[Review] D-Link ShareCenter Pulse DNS-320

shadowandy · Nov 26, 2010

D-Link has rolled out a new 2-bay Gigabit Network Attached Storage (NAS) - ShareCenter Pulse DNS-320.

Some of us has made our way to Sitex (November 2010) despite the afternoon rain for the DNS-320. Me included. So let me have the honor of posting some pictures of it, reviewing the network transfer speed with my limited hardware and probably my humble views of the DNS-320.

So for a start, some pictures of the DNS-320

This is what the package contains - DNS-320, power adaptor (rated at 12V 4A), patch cord, user manual, etc

Glossy surface = fingerprint magnet, dust magnet. For mine, fur magnet!

Connectors on the front panel

Connectors at the back

Looking inside the NAS

Vertically loaded Samsung 2TB F4

Have snapped more pictures here. Shall not bore you all with unnecessary pictures here.

shadowandy · Nov 26, 2010

Layman network throughput test

I been wondering about the DNS-320's network performance after learning that it is cheaper than the DNS-323. Does it mean inferior components are used? Does it mean lower performance than the DNS-323?

In fact, the DNS-320 outperforms the DNS-323 in terms of network throughput (read/write) in my humble speed test! I could write and read files at 210Mbps and 270Mbps respectively for the DNS-320 while I could only manage at about 138.38Mbps and 154.62Mbps respectively with the DNS-323.

Network throughput test

Setting the disks to single mode. I managed to clock 217.3Mbps and 270.2Mbps for upload and download respectively.

When set to RAID0, I clocked 213.4Mbps and 287.2Mbps for upload and download.

RAID1 performance is similar to that of single mode so I won't be posting it.

My personal note on the speed test result
I noticed that my RAID0 and single performance is rather similar. It could be due to my aging hardware or my slow drives (Samsung F4 2TB). Perhaps others have better mileage with their DNS-320? If you do, do share!

Anyway, details of the DNS-320 speed test could be found here.

albertlee · Nov 26, 2010

Nice review, very tempting to get one myself. Do post pics on the NAS user interface.

orbvius · Nov 26, 2010

albertlee said:
Nice review, very tempting to get one myself. Do post pics on the NAS user interface.

I think should be similar to the DNS-321 on the usa website.

richneo · Nov 26, 2010

hi shadowandy

nice pics

i got slightly better read and write speed

able to reach 450mbps reading speed using WD Green 1TB but now im testing using hitachi desktar

Writing About 200mbps

Reading About 400mbps

shadowandy · Nov 26, 2010

richneo said:
hi shadowandy

nice pics

i got slightly better read and write speed

able to reach 450mbps reading speed using WD Green 1TB but now im testing using hitachi desktar

Writing About 200mbps

Reading About 400mbps

I am wondering if it is my drives or computer that is bottleneck. Shall wait for other F4 users. :s13:

Anyway, impressive results! Didn't expect the DNS-320 to be able to push data at approximately 400Mbps to you!

Vulpix · Nov 26, 2010

Woah nice benchies. Now I wondering which 2tb drive is the best with this, I wanna run a RAID 1 with 2x 2tb drives.

Desmond_ · Nov 26, 2010

wah... good stuff leh....

holocast · Nov 26, 2010

that is quite a speed bump considering its cheaper!!

OMG

a sidenote, does putting vertically affect the hdd in anyway?

MarineX · Nov 26, 2010

shadowandy i hate you coz you are tempting me

shadowandy · Nov 26, 2010

holocast said:
that is quite a speed bump considering its cheaper!!

OMG

a sidenote, does putting vertically affect the hdd in anyway?

Agree! I think hard disks are designed to run in any position? Need expert inputs on this.

gutlink28 · Nov 26, 2010

Nice speed indeed! For a price like that and support quite a variety of features, I guess it's worth every penny!

I heard from the promoters that the sales for this model is quite good.

Stock is running low even though it's only first day of SITEX.

shadowandy · Nov 26, 2010

MarineX said:
shadowandy i hate you coz you are tempting me

Better to tempt you now than after Sitex right? Just in case there is a price bump after Sitex, looking at the past trends of DNS-323 and DNS-343.

richneo · Nov 26, 2010

shadowandy said:
Better to tempt you now than after Sitex right? Just in case there is a price bump after Sitex, looking at the past trends of DNS-323 and DNS-343.

i tot this show is sitex already hahah

richneo · Nov 26, 2010

gutlink28 said:
Nice speed indeed! For a price like that and support quite a variety of features, I guess it's worth every penny!

I heard from the promoters that the sales for this model is quite good.

Stock is running low even though it's only first day of SITEX.

yesterday when i was there ard 7plus, 1 of the counter seems to have oni few sets left..

not sure if they keep some more stocks behind the counter

JDelphiNet · Nov 26, 2010

I have a question... will I be able to easily migrate existing disks from DNS-323 to 320? Or will it be a new setup again (eg format new disks, then transfer).

:Later,

danxiaogui86 · Nov 26, 2010

Just gotten this thanks to richardneo bro! lol! anyone with samsung f4? how the performance with this

gutlink28 · Nov 26, 2010

JDelphiNet said:
I have a question... will I be able to easily migrate existing disks from DNS-323 to 320? Or will it be a new setup again (eg format new disks, then transfer).

:Later,

Hmm... from what I know, DNS-320 supports only EXT3. What is the file system supported on DNS-323? If it is different, of course you can't simply 'swap' over.

This kind of migration sure involves some risks...

quekky · Nov 26, 2010

nice review bro, tempting...

dns323 used to be ext2, the newer firmwares i think is ext3. but there's some header or files inside to tell it that it is formated in dns323

ymyong1980 · Nov 27, 2010

Hi,

a newbie to using NAS here. Hope its the right place to ask some questions!

i have set up the DNS 320 as per the instruction on the menu. however, i have ran into some problems on both my Mac and Windows

a) The folders in my DNS 320 does not show up in Finder in my Mac. I am connected as a authorized. The folders will appear for like the first 30s after i connect, then all will disappear.

b) i managed to map the drives in Windows. How to i actually log in as a authorized user?

Thank you all experts in advance!

[Review] D-Link ShareCenter Pulse DNS-320

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