[SOLVED] Can I use a portable USB hard drive as network storage?

[ManOfArc]

What I mean is if I were to plug the drive into one of the USB ports on either my cable modem or my router, could it be used as network storage (NAS)? Would W10 see it?
I would try it myself, but I don't have a USB drive right now.

 

[kanewolf]

What I mean is if I were to plug the drive into one of the USB ports on either my cable modem or my router, could it be used as network storage (NAS)? Would W10 see it?
I would try it myself, but I don't have a USB drive right now.

It depends on the router. Most routers can support sharing disk drives on the network. Performance is usually poor because the router doesn't have enough CPU power to provide good performance. If you want network storage, and haven't purchased the USB drive, then look at purchasing a dedicated NAS unit. They will provide performance that is only limited by your network speed.

 

[ManOfArc]

It depends on the router. Most routers can support sharing disk drives on the network. Performance is usually poor because the router doesn't have enough CPU power to provide good performance. If you want network storage, and haven't purchased the USB drive, then look at purchasing a dedicated NAS unit. They will provide performance that is only limited by your network speed.

I see. I guess I didn't realize the router had to do anything different with a usb drive than what it would do with a NAS drive connected to it. I assumed all the router did was direct traffic.

Then; router yes, but slow and... modem, not doable?

 

[kanewolf]

I see. I guess I didn't realize the router had to do anything different with a usb drive than what it would do with a NAS drive connected to it. I assumed all the router did was direct traffic.

Then; router yes, but slow and... modem, not doable?

Modem with a separate router? No. The disk would be on the public side of the router and not accessible. A combo modem/router would be just like a standalone router.

 

[SamirD]

Then; router yes, but slow and... modem, not doable?

Yep, slow but possible. If the modem is a router/modem combo and specifically supports sharing usb storage then it should work just like the router. However, most isp combo units have this feature either disabled or reserved for field upgrades or other uses.

The performance from attaching a usb disk to a nas unit or computer will usually be much, much higher, so if speeds below 10MB/s are acceptable then the router method might work for your use case.

 

[Alabalcho]

Before you spend money on a USB hard drive - try with any USB flash drive laying around.

 

[ManOfArc]

Before you spend money on a USB hard drive - try with any USB flash drive laying around.

Thanks, I should have thought of that. 🙄

OK. Win10 sees the drive, but not as a normal drive. It shows up as some weird connection in the network area of file explorer. Nothing looks right when I open it.

 

[SamirD]

screen shot?