LaCie Network Space 2 2TB Home Connected Storage

The Lacie NetworkSpace2 NAS is an excellent device. They make much of its design; I was more interested in its features. It's unusual in that as well as being connected via Ethernet, it can also be connected directly to a PC as a USB hard drive - though not at the same time, and it's worth noting that a maximum of 500GB is available via the USB connection (whether you go for the 1TB or 2TB version). Still, ideal if you want a NAS drive but there are times when you'll be away from the network, and want to take it with you without taking a switch etc. (it does offer remote access, but taking it with you and connecting via USB will be much quicker than accessing over an internet connection).
The unit has an excellent web interface, which allows for management and access to files. It supports a variety of dynamic DNS scenarios, meaning you can plug it in to your router at home, set up a web address and connect to the unit from anywhere in the world. The file access is via a decent web based interface. Of course, you can also map network drives etc. when you're using it at home.
A few things to note:
- it stores files in folders, or "shares". It comes with three pre-configured: USBShare, which is accessible via the network or via USB (and *only* this share is accessible via USB). OpenShare, which is accessible to anyone on the network - if you want to share files between family members, this is where to put them. MyShare, which is only accessible to those who know the administrator password. You can create additional users, who each get their own MyShare folder, only accessible to them.
- you can't connect via USB and the network at the same time. At least, if you do, you won't be able to access USBShare via the network.
- I had to update the software on the device to be able to access USBShare via the web interface. Lacie support were excellent in helping to resolve this. (I also had to update the Lacie Network Assistant - the PC software - before I could update the software on the drive).
- As far as I can tell, the Lacie Network Assistant (management software) and the iTunes server both only work when you're connected to the network by cable. For some reason I've not investigated, they don't seem to work via wireless. Not really a problem for Lacie Network Assistant (you can do almost everything via the web interface - which works fine via wireless); might be more annoying if you're planning to use the iTunes server and it doesn't work via wireless. (It could just be my wireless setup). **UPDATE** It was my wireless setup; I happened to need to use it on another network, and these both worked via wireless. Haven't tried to see why it doesn't on mine.
- Reviews I saw suggested this model - NetworkSpace2 - is a whole lot faster than the original NetworkSpace. Haven't done any tests, but it doesn't seem slow.
- Comes with Genie Backup Assistant, which is truly proper backup software. It's a cutdown version of the one you can reasearch on the net, but pretty much only cutdown in that it will only store on Lacie drives - but that's fine since it comes with one :)
- Genie Backup Assistant does most things decent backup software should - open files (via VSS), backup Outlook, incremental and full backups, with compression and encryption, with decent scheduling options. The only thing I'd grumble about is that on Windows XP if you schedule a backup for 9am, and turn your PC on at 9.30am, the backup won't run. Under Windows 7 (and maybe Vista), you can alter this, though not via Genie Backup Assistant - instead, go via Windows Task Scheduler, find the scheduled task which runs the Backup Assistant, and find the option to run if start time missed (Google for help on scheduled tasks). The version Lacie ship doesn't support some features the full version supports - differential backups, for example.
- Security wise, it's worth noting that if someone steals the drive, they can get at all the information on it - even on the passworded sections. (But that's true of almost any drive, unless you're using encryption - another story).

I've been looking for a NAS drive for a while, and have settled on the Network Space 2. I'm completely happy with my choice. I've connected the drive to my home network in no time, have set up iTunes server and print server, and all computers on the network are now automatically backed up to the NAS. The transfer speed is high and the NAS works just great. The admin interface is user-friendly. I'm glad I bought it.

Great product, exactly what home electronics should be:

- Simple to install (plug it in, connect the network cable, turn it on, wait 5 minutes)
- Easy to use web-browser interface for any configurations (user names, device name etc)
- Quiet (seems to be completely silent when not in use)

(Update a month on: still working perfectly; 100% reliability)