Buffalo LinkStation Mini SSD - NAS review

The LinkStation is almost silent, so there's no need to keep it hidden away. The hard disk-based version is ever so slightly noisier, but it's barely noticeable. We suspect its lack of noise is due not only to the lack of moving parts in the SSDs, but also to the LinkStation's lack of a cooling fan – it relies on passive cooling instead. Unfortunately this means that it can become very hot so you'll need to keep it in a well-ventilated area.

Configuring the LinkStation is very straightforward thanks to its web configuration interface, which is logically organised and generally easy to grasp. It's almost identical to the web configuration interfaces of previous Buffalo NAS devices, so if you've used one before then it's even easier to use. However, the interface for creating user accounts, sorting them into groups and assigning different users or groups differing access permissions to different folders is a little cumbersome.

The LinkStation does support Active Directory, which can speed this process up. Buffalo would do well to follow Synology's lead, which has implemented a streamlined, less cumbersome AJAX-based interface for its DiskStation line of NAS devices.

We had no trouble using the LinkStation to share a USB printer across our network, so you could save the cost of a dedicated Ethernet network printer. It can also share the contents of a USB disk, so more storage can be added using inexpensive USB disks. This partially compensates for the inability to open the LinkStation and upgrade the SSDs with larger capacity models in future. There is only one USB port though, so using multiple USB peripherals would require hotplugging. There are also iTunes and UPnP media server features, but these are unlikely to be important for most workplaces.

Files stored on the LinkStation can be accessed remotely from any internet-equipped computer, including a smartphone, through Buffalo's buffalonas.com website.

If your firewall doesn't support UPnP port forwarding, then you'll have to tweak its settings manually before remote access will work. Files can even be uploaded to the LinkStation, although uploading multiple files using the webmail-style interface can be time-consuming. When accessed through a smartphone, a mobile-specific version of the interface designed for small screens is used. Viewing text and Office files on an iPhone worked well. Attempting to stream audio and video files didn't work though, even over a fast Wi-Fi network.

Ultimately, the Buffalo, gets a point for simply doing a job, but while the hard disk version of the same product exists, as well as superior products from rivals, there’s absolutely no reason to pick this product up.