Testing:

iScsi initiator

Discover the 5200 Pro

5X500GB

For this test, and for all my future tests (until I find a better solution) I have changed my method of testing network storage devices. Instead of relying on any 3^rd party software to test. I have changed to simply setting up a Windows Performance Monitor under Windows 2003 Server. This way, monitoring all network traffic, can measure all the methods of accessing a network device, FTP, iScsi or otherwise.

Test system:

• EVGA  650i motherboard

• E6600 Quad core, 2.4ghz

• 4GB DDR2

• 500GB Seagate 7200.10

Network:

• Dlink  DIR-655 gigabit router

As you can see from the tests, there is a very significant increase in speed over the original N5200. Extra ram gives an even larger buffer, which lets multiple uploads and downloads happen without waiting for the physical hard drives to do their thing.

iScsi uploads give me pause however. The maximum file transfer speeds are very high, but they are not sustained. And the minimum file transfer speeds are very low. I am unsure as to what is bottlenecking. Obviously it’s not a physical problem on either end, as the other transfer methods would suffer the same problem if it was.

Setup iScsi

Setup without iScsi

Making a 92GB partition

Modules:

This is something I really did not get into during my last review, mostly because there is just too much information to fit into even a 100 page review. Modules are small installable programs that can expand the usefulness of the 5200Pro dramatically. Thecus actually does not speak about the modules  much at all in their manual, other than to talk about the menus that allow you to install them. They could really do a lot more to help new users learn what they can do with them.

However, if Thecus didn’t do it, the community of users sure has. When I did the first review, I had no idea about the size and scope of the user created forums and Wiki’s.

Using the standard Wiki format that Wikipedia made universal, there are thousands of pages about everything from installing Linux, to what user made modules everyone uses.

To give you an idea of just what is out there, if you have a large collection of music that is not in a format the default “media server” can deal with, “Slimserver” can stream it to whatever you need.

Another user made module, “MLDonkey” lets you download directly to the 5200 from multiple Peer 2 peer networks (BitTorrent included).

For programmers, there is a large area to learn how to develop your own modules, or just add to the wish list of modules you want to see made.

Conclusion:

Bask in the glow

The 5200 Pro is a logical progression to Thecus’s line-up of products. There were an absurd amount of features with the original, the 5200 Pro adds more. Ultimately iScsi is not a feature I will be able to use, that’s not to say it isn’t a useful feature for some. And I know for a fact that Thecus is working on my concerns.

Everything else about the 5200Pro has gone great, I’ve been able to add it to my network, and transfer everything off the original 5200 quickly and painlessly. Finally being able to try out nsync between the two systems was great, and automated backups were completely transparent once setup. This is still the ultimate solution for everything from a home network, to small and medium sized businesses. If you want anything better, the costs are going to start jumping up drastically. I can't claim the capability to truly test out high end networking hardware, I don't have a server farm with load balancing with high performance managed gigabit switches. But the 5200 fits my needs perfectly.

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