* Overall, a smart way to add storage to the living room network
Network-attached storage devices continue to multiply, with new products such as the SimpleTech SimpleOffice Storage Server coming soon (see editorial link below). But the new Tritton Wi-Fi NAS is the first I’ve seen that connects via a 802.11g wireless connection.
In November 2003, I tested a Tritton combination NAS/router/firewall (see editorial link below). That unit showed promise but needed a better admin interface and some rough edges smoothed (like balky DHCP client support). The Tritton Wi-Fi NAS includes those improvements.
About the size of a glass brick, the new Wi-Fi NAS connects via 802.11g or wired Ethernet, and works with Windows, Linux and Mac clients. The device costs $399 for 120G bytes or $499 for 200G bytes, but expect lower street prices for the holidays.
The Web admin screens are pretty but not deep. Tritton provides a public shared directory and five others, making it easy to organize files and control user access to shared areas. Passwords control whether users can just read the files or have full access to read and write. You can change the default names (Public and Share 1-5) easily. Wireless support works out of the box, and the admin screen makes wireless setup a breeze.
Because the NAS isn’t a full router, users connecting to the system wirelessly can see the wired network (when the included Ethernet port is connected to your existing network), but wired users can’t see any wireless devices.
But does the world need a wireless NAS? After all, you still need a power plug, so what’s the advantage? As with wireless printers, it’s great to tuck a NAS away from the network (but close to a power plug.) More Internet-streamed media is finding its way to the TV and stereo in the den, and that means more storage. This is a good alternative to stringing Ethernet cable to your entertainment system.
In the office, any company traveling for work with more than one laptop might find shared wireless storage worthwhile. For instance, a friend handles registration for karate tournaments; with the Wi-Fi NAS, Jon could plop down a few laptops on the registration table and make 200G bytes of data available without extra cords to trip over (some of those karate people are amazingly clumsy).
Of course, taking along a standard NAS and a small wireless router will provide the same features, plus (probably) a firewall to protect an Internet connection. Extra baggage? A small wireless router (the new travel routers from Netgear and 3Com are the size of a paperback book) and an Ethernet patch cord. While the Wi-Fi NAS makes networking a bit more convenient, the workaround is also quick and easy. You’ll want to price both options and go with the cheaper.
Let’s hope Tritton updates some things for Version 2.0. Supporting Wi-Fi Protected Access rather than just Wired Equivalent Privacy should have been included at the outset. And adding the routing necessary for wired devices to reach the wireless Wi-Fi NAS is more than just a nice touch; seeing who’s connecting to your wireless network lets you watch out for freeloaders.
