Review on 🐃 BUFFALO TeraStation 3420RN 4-Bay Rackmount NAS - 16TB (4x4TB) HDDs Included, 2.5GBE by Randy Robinson

I bought this server to combine 4 desktop NAS devices in a local area network. Somewhat naively (an old pro but out of business for 15 years) I followed the brief guide and attempted to mount it in an old desktop rack. The mounting rails provided by Buffalo appear to be designed for a 19" deep four-post rack or larger, not my 14" deep two-post rack. I had to wind it up to make it work, using all rails instead of the two suggested in the instructions. After turning it on I didn't like the blinking lights and decided to wait a few (6) hours before trying to set up the server - good choice! While it has a nice GUI web interface, it's pretty thin on how groups, users, permissions, and shares interact. I ended up using the provided/downloaded RAID 5 configuration and booted 4 desktop NAS devices into it as administrator and connected it to the network with the default settings. Later I need to solve a security problem with user group permissions. Overall I really like this device and expect it to become a trusted hub for my network. My advice: MAKE A WRITTEN PLAN before you buy this device. It will do everything you need, but it's not a plug-and-play USB NAS device. Added May 19, 2021 - Buffalo Customer Service/Tech Support: I downgraded to 3 stars after processing an RMA for the disc with Buffalo. . The drive failed within the 3 year warranty, Buffalo's technical support was excellent (I had proof of purchase, device log files and all the drive details) and was quick to determine that the drive had failed and my warranty was valid. My problem is that I have to pay for the replacement shipping. You only pay for shipping the old hard drive. Small amount, just a crappy policy because you know Seagate is really going to take the hit.