Does Linkstation Pro Duo really work with Gigabit network? Always 100 Mbps, even 1000 Mbps

[Kevinbae]

   

Does Linkstation Pro Duo really work with Gigabit network?

 

I recently purchased Buffalo Linkstation Pro Duo 2TB and connected to Windows Vista and XP PC with 1000Mbps Gigabit LAN and Cat6 Cable

 

However Data transfer speed rates are under Always 90Mbps.

Average transfer speed is 75-85Mbps which is 9-11MB/sec

12.6MB/sec is the Maximum speed that I got.

 

1000 Mbps Gigabit NAS data transfer speed should be around 50-80% of  maximum speed which is 60-100MB/sec.

 

I have tested with 1GB file size and also set transfer frame to Jumbo frame. Firmware version is the latest 3.0.9

 

I have read and searched about this issue in Buffalo forum and throughout internet. A lot of people have complained about slow speed of Linkstation Pro Duo BUT, nobody has solved yet. I have tried a lot of ways to solve this problem But, I couldn't get it. In the Buffalo forum, http://forums.buffalotech.com/buffalo/view_profile?user.id=937">Colin137 answered Just general knowledge of NAS but he has not given clean solution. He said 80% of transfer speed is normal, but I get only 8% of 1000 Mbps

 

Even though Linkstation Pro Duo has 10/100/1000 Mbps data transfer rate specifition, I don't think Buffalo Linkstation Pro Duo support 1000 Mbps transfer speed. Only supports 1000 Mbps "link connection"

 

Buffalo Tech MUST take out 1000Mbps transfer speed from their specification. It is Absolutely lie. Otherwise they should fix this problem.

 

I have found interesting Article about  Buffalo Linkstation Pro Duo Performance compare to other NAS

Please see Buffalo LS Pro duo's speed result is ranked 58th out of 58 NAS.

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/component/option,com_nas/Itemid,190/chart,19/">1000 Mbps 4K Jumbo Average Read Performance

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/component/option,com_nas/Itemid,190/chart,19/

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/component/option,com_nas/Itemid,190/chart,37/">1000 Mbps 4K Jumbo RAID1 Average Read Performance

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/component/option,com_nas/Itemid,190/chart,37/

You can choose other result by selecting drop down menu on the top.

Data transfer result is around 9-11MB/s

 

Does anyone get 50-80% of 1000 Mbps data transfer speed with LS Pro Duo ?Does any Buffalo developer, tech support or engineer get more than 100 Mbps Transfer speed? 'm asking transfer speed, not a "link" speed

 

If yes, Please solve this problem. Otherwise Buffalo Tech MUST take out 1000Mbps transfer speed from their specification.

I think I am totally deceived into buying such a thing.

 

Thanks,

Message Edited by Kevinbae on 05-31-2009 01:18 AM

[Dustrega]

On the specifications of the product the device (i.e. the NIC) supports file transfers over a 10/100/1000 Mbps network (on average we see a maximum of 7 MB/s according to most of our customers).  Previous devices that specified a 10/100 connection could only transfer on a 10/100 network not a 1000 Mbps (you would get a max of 3 MB/s if you could manage).  Did Buffalo specify what the average transfer rate is?  No, because it will be different for all users based on their network.  Please post any questions you may have and secondly 2 links to the same page do not a strong case make.  In my honest opinion the guys at smallnetbuilder being able to get 9-11 MB/s is above and beyond what we expect from these NAS devices.  I will request that our site format be slightly changed to be more specific in this regard.  Thank you.

[Kevinbae]

   

Did Buffalo specify what the average transfer rate is?  No, because it will be different for all users based on their network.

 

I don't expect that 1000 Mbps is an average transfer speed and I understand that all users network environment are different. I am just expecting 30-70% of transfer rates like other NASes. But Buffalo LS Pro duo's transfer rates are only 7-8% of their transfer speed specification(when 1000 Mbps connection). Even though 1000 Mbps is not an average speed, the transfer rate should be 30-70% of their specification.

According to your answer, all of users network are different. If network setting or environment is optimized for this LS pro duo NAS, is it possible to get 30%-70% of gigabit connection?

If yes, How can we set up network configuration?-especilly direct connectionwith PC.

If not, Buffalo tech must take out 1000 Mbps from Date transfer rate specification.

Data transfer rates and link speed is different.

 

last, again, Please clear answer for users.

Is Buffalo LS pro duo possible to get data transfer speed more than 13MB/sec with 1000Mbps connection? (which is 10% of gigabit transfer speed)

I'm not aksing general posibility of all users. If it is possible in one specific network environment, that's fine.  

 

If yes, Can you provide us proof and how to set up?

In no, Please change specification.

 

YES? or No?

 

Did Buffalo specify what the average transfer rate is?  No, because it will be different for all users based on their network. 

 

Of course Data transfer rate of product specificion is not an average.

However, when people buy NAS, they expect data transfer rates at least 50% of link speed.

But Buffalo tech LS pro duo's transfer rates are only 7-8% of its specfication.

According your answer, it will be different for all users based on their network. If so, Does anyONE can get transfer rates more than 8% of 1000 Mbps? Is it possible?

Yes? or No?

Buffalo tech must explain that data transfer perpormance can get only 7-8% when 1000 Mbps connection in the product information.

 

This is what in the product information

Data Transfer Rates 10 / 100 / 1000 Mbps

1000 Mbps means just connection and is not about transfer rates.

 

Message Edited by Kevinbae on 05-31-2009 11:41 PM

[Kevinbae]

   

Does anyone get data transfer rates more than 13MB/s with 1000 Mbps connection? 

[aayala]

   We are definately on the low side of the transfer rate.  We have also tried numerous configurations, but at this point, even with the amount of storage this device offers, it has not been worth its investment.  Are there any additional updates or suggestions from support of how to configure this device for optimum performance?  Any suggestions other than returning the device would be greatly appreciated.

[ESantiago]

   Okay. I ran a couple of tests transferring a 2gb divx file to and from my pro-duo. Writing to the pro-duo over gigabit network averaged 17mbps. Pulling same file FROM PRO-DUO averaged 25mbps. My home is pre-wired with cat6 running through a us-robotics 8 port gigabit switch. all computers have intel pro 1000 gt nic cards. so my speeds are pretty darned good.... in my opinion anyway.

[digitalglobe]

   

I have to agree with kevin, the transfer speed is really poor. With a 100Mbps switch i was gettin 7MB/s of speed. that is pretty good for a 100Mbs connection at ~70% rate.

 

Then i replaced with switch with a 1000Mbps switch. I was gettin about 11MB/s of speed.

 

Before purchaing the linkstation quad, i had purchased iomega istore 2tb. I had the similar performance for data transfer. so i returned it and hoped linkstation will give me higher transfer speed.

 

considering 1000Mbps is 10 times faster than 100Mbps. a gain of 4 is poor. I expect the speed to be atleast around 20MB/s range. so i that i feel like it was worth the money for the gigabit switch as well =).obvesiouly we upgrade to gigabit switch in an effort to see double the speed of 100Mbps. In terms of network traffic, It was only the linkstation and a pc connected to the switch at the time of testing.

 

I defenitnly think this needs improvement, instead of saying "when did we say this or that" 

[neosin]

   

Oh wow, this from a moderator

 

Ok, seeing how I have many network file servers, I got my terastation about a year ago, it's now running firmware 2.16.

 

When I bought it, ($800) I thought, ok how hard is it, some drives, nic, OS, simple thing these file servers are.

I've been doing networks and file servers for 15 years. I know a little something about them.

 

Now I know the drives in the NAS is not all that slow, they will do at least 100MB/sec I've tested this.

 

Setup, config (i've done all of them JBOD, Raid1, Raid5) and by default it will only do around 12-15MB(megabytes) per second. Out right silly slow speed at gigabit network speed.

 

I have a network switch that is 4 months old and I know for a fact it supports Jumbo Frames (and is turned on). Let's never mind my homebuilt fileserver that doesn't even need Jumbo Frames and it will do 120MB/sec easy.

 

This isn't some hard thing to figure out or something. For some reason the terastation is just slow.  It seems as if all it can do is 100Mb speed (@ 10MB/sec) Gigabit networking 1000Mb = 100MB/sec This device should be able to do at least 70-90MB/sec raid5 should max it out @ 100MB/sec

 

That said, here is what happened once. I was flipping the FTP server off and on, and did something, i can not repeat for some reason that did for about a month it was doing true Gigabit speeds 100-150/MB/sec After I moved and I had to reset it all, I have not been able to repeat this.

 

7MB/s is slower than my 4x86DX2 would transfer files LOL I have a net book that will do transfers in the 40 - 60MB/sec range and that's using a laptop harddrive.

 

There is no excuse why these terastations have such poor networking. Not to mention I have seen mine do the true 1000Mb speeds! So i know it's a simple configuration problem in the firmware!

 

I'll tell ya another thing, I have now bought two of these terastations, 1-1TB and a 1-2TB one. Both do the same thing. You can count on me NOT buying another one unless I see these network issues fixed. Because for the money, I should just upgrade/make a real fileserver that i can easily upgrade at any time.

 

I sure hope Buffalo gets it's act together.

[Ryman]

   

I have the 6TB linkstation and am getting 9-11MB transfers.  This is very disappointing.  And seeing answers like "it will transfer files over a Gigabit network" is almost like selling what looks like a sports care and saying It can travel at speeds up to 200MPH....if you push it off a cliff, otherwards you can go 20MPH.  Very shadey answer.

[delevero]

   

I can only agree what everyone write above the linkstation pro is incredible slow.. I have had mine for a few month now and im angry about it... I like everything about the produkt except the speed it can in no way reach the speeds that buffalo write on their webpage

 

High speed Data Transfer of up to 66MB/s

 

Well no matter what i do, or what hardware i use, or even when i connect the  linkstation to a top professional company network and have a friend of mine that is a network administrator fool around with it, then he can also not get it to do more than 11mb/s just the same as my home network... Im very well aware of how you mesure these kind of speeds ect.  ( just read the forum above there are some good writen explanations )

Formatting my 2TB harddrive take more than 24 houres, and copying 900GB of backup data take arround 4-5 days to complete........

Im also very well aware that some file types are faster to transfer than others, but still the linkstation pro is incredible slow. and do not live up to what the buffalotech say....

 

I will soon contact the Danish Consumer agency to have them look into the problem with the buffalon linkstation pro and tell them that buffalo are using fake advertising when they claim speed of 66MB/s is possible.

Just look at this forum how many people complain about this... I hope they will write a legal letter to buffalo saying they should refund any person who want to retur their product.

 

Once i hear from the Danish(Denmark) goverment consumer agency i will write the result here on the forum, but it will take some time they are working slow.

[PCPiranha]

"Oh wow, this from a moderator

 

Ok, seeing how I have many network file servers, I got my terastation about a year ago, it's now running firmware 2.16."

 

Terastations are not file servers, that is probably the reason for your confusion.

 

"There is no excuse why these terastations have such poor networking. Not to mention I have seen mine do the true 1000Mb speeds! So i know it's a simple configuration problem in the firmware!"

 

Really?  What kind of speeds were you getting (really gigabit or just close)?  Ill see if I can do some testing with the configurations.

[jpegmore]

   

Seriously, SHAME ON YOU!!!!

This can't be for real, advertising something that it ain't... SHAME ON YOU

 

What's the deal with that warning on the firmware update on the Buffalo Link Station Live LS-CHL ? mine was manufactured in oct.2009.

[vanadiel]

   

It should be able to perform better.  I am disappointed with the transfer speeds myself.

It seems the common "defense" is that these devices are not file servers, but storage devices and as such the performance is within range for that type of device.

 

So I have to ask :  how can it not be a file server, if the device comes with an implemented and ready to use media server?

 

To me, if it has a media server, it is a file server, since the media server can only serve files.

 

 

[PCPiranha]

Wikipedia Defines them as:

 

"A NAS unit is a computer connected to a network that only provides file-based data storage services to other devices on the network. Although it may technically be possible to run other software on a NAS unit, it is not designed to be a general purpose server. For example, NAS units usually do not have a keyboard or display, and are controlled and configured over the network, often using a browser."  From the drawbacks section: "Due to the multiprotocol, and the reduced CPU and OS layer, the NAS has its limitations compared to the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_Attached_Storage" rel="nofollow" target=_blank>DAS/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storage_area_network" rel="nofollow" target=_blank>SAN systems. If the NAS is occupied with too many users, too many I/O operations, or CPU processing power that is too demanding, the NAS reaches its limitations. A server system is easily upgraded by adding one or more servers into a cluster, so CPU power can be upgraded, while the NAS is limited to its own hardware, which is in most cases not upgradeable."

 

"In computing, a file server is a computer attached to a network that has the primary purpose of providing a location for the shared storage of computer files (such as documents, sound files, photographs, movies, images, databases, etc.) that can be accessed by the workstations that are attached to the computer network. The term server highlights the role of the machine in the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Client-server" rel="nofollow" target=_blank>client-server scheme, where the clients are the workstations using the storage. A file server is usually not performing any calculations, and does not run any programs on behalf of the clients. It is designed primarily to enable the rapid storage and retrieval of data where the heavy computation is provided by the workstations"

[jpegmore]

   

It still doesn't answer to the fact of the the low speeds...which is why this topic was opened...yes?!!!!

 

 

Why can't i make an update of the frmware 1.24 ? it doesnt accept my serial number...