plug two internal drives (SATA) purchased separately into the 352ND.
One or two hard drives.

C.Can the 352ND operate with only one drive installed in it?
yes

D.Is the 352ND limited to always mirrored (RAID1?), i.e. no option to use span the two drives within it?
Can be mirrored, aggregated or used as 2 separate drives.

E.Can a notebook connect wirelessly to the NDAS drive, as long as the NDAS software has been installed on the notebook?
Yes, wireless conditions will apply (such as stability of your wireless connection).

F.Can a new 352ND be added via Ethernet connection to an existing network that already includes an older Ximeta NDAS drive connected via Ethernet?
yes

G.Is the 352ND1000 a 352ND that includes two 500GB drives pre-installed?
As it says in the "Features" it can be either 2-500GB or 1-1TB hard drive, you must place a note selecting which you want.

5.  Can I set the "My Documents" folder to point to my NetDISK instead of a place on my local hard drive?   

We do not recommend doing this, as your computer will be dependent on this location during software installation and uninstallation. You may receive Windows Error Messages looking for a non-existing location.

6.  My computer is moving very slowly when my NetDISK is enabled, and the ACT light
.... on my NetDISK is solid yellow. What is going on?   

This is a result of a bad connection between the computer and the NDAS device. Please make sure that you are using only network switches and routers, and that you are not using any network hubs. Also, if you have any software firewalls installed on your computer (i.e. Norton Internet Security, McAfee Personal Firewall, etc.), make sure to add ndasmgmt.exe and ndassvc.exe into their list of programs to Allow with full access. You can also try disabling your Antivirus software to see if that makes a difference. Please also try power cycling your NetDISK and switch as well.

7.  Sometimes when I transfer files to my NetDISK, why is the speed so slow?   

Try updating your Network Card's drivers to the latest from the manufacturer. If you network card has the option of changing the transmit and receive buffers to both 128 (in the card's properties in device manager), please try doing that. If you have an nForce chipset, try updating your Nvidia nForce drivers to the latest Unified Drivers from Nvidia's website. Please also make sure that you are using 100mb switch as well.

8.  I've installed my NetDISK and it shows up as a Black Dot.

Note: If you are using NetDISK via USB, then no software installation is required, therefore, please ignore the Black Dot. Please check to make sure of the following:

- A. You are using the latest version of our software which can be found at  www.iocellnetworks.com

- B. Power cable is plugged in tightly, and NDAS device hard drive is spinning.

- C. There is a link light on the switch port where it is connected by Ethernet

- D. Please make sure that any firewall/antivirus software is disabled before installing.
..The latest versions of antivirus software have a new feature called script blocking.
..Please also ensure that this feature is disabled before continuing

- E. You might also need to enable our protocol and programs to run in your Antivirus/Firewall
..program as well.

- F. Even after you have done these things, it is still possible that the firewall/antivirus software is
..blocking access. For troubleshooting purposes, if it still does not work, please try uninstalling the
..firewall/antivirus software, reboot, then reinstall our software to see if it works.
..If it works, then you can go ahead and reinstall the antivirus/firewall software.

- G. If using Wireless, then please make sure that you are connected to the wireless router and that
.. your signal is good. Try going to your wireless router's website and check for the latest firmware and
.. also check for the latest drivers for your wireless card as well.

- H. Try plugging in via wired connection and see if it works that way.

- I. Power-cycle your switch/router.

- J. If you are using VPN software, please try unchecking the box for Deterministic Network Enhancer
. or any other VPN protocol in your NIC Properties.

- K. Check to see if you have any Spyware installed.

- L. Make sure that your network adapter and router is compatible with the NDAS connection.
.. The NDAS connection uses a "layer 2" type protocol.

- M. For further help, please contact  support@iocellnetworks.com

9.  When registering the NetDISK on my computer, why does the "Next" button stay gray?   

You may not have entered all the alpha-numeric values correctly. There are no letter "O"s; please verify that you have used the number "0" (zero) for anything resembling an "O." Also please check your other letters as well two V's may look like a W. Start by entering only the NetDISK ID. The ADD button should not be grayed out if the correct ID is entered.

Once it is not grayed out, proceed to add the Write Key as well. Please also make sure that there are 20 characters for the NetDISK ID, not including the Write Key.

10.  Using Windows file sharing function, after reboot, share gets lost. Is there any work around?   

Create a batch file and place it in your startup folder. To create batch file:

- Open up notepad - type in "net share sharename=DriveLetter:path"
.. (For example net share NDAS device =F:)

- Save the file as a .bat extension. For example, the file name would be called "NDAS.bat".