SmallNetBuilder

Features

If you're looking for typical NAS features like print and media servers, USB port for storage expansion, NFS and AFP network file systems, or even the ability to define Users and Groups, the FlexNet isn't for you. Remember, this is basically a USB drive that can also set on a network, not a NAS that can also direct-attach.

The menu selections in the left-hand column (Home, Basic, Network, Eco Management, Disk Management, Security, Maintenance, System Status) are very simple, don't contain multiple levels and probably could have been condensed a bit more. Figure 7 shows the Basic screen that lets you set the Host Name, set data and time and display language.

Figure 7: Basic screen

Figure 8 is the Network screen, which controls IP Address and Workgroup name settings.

Figure 7: Network screen

The only thing on the Eco Management screen is a selector for idle-time drive spindown, which is settable to Disable, 10 (default), 20, 30 or 60 minutes. Disk Management is also simple, with Figure 8 showing the result of a Disk Check.

Figure 8: Disk Management screen

The Security screen holds the Admin password and Shared Folder Security functions. As mentioned earlier, the FlexNet ships with a single open share ("Share"). The Shared Folder Security function lets you password protect it with the admin password (not a great idea security-wise), but only after you set an admin password.

The Maintenance menu is where you can reset to factory defaults and upgrade firmware from a downloaded file. Finally, the Status screen (Figure 9) is just that. But it could have easily been combined with the Home screen.

Figure 9: Status Screen

Note that there is no way to even add additional shares. One share to rule them all is the FlexNet's approach.