Product Listing

Thecus N5200 PRO

By Dr. Jimmy Tang - 11 Apr 2008

Features in the N5200 PRO

Features in the N5200 PRO

Unlike most low-cost NAS devices, the N5200 PRO is actually quite packed with features. As a start, the device will integrate well into most networks, whether Windows or Apple. Under Windows, the device can even sync with the NT domain server for authentication purposes. This will enable system administrators to seamlessly place the device in their Windows domain while maintaining a single set of user access to the storage device. Besides that, other modes of transfers are also available through other protocols such as Apple Filing Protocol (AFP), Network File System (NFS), FTP and HTTP.

Similar to other Thecus' earlier products, you can set the N5200 PRO to use your current NT domain's authentication system.

Behind the N5200 PRO unit, one would find a host of ports for various purposes. There are two USB 2.0 host ports that you can use to connect different sorts of devices such as USB disks or printers. External USB disks can be used to increase the capacity of the N5200 PRO simply by adding another disk volume into the pool. This is useful if you want to take advantage of the N5200 PRO's easy to use software to administer your file sharing. USB printers can also be shared via the USB port, and thus, extending the usability of the NAS to share printers in the network too. Beside the two USB host ports, you'll find an eSATA port for even more expansion of storage. The only issue with adding drives through USB is that it will only allow read and write to the USB drive if it's pre-formatted in FAT32. NTFS formatted drives can still be accessed through the N5200 PRO, but files cannot be written into them.

The Thecus N5200 PRO comes with two USB 2.0 host ports, a single eSATA port and a single USB 2.0 target port for various expansion options.

You can share folders created in the RAID array or from other sources such as external USB drives connected to the N5200 PRO.

Users will also find a useful backup feature within the N5200 PRO's control panel which allows them to schedule backups into other similar N5200 NAS devices or file servers. Known as Nsync (not the pop group), it allows one to specify any folder for scheduled backups. It also lets you restore your backup from any one of your other Nsync targets.

Nsync allows you to create tasks that schedules backup to other similar N5200 PRO NAS in the network.

Finally, the Thecus N5200 PRO is equipped with Mediabolic's media server software which lets users serve media files out of the device. Media streaming is enabled to most media adapters that are compatible with the UPnP AV protocal as well as any device adopting the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) standard.

The media manager settings allow you to define which folder to be used for streaming your music, video and pictures through the N5200 PRO.

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