Connecting to Buffalo Linkstation

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Level 1

46 points

Connecting to Buffalo Linkstation

I have Airport Extreme with a Buffalo Linkstation (250GB) hooked to the network (via a switch). I can see the unit and I can mount the volumes if I set what they call the "shared folder setting" to either "win/mac" or "mac". If I set the shared folder setting to "win" then I cant see the volume, but I can see the drive itself (in the network window or via the Go/connect to server/). My problem is that the shared folder settings for the win/mac or the mac do not allow file names greater than 31 characters. While I can download music track titles that are greater than this on my apple computers, I can not backup these files to the Linkstation as I'm always getting the message of file length being too long.

I've thought about reformatting the disk via disk tools but the unit does not see the Linkstation to be able to work on it. I'm open to suggestions as I'm really tired of my backups not backing up! Thanks,

Diane

Posted on Sep 22, 2005 11:02 PM

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Answer 1

Diane Ward Author

Level 1

46 points

Oct 17, 2005 10:22 PM in response to Jim Manley

Hi Jim,
I forgot about this and I do have information for you. Thanks to Deborah at Buffalo. We need to access the network drive as a Windows unit and not as a Mac unit. To do this go to Go menu > Connect to server. Then use this format:
smb://ipaddressoftheLinkstation/nameofsharedfolder

The shared folder needs to either be mac/win or win and it works just fine. Once you have done this and you see the volume on the desk top, you can drag it to the dock and from then, just click on it once your network is estabished (I have wireless). I found out that this works via the PC side of things on the drive, so you don't run into the limitations that are on the Mac side. If you I've not gotten any error messages since I've used this. If I connect any other way I get the same errors. Let me know if this works for you. Good luck.

Diane

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Answer 2

Oct 25, 2005 3:38 PM in response to Diane Ward

Its interesting this conversation is happening because I am fighting through the same issues. I have been on a web page www.linkstationwiki.org which made alternative firmware suggestions but I have done as you have suggested Diane and it works. however I find the transfer speed mind numbingly slow. I had previously reduced the file name length on certain files and setup the linkstation through the network icon in finder. the speeds seemed far quicker. (7 gig is estimated at 21 hours) any thoughts? did you notice speed issues?

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Answer 3

Diane Ward Author

Level 1

46 points

Oct 27, 2005 10:27 PM in response to Darren Smillie

Hi Darren,
Yes, I have noticed the speeds taking a nose dive. I've been using Personal Backup X3 and sent their support group a question about the drop wondering if it had to do with the SW and not thinking that it might be the hardware. I have yet to hear from the folks at Intego, I've sent several messages. They need to do some serious work on their support, but I digress.

I've looked at the speed both wired and wireless and found the same thing, it is a bit of a puzzle. I've resigned myself to letting the computer go all night and into the next day. If I hear of anything, I will post. Maybe Buffalo has some answers.

Di

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Answer 4

Nov 19, 2005 10:16 AM in response to Darren Smillie

I have the same problem. The smb connection is very slow comapaired to a native NT connection. I am trying to backup my photo's and music, about 11 gig's and it has been running for 18 hours. When I look at the system activity the input and output in about 1.2 meg and the cpu kernal task seems to be most active. I am wondering if it is a fight for CPU to compress the data and CPU to manage the LAN connection to my linkstation

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Answer 5

mp459

Level 1

8 points

Dec 16, 2005 5:04 PM in response to Christopher Kraus

Christopher,
I do not have a linkStation but I think I'm about to buy one. I'm not too concerned about the speed since I'll be usually rsync'in data so after the initial influx it should be low amounts, but I am definitely interested in it! Are the metrics you report on the linkstation or the mac? Why is data being compressed? How are the speeds over FTP? How are speeds compared to other smb shares?
I kjnow..too many questions. But thanks!

mickey

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Answer 6

mp459

Level 1

8 points

Dec 28, 2005 12:15 PM in response to mp459

Hello again,

I've been playing with this for a few days and now I'm a satisfied customer--not so much a satisfied with the Buffalo software, but satisfied with the excellent Linkstation Wiki. I followed the instructions on this thread, and I run the servers using chroot rather than boot from the large partition.
Thread:
http://linkstationwiki.org/forum/3230.html

Eventually, I'd like to repartition the drive so I have the 500MB linkstation partition, a 1GB debian partition, and the rest for data, but for now I don't see much degradation runing servers via chroot. I run netatalk, smb, daapd, sshd , and cupsys/printing via chroot, and basically only telnet from the LS linux.

Good luck!

mickey

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Answer 7

Oct 16, 2005 7:24 PM in response to Diane Ward

Ditto. Buffalo told me to set it to a windows share to get longer file names, but as Diane says, that doesn't really work. Diane - please post any solution you come across. I'll do the same. Thanks!

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