List of Network Attached Storage (NAS) compabile with XBMC for Xbox

[Gamester17]

XBMC already support SMB/SAMBA/CIFS (and UPnP) network-protocol which many NAS (Network Attached Storage) boxes use, so I thought I start this thread for compatible NAS devices. Please post a reply here with information about the NAS devices that you have tested with XBMC (and let us know if that devices works with XBMC or not).

PLEASE DO NOT POST ANY FEATURE/FUNCTIONS REQUESTS HERE, AND DO NOT POST QUESTIONS ASKING IF DEVICE "X" IS COMPATIBLE WITH XBMC, THE POINT OF THIS THREAD IS THAT YOU SHOULD TEST IT YOURSELF AND POST YOUR RESULT SO THAT OTHERS CAN BENIFIT FROM YOUR EXPERINCE! PLEASE ALSO RESPECT THAT THIS SPECIFIC TOPIC-THREAD IS NOT MEANT FOR HOW-TO/SUPPORT/HELP, AS THIS TOPIC-THREAD IS ONLY HERE TO SERVE ARE AS A COMPATIBILITY-LIST FOR AND BY END-USERS!

Example NAS devices that have already been tested and reported to work fine with XBMC are:
- NetGear WTG634U Wireless Router, supports SMB shares from a USB Mass Storage Compatible Harddrive connected to it via USB 2.0
- Maxtor Shared Storage™ drives H01R200 and H01R300
- Quantum / Snap Appliance Snap Servers (Models 2000, 2040, 2200 and 4100) (formely: Ateonix Nasas).

Example NAS softwares (which can turn any modest x86 computer into a NAS device) that has been tested to work fine with XBMC:
- FreeNAS, a free open source FreeBSD-based operating-system that turns any x86 computer into a SAMBA compatible NAS device, (FreeNAS itself takes up less than 32MB memory and can be booted from a harddrive, a USB-stick, or a Compact Flash card if you use a Compact Flash to IDE adapter).
- NASLite, a non-free commersial closed source alternative to the above mentioned FreeNAS, boots from a single floppy diskette.
- NASLite+, the big brother of NASLite, it has more features but is a little more expensive and must boot of a CD or a USB-stick.


Some examples of NAS devices that supports SMB/SAMBA/CIFS but have not yet (to our knowlage) been tested with XBMC:
- www.nwlab.net/art/netzwerk-festplatte/nas.html


So what is NAS exacly?; Here's a quote from TechTarget WhatIs definition of NAS (Network-Attached-Storage)":

"Network-Attached Storage (NAS) is a hard disk storage that is set up with its own network address rather than being attached to the department computer that is serving data-files to a network's workstation users. Ny removing storage access and its management from the department server, both application programming and files can be served faster because they are not competing for the same processor resources. the Network-Attached Storage device is attached to a LAN (Local Area Network), typically, a ethernet network, and assigned an IP-address. File requests are mapped by the main server to the NAS file server.
Network-Attached Storage consists of hard disk storage, including multi-disk RAID systems, and software for configuring and mapping file locations to the Network-Attached Device. Network-Attached Storage can be a step toward and included as part of a more sophisticated storage system known as a SAN (Storage Area Network).

NAS software can usually handle a number of network protocols, and share formats. Configuration, including the setting of user access priorities, is usually possible using a web browser."

PS! Note that the only common NAS network-protocols XBMC so far support streaming from is SMB/SAMBA/CIFS. Update! And UPnP since the 10 of July 2006.

[Gamester17]

LinkSys NSLU2 (Network Storage Link for USB 2.0 harddisk-drives) is SAMBA-based and have now been confirmed to work XBMC. It is currently the cheapest know compatible NAS as you can connect cheap external USB-harddrives to it, read more about it here (link).

...a bit off-topic but the NSLU2 has a lot of potential, just read Tom's Hardware Guides on how-to hack it to enable more functions on it; part 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5.

Also checkout these websites:
http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/howto/homepage
http://www.batbox.org/nslu2-linux.html

From wikipedia.com:

As the device runs Linux, Linksys was required to release their source code as per the terms of the GNU General Public License. Due to the availability of source code and the relatively low cost of the device, there are several community projects centered around it. There are two main replacement firmwares available for the device: the first is Unslung which is based on the official Linksys firmware with some improvements and features added. The other is OpenSlug, which is based on the Openembedded framework. OpenSlug allows users to re-flash the device with a minimal Linux system including an SSH server to allow remote access. Once installed, the operating system must be moved to an attached hard disk due to the lack of space available on the Flash memory. Once this has been done, a wide range of additional packages are available to be installed from an Internet repository. It is also possible to run Debian and Gentoo on the device.

The ability to run an unrestricted Linux OS on the device opens up a whole new range of uses. Some common uses are a web server, mail server, DAAP (iTunes) server and network router (with the attachment of a USB network interface).

..
The NSLU can and it even support ccXStream (which uses XBMC's XBMS protocol) with some minor modification, see:
http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/unslung/ccxstream

[ChEeSyBoOfS]

i want to use many xboxes as nas servers, is the only way i can do this at the moment by puting linux on my xbox?

[Gamester17]

Originally Posted by (cheesyboofs @ sep. 15 2004,15:51)

i want to use many xboxes as nas servers, is the only way i can do this at the moment by puting linux on my xbox?

Like i specificly explained in the initial post in this thread, this topic-thread is not for asking for support, HOW-TO or new features!
Besides; What you're asking IS only possible by putting Linux on your Xbox, as XBMC doesn't have any file-sharing capabilities because no developer have added it.
PS! There are already at least two threads in the Suggestions Forum that are requesting file-sharing from XBMC (via SAMBA and XBMSP)!

Now, the only posts that should go into this NAS compat thread are for example: I've just tested NAS device 'XXX' and it is compatible with XBMC

[Gamester17]

another device that's just out and not yet confirmed compatible is iomega nas 100d, (no idea so far which protocol it use?), iomega nas 100d features 160gb or 250gb harddrive, integrated 802.11b/g wlan, 100mb ethernet port, dual usb 2.0 ports plus external usb harddrives.

(nas 100d 160gb will list for $499 rrp and begin shipping september 20, nas 100d 250gb will ship "later this month" for $599 rrp)

[Gamester17]

here is another new nas device that's just out and thus not yet confirmed if it is compatible with xbmc samba/smb-client:

tritton technologies tri-whd1200 wireless (wifi) nas comes with a 120gb (@ $399) or 200gb (@ $499) built-in harddrive and supports smb sharing, the small device also doubles as an 802.11b/g wireless access point plus feature a dhcp server (and client). i hope it's compatible.

[Gamester17]

Another new NAS box that is compatible with XBMC has been announced, BuffaloTech fully customizable NAS shell (Kuro Box) comes emply and you supply one IDE hard drive that you fit inside the 'Kuru Box'. A first is that it's a open source development platform (Linux based) with real manufacturer support. Street price for a kuro box is about $160 (us), a review is aready available from Tom's Networking (link).

...so like the LinkSys NSLU2 you can install a lot of other stoff onto the device to add more functions to it

[Velvis]

will this network drive work with xbmc:

comp geeks

[Gamester17]

Originally Posted by (velvis @ jan. 13 2005,22:25)

will this network drive work with xbmc: comp geeks

no, ximeta uses their own propriotory protocol, please read my initial post in this thread on what you should and should not post here!

[Velvis]

thanks for the reply. not sure whats wrong with my post and the relation to the topic. i was asking if a network drive was compatable with xbmc. seems on topic and will answer the question for future users.