Buffalo LinkStation Pro XHL: supported external USB drive list, and sleep mode power consumption?

[gberche]

   

Hello,

 

I'm considering buying an Buffalo LinkStation Pro XHL 1TB, and attaching a 1TB USB drive to performed scheduled backups.

 

I see from the documentation that not all USB drive are supported. Where can I find a list of supported drives ? What is the recommended best-value compatible drive ?

 

In order to benefit from the low power consumption feature (scheduled sleep and disk spin sleep), I assume that it is best if the USB drive is USB-powered so that when the LinkStation goes in sleep mod, the external USB drive also goes in sleep mode instead of consumming full power.

 

Finally, I see from the manul specifications that average power consumption is 17W with max 24W without USB drive connected. What is the sleep mode consumption? Likewise, what consumption when disk spin downis stopped? Also, what is the consumption when a USB drive is connected ?

[Dustrega]

There are in fact some USB drives that don't usually work with our NAS devices. Usually these devices are running RAID themselves making it very difficult for the NAS to format them for maximum compatibility (there hasn't been a fix on this yet and I'm not sure when there will be). You are correct in your assumptions about power consumption that less power will be used if the USB device is powered down in conjunction with the NAS. As far as the NAS power consumption in sleep mode, it is miniscule (i.e. enough to just power the ethernet port in the event a wake up packet is sent). Spin down consumption is 17W (w/ no USB connected) and 24W (w/ USB connection and full power). There is a spin down setting but it can't be controlled to a certain RPM or wattage so basically 17W consumption minimum.

Message Edited by Dustrega on 04-16-2009 07:31 PM

[gberche]

   

Thanks for your response. Can you please confirm that the power unit of the LinkStation is indeed capable for powering USB drive without another AC power on the USB drive, and will automatically shutdown the USB drive when the sleep mode enters ?

 

Thanks,

 

Guillaume.

[Dustrega]

It's dependent upon the type of signaling the external USB recognizes. However, with our experiments with our devices here we have seen successful shutdowns when the Pro enters sleep mode. Hope this answers your questions satisfactorily.

Message Edited by Dustrega on 04-23-2009 05:07 PM

[bhaas]

   Just checking, but I'm trying to connect a Western Digital Elements external HD via USB to a LinkStation and while the USB Details section shows the drive, the Maintenance/Format and Disk Check screens don't show the drive as an option in the pull down menus. I'm guessing it's because it's not a RAID drive, as you mentioned in your response here, correct?

[Dustrega]

I'm sorry but I had stated that usually external drives running RAID cause problems. Did you go to Disk Management and format the drive?

Message Edited by Dustrega on 04-24-2009 04:01 PM

[gberche]

   

Thanks Dustrega for your answer, can you please tell me the list of drives you successfully tested the USB shutdown so that I can select one for my purchase with the XHL pro without fear to have to return it?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Guillaume.

 

 

[Dustrega]

There are many USB drives that would need to be tested individually so in short a list isn't available. I would look at the capability on the USB drives you're considering and check for the auto power down options.

Message Edited by Dustrega on 05-04-2009 03:53 PM

[gberche]

   

Hi Dustrega,

 

I understand from your response and another Buffalo response at http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?p=9669&posted=1#post9669 that the Buffalo LinkStation Pro XHL was indeed tested with the Buffalo Drive Station FlexNet HD-CE1.0TLU2 connected through USB to perform scheduled backups.

 

You mention in your response that when the Pro XL goes in the idle mode, the attached USB Drive Station FlexNet would be properly shutdown as well. By shutdown, do you mean it enters idle mode and still consummes 5W (instead of 12W when active) or it is completly shutdown and consummes less than 5W ?

 

Thanks in advance for your help,

 

Guillaume.

[Dustrega]

That is based off of their results and I don't have any response at this time.

[gberche]

   

For others reading this posts, I finally purchases a WD "My Book" 1TB USB external drive, and it is properly recognized by the XHL-LS (and required no specific formating, the default FAT32 formatting was accepted by the XHL-LS) , and the autopower feature of the WD disk seems to work with XHL-LS(i.e. will go to sleep and low power consumption when the XHL-LS shuts down)