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--- articles:netgear_stora_ms200 [2010/06/25 10:27] – Added minor detail terry
+++ articles:netgear_stora_ms200 [2010/06/25 10:42] (current) – Updated to reflect latest experiences terry
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 ===== Issues =====
 As hinted above, all this wasn't without a certain amount of stress and there are still some open Issues, apart from the general 'bad stuff' mentioned in the Overview.
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 ==== Backup Storage Location ====
-I still have a Support Query open on this and although the support response was initially very quick, it was also very useless.  Since then, my query has been escalated from the monkey to the organ grinder and now to engineering.  I think I might be the first to try to do what they say is possible in the User Manual....
+I raised a Support Query on this and although the support response was initially very quick, it was also very useless.  After that, my query was escalated from the monkey to the organ grinder and then to engineering.  I think I might be the first to try to do what they say is possible in the User Manual....  Eventually, the request was closed without a meaningful response!
 When I initially logged into the Stora with Dolphin, I could see all the folders mentioned in the Use section above and one other called 'ComputersBackup$'.  No matter what I did, I couldn't log in to this 'hidden' directory.
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 By enabling this feature a special hidden section on the Stora is assigned to contain the backed up files. This section is not visible to the user because the contents are not usable by the user directly and can only be used for restoring backups.'
-What I found was that even with Windows, I couldn't log in to this directory.  It is really, really hidden in Windows of course, so most people won't know anything about it, but it should be accessible using Windows Explorer if the path \\stora\ComputersBackup$ is entered.  Except it's not.
+What I found was that even with Windows, I couldn't log in to this directory, because I didn't know the Username for it.  It is really, really hidden in Windows of course, so most people won't know anything about it, but it should be accessible using Windows Explorer if the path \\stora\ComputersBackup$ is entered.  Except it's not, because the documentation doesn't provide the Username.
 So what I think everybody does is to put their backups into the MyComputers directory (as I described above), which is unfortunately, not just visible to the file manager, but it's also visible to anyone who logs in from the internet...
-If this issue was fixed, I would be reasonably happy, notwithstanding the bad stuff.
+As stated above, this issue was never answered by Netgear, but I eventually found out through the forums, see below, that the Username is ComputersBackup (it seems to be case sensitive).  Now I can use the hidden area of the Stora, I am reasonably happy with it, notwithstanding the bad stuff.
 ==== General User Support ====
-The jury is still out on the direct support provided by Netgear to new users. I'll update this section when I finally get a satisfactory (or otherwise) response to my Support Query.  The initial response was very fast; I was told that it was being escalated within about 8 hours and the second escalation was about 26 hrs later.  It was escalated to engineering four days after that and that was four days ago (but with a weekend in between each escalation).
+The direct support provided by Netgear to new users seems to be worse than useless, see the previous Issue. The initial response was very fast; I was told that it was being escalated within about 8 hours and the second escalation was about 26 hrs later.  It was escalated to engineering four days after that and then the Issue was silently closed.  I only found out that they had closed it because I was asked to complete a survey about how well it had worked.  Needless to say, my survey response was less than complimentary.
 As far as FAQs and Forums are concerned, these are pretty much aligned to Windows Users.  There are a few threads about Linux in the Forums with a rough split between people who are appalled (appalled I say) that Netgear should advertise Linux compatibility without any software or support and those who say Linux users shouldn't need any support....  I think Linux users are quite good at helping each other, and there are a few useful threads in there.
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 ==== Problem with Simple Backup ====
 This is actually a problem with Simple Backup and not the Stora server.  In Lucid Ubuntu, Simple Backup has been broken and pressing the 'Backup Now!' button kicks off a background task, but does nothing.  There is a fix for this in the pipeline, but in the meantime the backup should be started by typing 'sudo sbackupd' in a shell.
 ===== Overall Verdict =====
-Despite the Issues and the lack of Linux support, I have to say that I like it! I can put up with the lack of support, (especially if I can find a way onto the Forums) and I've overcome the three-user limit by creating a User for general family use, leaving one for myself and one for my son, who will use it more than anyone other than me.
+Despite the Issues and the lack of Linux support, I have to say that I like it! I can put up with the lack of support, and I've overcome the three-user limit by creating a User for general family use, leaving one for myself and one for my son, who will use it more than anyone other than me.
-If they can show me how to access the hidden backup folder, I'll give it 8 out of 10; if not, that goes down to 7.  Of course, if anyone ever compromises the Netgear site and steals all the passwords, then that would go to -10 and I have to say that this aspect of the way the device is administered is slightly worrying.  Having said that; this is no more risky than someone hacking into a server company's database and grabbing their customers details, so I can live with it
+Now I've worked out how to access the hidden backup folder, I'll give it 8 out of 10.  Of course, if anyone ever compromises the Netgear site and steals all the passwords, then that would go to -10 and I have to say that this aspect of the way the device is administered is slightly worrying.  Having said that; this is no more risky than someone hacking into a server company's database and grabbing their customers details, so I can live with it