A Closer Look:

Ok, that’s a long list of features like I said. In fact it can be quite confusing for some people. So I will try to explain some of the important bits.

Padding

Cables

Out in the open

The obvious feature is the 5 SATA hard drives and RAID systems. You can remove the drives even while the N5200 is online, and depending on what RAID you have chosen, not lose any data, but also not lose access to it. In RAID 5, if a drive dies, just plug in a new one and it will rebuild the array. The N5200 can even warn you when something happens to your array, either with a buzzer, or by sending out an email to any number of addresses you choose. Detailed information about the drives themselves, from the specific SMART errors, that a drive might be having (along with the exact number of hours a drive has been used for)

Unlatched drives

Front panel

Side vents

Then we get on to the ways to connect to the N5200. You can directly access the unit with a computer by plugging it directly into one of the 4 gigabit LAN ports, or you can plug the into a router.

Ready to install

Drive sleds

Parts and software

You can also use the N5200 as your router and connect it directly to a cable/DSL modem. Though I have read up and seen a few people with issues when it comes to internet sharing settings. Personally, I’d rather just let the N5200 deal with my data and drives.

Rear ports

Thumbscrews

Unlatched

The N5200 can be used as a standard USB external drive (You must set aside a partition to be used for that reason); this section is still protected by whatever RAID you’ve chosen.

On top of all that, you can also connect more than just a computer or router to the N5200.

Panel removed

Motherboard and backing

look inside

If you have a USB printer, you can plug it right in to the N5200 and use it as a print server.

Plug your USB thumb-drive into the front, and you get even more options. Using the front control panel you can just press a few buttons and backup the entire drive to the N5200. It will place the backup files in a time stamped folder. You can also access the drive over the network just like another folder on the NAS. This also applies to any other USB external drive.

If you have another external SATA box, you can plug it into the N5200 to use the same way as a USB external drive, but you can also expand the N5200’s RAID array with it.

Cooling fan

Close up

Motherboard

See, now that’s a lot of features to go through, and yet that’s just the physical connections you can make. The things you can do with the website configuration is absolutely too much to go through entirely in this review.

Front LCD

Motherboard cables

Mobo Removed

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