Promise SMARTSTOR NS4300N

[dcistq]

Yep, just got my email, but the RMA Form on promises website is hosed. I tried to use my pre-existing registration and Advance Replacement option, and got stuck on the RMA Shipping location field with a VBA error. I'm sure Billy will get it straightened out.

--doug

[PromiseNasDude]

Originally Posted by dcistq

Yep, just got my email, but the RMA Form on promises website is hosed. I tried to use my pre-existing registration and Advance Replacement option, and got stuck on the RMA Shipping location field with a VBA error. I'm sure Billy will get it straightened out.

--doug

Hi Guys, I just investigated the matter and it appears the issue is due to having an incomplete profile. When you create a profile make sure to choose a location and also fill out the address information completely. Incomplete address information will cause the VBA Error..

If issues persist, let me know.

Thanks.

[dcistq]

Billy once again comes in with prompt and accurate info and saves the day! Thanks!

Note to those filling out RMA's for advanced replacement...JIC you don't notice, the Credit Card info is not on a https/ssl secure page. I'd not fill in my C.C. info and put a note in to have them call you for it.

--d

[PromiseNasDude]

Originally Posted by dcistq

Billy once again comes in with prompt and accurate info and saves the day! Thanks!

Note to those filling out RMA's for advanced replacement...JIC you don't notice, the Credit Card info is not on a https/ssl secure page. I'd not fill in my C.C. info and put a note in to have them call you for it.

--d

Yes, not secure but will change in the future.. Most customers ask for call to provide CC info (as dcistq mentioned)..

[PromiseNasDude]

My BAD, turns out I provided the non-secure URL for support.promise.com. The secure URL is https://support.promise.com. We will have the non-secure version disabled.

[PromiseNasDude]

Ok guys, you perfer the NS4600 info in this thread or a new thread?

[BuckoNZ]

** New DLNA plugin, still not available from Promise website **

[Brucio]

Originally Posted by PromiseNasDude

Ok guys, you perfer the NS4600 info in this thread or a new thread?

My vote- here is good; keep this the Promise NAS thread for now.

[PromiseNasDude]

Originally Posted by BuckoNZ

** New DLNA plugin, still not available from Promise website **

Will be up by Sunday night. The version has no testing behind it (which I need to perform - PS3 is not the only DMP) and posting ALPHA versions (because EUT, EVT and DVT has not been performed) can sometimes be problematic which is why I asked to team not to provide out to customers directly but through official channels only. A true BETA has been through EUT and EVT.

Thanks..

[PromiseNasDude]

Originally Posted by brucio

my vote- here is good; keep this the promise nas thread for now.

ok..

[PromiseNasDude]

NS4600 Features

-Brand New Aesthetic Design
-NO Power Supply Fan
-Blue LEDs (2 per drive – one for power/status and one for drive activity).
-New and improved Smart Fan Control (NS4600 will be one of the quietest NAS products on the market)

-600 MHZ Intel Tolapi SoC
-256MB DD2 Memory
-Gigabit Interface
-2 USB 2.0 Ports for External Device Connectivity
-1 eSATA Port for External Device Connectivity

-Performance - Average Write Performance is 30 MB/s to 40 MB/s with no Jumbo Frame. Average Read Performance is 50 MB/s to 60 MB/s with no Jumbo Frames. Read Performance can peak in the 70’s.

-Remote Access Media Center – Allows for access to Music, Pictures and Videos from anywhere at any time. Requires port 80 to be forwarded via Router to internal IP of NAS. 2nd Phase of rollout in fall will feature “gatekeeper” Server that will allow access from a single URL such as http://www.promisesmartstor.com.

-Photo Album – Create Flash Based Photo Albums and export them to NAS or Local System.

-SmartNAVI Media Player –Allows Browsing and playback of Music and Videos stored on NAS. Supports playlist and full screen video.

-Remote Access via SmartNAVI – requires certain ports open on the router, allows access to: Download Station, SmartSync, Share Folder, Media Player and Photo Album.

-Time Machine Support – Will allow MAC OS X systems to utilize Time Machine for Backup to NS4600

-Web Server Support
-Wake on LAN
-Automatic Power On in the event of Power Failure

Cost - $499.00 MSRP

[PromiseNasDude]

More images as limit per thread is 5.

[PromiseNasDude]

and MORE IMAGES! This time Remote Access Media Center via iPhone..

[marcvl]

I'm using the Promise NAS as a server for my iTunes music. I'm not using any of the plugins, instead, I just mount the NAS and point iTunes to the mounted disk.

Here's my problem. I noticed that some music directories have r/w access for all, and some have just r access. I have no idea how or why that's happened. I just tried to add the import the new U2 cd to iTunes and i got a permission error. Upon investigation, I noticed that the U2 iTunes folder (which is where older CDs are stored) only has 'r' access.

I tried several ways to change it:
- thru OS X finder, changing the setting from 'r' to 'r/w' has no effect.
- thru terminal, going to /Volumes/PUBLIC/etc. and executing a 'chmod' comment has no effect
- tried 'sudo chmod' to execute the comment as root ... no effect
- tried 'chown' to change the ownership of the file ... and got an error that this command was not allowed.

HELP! How can I change the permissions on this (and other) folders???

Marc

[grubi]

Any infos about dimensions of the 4600 compared to the 4300?
Any infos about availability of the unit in Europe?

[daryoon]

I just wanted to chime in and say thanks to Billy for being so forthcoming with info and for organizing the exchange program. I did an advance replacement and Promise got the RevB unit to me two days later. Physically looks the same with the exception of DNLA sticker in the front, white hard drive trays instead of the orange in the revA. Also, the LED are now Green instead of Orange. You have 30days to return the RevA unit before Promise charges your credit card.

They updated the box it comes in from a Red to a Blue. So it's probably safe to say all blue box Smartstor NS4300N are the revB version.

The array migration was painless. Worked exactly as Billy outlined in his email. I did backup all the data to an external HD prior to moving the migration over just in case. Just make sure your RevA unit's firmware is up to date before you do the migration. My RevB came with version 01.05.0000.03. So one version older than the latest as of this post.

The fan noise is a lot less noticeable. Upon startup, the fan spun to full speed. Probably for calibration. Then it spun down. I have 4 hard drives in a RAID5 setup, and the temp is 41C idle. HD is warm to the touch. The HD are probably turned off since I left the default setting to turn off the HD after 20mins.

Here are some images:
RevA on the left, RevB on the right.

[AV-Pancho]

Originally Posted by marcvl

Here's my problem. I noticed that some music directories have r/w access for all, and some have just r access. I have no idea how or why that's happened. I just tried to add the import the new U2 cd to iTunes and i got a permission error. Upon investigation, I noticed that the U2 iTunes folder (which is where older CDs are stored) only has 'r' access.
Marc

I'm having the same problems. I've tried loging in, using the 'engmode' account, but it looks like it's just a regular user account. I can't chmod/chown or su to root. Does anybody know what the root password is?

[elvistoo]

http://community.eu.playstation.com/playstationeu/board/message?board.id=bANZ_announcements_help&message.id=4221

there's a link to the newest DLNA plugin ... PromiseDude - is this info correct?

[RToyser]

PromiseNasDude

I have been using the NS4300N for about 7 months now. So far so good. Has a few quirks but still love it for the price. I own a small company that is a technology reseller. We sell Promise as well as many other products. I compared it to the Netgear Readynas but just didn't want to dump that much into this experiment. At the time I had about 500 GB or Music in 320 kps MP3 format. Most was from CD's I owned. I downloaded some and purchased a lot through my Zune. At the time my music was stored internally on a Raid 5 array of 4 250GB WD RE2 drives. I was tired of allways having this beast of a machine running. Even though it was water cooled and didn't need as much air flow which made it quieter I just hated to leave it running in case a pump failed for some other catastrophe. I have sold the Readynas and liked it but again it was beyond my amount I wanted to throw at this at the moment. I found the Promise NS4300N at Fry's while shopping for a cable or something. I seen the price point of 350 and that changed everything. I grabbed 3 Maxtor 1TB drives and installed it. I realized later that the drives I bought were not on the compatability list but it was too late for me to return them. Impulse buying will be the death of me. Anyways my music database grew and I found I was filling up the 1.8TB quickly. I also started having some strange issues with speeds and later Media Players in the house not cooporating with each other. My music database grew to 1.2 TB and about 128,000 songs. Then I hit a wall with the DLNA and the Sony PS3. I called Promise stating that when I enabeled the protocol the media player was not showing up anymore. It seemed like the media scan was taking forever and was not completing. 24hrs later I called tech support and they said I may have a corrupted file or the database was too large. They gave me the new Beta DLNA plug in (01.01.0000.06). The media player now shows up in the PS3 but all of the Artists do not. It never builds past letter "S" and has missed some artists in between. My box is the Rev A with firmware 01.05.0000.07
Again I'm running Raid 5 with now 4 x MAXTOR STM31000340AS giving me 2794.35 GB of usable storage.

I have been tempted to buy the Readynas NV+ but I heard that a new box was coming out from Promise that had eSata on it. I found this interesting since that was one of my biggest problems right now besides the PS3 problem was transfering allowing the array to be scanned/indexed by my Vista system or my Windows 7 system. The Samba Share that the NS4300N presents is giving me all kinds of problems. The backwards way that Vista and Windows 7 are handling the legacy drivers has me stalled. I was looking at the Readynas Pro/Pioneer and neither of them have the eSata port but they do have more robust processors and more ram. I hauled my 1.2 tb of music to a friend who has the ReadyNas NV+. My music database has no problem running there. And his PS3 has no problems seeing all the music. So the ReadyNas solved one of the two problems but one still remained with the lack of eSata. I heard rumours that the new box from Promise would have eSata. What are the rest of the specs processor/ram? Can I run Mediatomb and solve the problem with the DLNA and then have the advantage of eSata so I can forget about buying the Readynas? Ask away. Give me some advise. Please?

Rich Toyser

[BuckoNZ]

Originally Posted by elvistoo

http://community.eu.playstation.com/playstationeu/board/message?board.id=bANZ_announcements_help&message.id=4221

there's a link to the newest DLNA plugin ... PromiseDude - is this info correct?

PromiseNasDude really wants you to email him to get this plugin. But from what I understand, the plugin you get from him, will be the same BETA as you can get from the link.

[PromiseNasDude]

Originally Posted by BuckoNZ

PromiseNasDude really wants you to email him to get this plugin. But from what I understand, the plugin you get from him, will be the same BETA as you can get from the link.

Yes, email or PM.. The reason for this is because in early stages you are NOT sure what other bugs exist or were introduced. You may not understand this BUT I HATE to release code with other issues unless you can "INFORM" users first. For instance, ISO's are not working well in Build 6. This feedback came from someone I communicate with directly (small test group). This will be in the readme for the build 6 post to the Promise website...

Not to mention, if you are NOT suffering from any symptoms such as the Media scan stoppage, you will see no change in behavior (outside of the previously mentioned ISO issue). I have had "severals users" who have downloaded via your LINK who are suffering from Incomplete content lists due to "response time" issues, there were under the impressive that this may resolve their issue, when in fact it does not. Some response time issues still exist causing this issue (happens on very large libraries - example, 1TB of Music). Without notes or readme, you have no idea what you are really installing and if you have NO problem, you should not change anything...

Build 6 with readme/notes is with the hosting company (past over last night) and should go up soon shortly. Unfortunately it can take a day or two for this to happen..

Yes, you were provided build 6 prematurely but this should have not happened and I have taken steps to make sure it does not happen again. We have process for a reason (protected everyone involved)..

Thanks..

[PromiseNasDude]

Originally Posted by AV-Pancho

I'm having the same problems. I've tried loging in, using the 'engmode' account, but it looks like it's just a regular user account. I can't chmod/chown or su to root. Does anybody know what the root password is?

How was the content transferred to the NAS? Under Windows or MAC OS X? If under MAC OS X, what user account was used? Was the content copied under the same user account (NAS)?

Sorry, I cannot answer the "password" question..

Thanks..

[PromiseNasDude]

Originally Posted by elvistoo

http://community.eu.playstation.com/playstationeu/board/message?board.id=bANZ_announcements_help&message.id=4221

there's a link to the newest DLNA plugin ... PromiseDude - is this info correct?

Yes, the beta is posted there with no release notes. It will be on the Promise site shortly with release notes with any known errata..

You can download for there or PM/Email me for FTP details.

***Old version should be removed FIRST, then install new version.

Thanks..

[PromiseNasDude]

Originally Posted by RToyser

PromiseNasDude

I have been using the NS4300N for about 7 months now. So far so good. Has a few quirks but still love it for the price. I own a small company that is a technology reseller. We sell Promise as well as many other products. I compared it to the Netgear Readynas but just didn't want to dump that much into this experiment. At the time I had about 500 GB or Music in 320 kps MP3 format. Most was from CD's I owned. I downloaded some and purchased a lot through my Zune. At the time my music was stored internally on a Raid 5 array of 4 250GB WD RE2 drives. I was tired of allways having this beast of a machine running. Even though it was water cooled and didn't need as much air flow which made it quieter I just hated to leave it running in case a pump failed for some other catastrophe. I have sold the Readynas and liked it but again it was beyond my amount I wanted to throw at this at the moment. I found the Promise NS4300N at Fry's while shopping for a cable or something. I seen the price point of 350 and that changed everything. I grabbed 3 Maxtor 1TB drives and installed it. I realized later that the drives I bought were not on the compatability list but it was too late for me to return them. Impulse buying will be the death of me. Anyways my music database grew and I found I was filling up the 1.8TB quickly. I also started having some strange issues with speeds and later Media Players in the house not cooporating with each other. My music database grew to 1.2 TB and about 128,000 songs. Then I hit a wall with the DLNA and the Sony PS3. I called Promise stating that when I enabeled the protocol the media player was not showing up anymore. It seemed like the media scan was taking forever and was not completing. 24hrs later I called tech support and they said I may have a corrupted file or the database was too large. They gave me the new Beta DLNA plug in (01.01.0000.06). The media player now shows up in the PS3 but all of the Artists do not. It never builds past letter "S" and has missed some artists in between. My box is the Rev A with firmware 01.05.0000.07
Again I'm running Raid 5 with now 4 x MAXTOR STM31000340AS giving me 2794.35 GB of usable storage.

I have been tempted to buy the Readynas NV+ but I heard that a new box was coming out from Promise that had eSata on it. I found this interesting since that was one of my biggest problems right now besides the PS3 problem was transfering allowing the array to be scanned/indexed by my Vista system or my Windows 7 system. The Samba Share that the NS4300N presents is giving me all kinds of problems. The backwards way that Vista and Windows 7 are handling the legacy drivers has me stalled. I was looking at the Readynas Pro/Pioneer and neither of them have the eSata port but they do have more robust processors and more ram. I hauled my 1.2 tb of music to a friend who has the ReadyNas NV+. My music database has no problem running there. And his PS3 has no problems seeing all the music. So the ReadyNas solved one of the two problems but one still remained with the lack of eSata. I heard rumours that the new box from Promise would have eSata. What are the rest of the specs processor/ram? Can I run Mediatomb and solve the problem with the DLNA and then have the advantage of eSata so I can forget about buying the Readynas? Ask away. Give me some advise. Please?

Rich Toyser

Hey Rich, I answered this in PM (duplicate is below)..

Some response time issues still exist an extremely large Music and Picture collections. We are working on this..

As for the eSATA port, it can be used to mount eSATA Hard Drives for access on the network. You can move and or copy data to and from the eSATA Drive..

Thanks.

[marcvl]

How was the content transferred to the NAS? Under Windows or MAC OS X? If under MAC OS X, what user account was used? Was the content copied under the same user account (NAS)?

The content was transferred under Mac OS X. I just drag and drop the content in iTunes, and iTunes stores the content in PUBLIC/iTunes/etc. (as per iTunes preferences). The content was stored with owner 'marc' which is my Mac OS X login name, not 'admin' which would be the NAS login name.

[BuckoNZ]

I can confirm that Promise have now made the new DLNA plugin - v1.01.0000.06 - available via their websites for the NS2300N and the NS4300N. Therefore, I will be removing the plugin from my site for download, within the next day or so.

You can download from the official Promise website here:

NS2300N:
http://www.promise.com/support/downl...ory=all&os=100


NS4300N:
http://www.promise.com/support/downl...ory=all&os=100

[RToyser]

Originally Posted by PromiseNasDude

Hey Rich, I answered this in PM (duplicate is below)..

Some response time issues still exist an extremely large Music and Picture collections. We are working on this..

As for the eSATA port, it can be used to mount eSATA Hard Drives for access on the network. You can move and or copy data to and from the eSATA Drive..

Thanks.

I was hoping to see the eSata port on the NS4600 bring DAS support to the box. It would be a very advanced forward thinking enclosure that had NAS/DAS support. What will the approx price point be?

[RToyser]

Originally Posted by PromiseNasDude

Hey Rich, I answered this in PM (duplicate is below)..

Some response time issues still exist an extremely large Music and Picture collections. We are working on this..

As for the eSATA port, it can be used to mount eSATA Hard Drives for access on the network. You can move and or copy data to and from the eSATA Drive..

Thanks.

As far as the response time issue is it a processor problem or DLNA / OS problem?

[PromiseNasDude]

Originally Posted by RToyser

As far as the response time issue is it a processor problem or DLNA / OS problem?

Combination of SoC (Processor) and FUPPES source..

We will resolve the existing issues and in the future move to new source for a DLNA 1.5 stack. Cannot say much more at this time but will in the future.

Thanks.

[PromiseNasDude]

Originally Posted by RToyser

I was hoping to see the eSata port on the NS4600 bring DAS support to the box. It would be a very advanced forward thinking enclosure that had NAS/DAS support. What will the approx price point be?

We have a DAS coming called DS4300. Same physical design as NS4600 with eSATA, USB 2.0 and Firewire 400/800. You will be able to attached DS4300 to NS4600 for backup and also to move content (to and from). SR1 for NS4600 will see new backup support with scheduler for NS4600/DS4300 combo.

I will post info on the DS4300 tomorrow.

Thanks.