Buffalo LinkStation 520 8TB Private Cloud Storage NAS with Hard Drives Included

I upgraded from an older generation of Linkstation to this one. I bought this through Amazon Warehouse. My only issue is that the main LED lights on the front do not light up at all. Since everything else is working as it should, I decided to keep the product. I was able to set it up pretty quickly with a Raid mirror. The firmware was already at the latest version.

Really like this for my home backup. A little bit as it’s my first one. Seems secure.In remote room so fan noise - noticeable - is not heard. Website of theirs is helpful.

Problems with the LinkStation 5201. Archaic web interface from 2011. Needs a browser to set anything. Useless desktop app can only launch browser.2. SUPER slow interactivity when you start accessing settings via browser (both in settings and in OS).3. Usually loses connection with computer when accessing settings (can no longer access files through computer until restart).4. Service seems to be intermittent after settings accessed until full reboot. Once needed to reboot entire computer OS before things worked correctly again.5. Junks up EVERY folder with “Webaccess” system files.6. Cannot connect through Galaxy S7. (Does not find a NAS device on server)7. Dynamic IP address means that the web address to your RAID changes every time you reboot.8. Noisy – you can hear the discs turning inside like grinding gears.9. Difficult, tiny rear controls10. Terrible documentation11. Can’t figure out DLNA server, SMB/AFP/FTP, iTunes, Downloader, Webaccess, and many more. Most of these services seem out-of-date and no clear way to configure for modern usage. Why have all of these services for a simple RAID? Why not just provide redundant data storing without all this useless shovelware?12. Web interface relies on Shockwave Flash so does not work in current browsers13. Date/time sync doesn’t work – always wrong system time. Preset NTP server doesn’t seem to work. If you change the time everything blows up and you have to reboot both RAID and connected computer. It does warn “changing the date and time may cause some of the services to stop working” but why?14. On the third day of usage, went into degraded mode (amber warning light) for 7+ hours while it “rebuilt RAID 1” – no service during this time. Usually data flaws cause RAID rebuilds, but disc damage lights on back were not on. Complete mystery. Can only conclude this is a highly unstable system.15. RAID Manager utility doesn’t work. If you try to reformat or delete an array, produces an error and creates an unformatted and unusable disc. Had to re-initialize LinkStation and go through the whole setup process again.16. Every time you restart from the settings page it shows a progress bar as if it will tell you when it is done restarting, but it never refreshes so you have to close the window and log back in. Minor inconvenience but exemplary of how every little thing is broken about this product. I think they stopped supporting it in 2011 right after it was released. Should not be currently for sale.17. Cannot wipe drive without using an external utility. Had to return it (obviously) so I re-initialized the disc. A popup warns that this will erase all data, but after reformatting all data was intact! Even if this were the expected behavior (it’s not), the popup warning shouldn’t contain dangerous misinformation. If I hadn’t double-checked, I would have sent all my data back to the company.

Works just fine but is not as accessible and user friendly as you'd hope it would be. Should just act like a partition or folder on your computer from any connected household device (computer, tablet, phone, etc). The Buffalo software is really the problem, not the hardware. Configuration is sort of pain but works. Remote access is not too convenient. They'd make a killing if they were a better UX and software interface.

I’m using the NAS as a Time Capsule replacement so Tine Machine compatibility was a paramount requirement. It’s doing a great job.

I'd used an older Buffalo NAS from 2010 until 2019, when it suffered a drive failure. During that time, I'd been impressed with Buffalo's tech support: staffed with American engineers, located domestically, who were easily accessible, and empowered. So I quickly decided to replace my old Buffalo NAS with this newer, more advanced model.Unfortunately, Buffalo seems to have gone off a cliff: ATROCIOUS QUALITY, MISLEADING WARRANTY, and POOR SUPPORT.1. Within 4 MONTHS of purchase, this NAS STOPPED BEING ACCESSIBLE REMOTELY.2. TECH SUPPORT STOPPED TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. They asked me the same trouble-shooting questions repeatedly (as if a new rep took over with each shift change, but didn't or couldn't see the case history), couldn't fix the problem, and then just ignored me (including my requests to escalate the issue to a supervisor).3. Later, within 7 MONTHS of purchase, one of the "PREMIUM-GRADE HARD DRIVES" FAILED.4. TECH SUPPORT STUMBLED. They instructed me to generate & submit a diagnostic log file, but after I went to the trouble, they explained that was an erroneous request on their part for this model, and I'd need to submit other material instead. They have also asked met to submit the same info 2x, and asked questions in multiple e-mails spread over days (instead of at once). It's as if reps are either new to their jobs, have received minimal training, or both.5. DESPITE BEING IN WARRANTY, BUFFALO CHARGES YOU $ TO FIX THEIR PROBLEM. In order to receive a replacement for the defective part, I must pay for shipping, and accept a credit card hold for hundreds of dollars.6. BUFFALO DOESN'T PROVIDE A WAY TO ERASE A FAULTY DRIVE. I'll need to remove the faulty drive, connect it to a computer via USB-to-SATA cable, and then run a command line utility (DiskPart). In my case, that means having to buy the cable, and learn how to use the command line utility, so I don't accidentally nuke my good drive(s).8. BUFFALO INSISTS ON A PHYSICAL SIGNATURE FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART, DESPITE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HERE IN NY. I called Buffalo asking if there were some other way. After all, they hadn't required a signature when they first sold (shipped) me the unit. So it seemed odd that they were requiring a signature now, for something that was their fault, during a pandemic, with an at-risk person at home. (Which, incidentally, puts their deliveryperson at risk, too.)First, Buffalo claimed the shipper was forcing them to require a signature. This was false, per two separate reps at the shipper (FedEx). When I asked for the call to be escalated, a Buffalo supervisor refused to take the call, and insisted that the regular rep continue to handle it.

Just opened up for the first time and started to download video files and in the middle of transferring, it turned off and would not turn back on, the fan stopped working and the motor stopped. The switch does not work to be able to turn back on.

Their technical support is worthless. I have ordered two of their products and both had hardware failures and they would not let me return them. Avoid Buffalo at all costs.