Review: Iomega 500GB Home Media Network Drive
Don Bradbury looks at a new addition to Iomega's range of external USB drives, with NAS potential that includes file share, media server and streaming, print server, backup software, and expandability via external drives.
| Product | 500GB Home Media Network Drive |
|---|---|
| Company | Iomega |
| Web | www.iomega.com |
| Price | £129.99 incl VAT |
| We like | Easy to set up; gigabit Ethernet; external drive support; print server potential |
| We don't like | Just basic NAS features |
| Rating | 8/10 |
| Compatability | Windows XP and Vista |
The last time we reviewed an Iomega drive, we discovered in the ScreenPlay Pro HD a device that fairly bristled with connectivity options, but with the new Home Media Network Drive (HMND) we have a more modest affair that's not intended to do what the ScreenPlay could manage. However, it may make up for what it lacks by providing basic Network Attached Storage (NAS) functions, should that be your main aim. It's also substantially cheaper that the ScreenPlay Pro, so let's take a look.
The HMND brings to bear a gigabit Ethernet port for attaching to your router, plus a USB port by means of which you can add external storage devices, or provide a print server for your network, for example. There's also a recessed power switch, though the white activation LED down the rear side of the drive was permanently lit if the mains was connected but the switch off. The other LED lights up in various colours showing consumed capacity, getting shirty with you only when things get tight in terms of remaining capacity.
The drive stands vertically on a plastic shoe, but we show here the rear of the device horizontally, to fit the format of this web page.
Coming in either 500GB or 1TB capacities, the 7200rpm drive we found relatively quiet, with a fan that only becomes at all intrusive in a hot environment that forces the rear-mounted fan to do it's stuff with some vigour.
Setup was relatively simple. After connecting the power lead, and the Ethernet cable to a LAN port on the router, the Iomega software is installed from the CD. After that, the NAS server function scans your system and maps default shared folders to your computer.
Access to music, photo, video, and public folders can be supplemented via the web-based user interface which works well. The folders are also displayed as network drives down to Z: and that makes possible the copying of your files across without reference to the Iomega software if you choose. You can customise access via the security settings you see in the Web-based interface.
The configuration options are adequate, with system reports, date/time and time server setup being available etc. The 'Create' button lets you set up your new folders, adding a password if you want, and limiting access to everyone or to specified groups.
You can also repair or format the drive if you need to from here, or shut it down or, rather thoughtfully, adjust the brightness of the LEDs. Missing here are facilities for adding your own groups of users. There are also no facilities for playback from within the Web interface; you are expected to browse and play files from within your OS as you usually would from any other hard drive.
You can, though, stream files to your XBox or PS3, and you can also let the HMND act as an iTunes server, but only for MP3 files. That might seem restrictive, but documentation describes how you can convert audio files to MP3 format if you need to.
These are among the restrictions the HMND displays relative to some other NAS devices. From a fresh boot of the system, NTFS external drives were automatically detected and reported to My Computer, but after disconnection they were not discovered automatically again without a reboot, nor would a re-scan in Network Drive Discovery mount them, though we could map folders on these drives.
You cannot format external drives from within Iomega's management application. Features also lacking include FTP , HTTP server, and via the Internet access. So this is a basic NAS setup, but one that will satisfy many who have just basic needs.
EMC Retrospect backup software is included in the package, a program we have used successfully for years in its earlier incarnations. Access to EMC's MozyHome online backup service is also available. However, we found system drive backups took almost twice as long to complete compared with using a primary USB port.
Mapping Drive Letters
You can map a new drive letter to the HMND by opening Windows Explorer and entering the device IP address and clicking Go. A user name, and password if required, can then be entered (note that the default shared folders do not require this). If you right click on the shared folder you can then select 'Map Network Drive' where you select a drive letter, check that 'reconnect at logon' is selected, and finally click Finish.
You can share a USB drive with this device by connecting it directly to the USB port (ie not via a hub) and it'll be configured automatically as an unsecured shared folder. You can change that configuration, although if you do, you have to do this every time you connect because you need to delete the shared folder to safely remove the USB device, which you do via the Storage Manager.
The possible applications summary is well illustrated by the diagram shown on the left.
In conclusion
While, at the asking price, the basic NAS functions of this device will be appreciated by many, calling it a Home Media Network Drive may be a little misleading. It does lack some features you might expect to find on a device with such a name, but having said that, we feel it offers to the typical home and small office user most of the facilities they will need to share folders and drives, and perhaps most notably, a USB printer. For such users, the price will probably be considered attractive.
