OpenFSG

There is serious bug with file sizes on ND Pro 500 with firmware 4.2.7 - if you save new version of file (shorter) from PC over old version (on ND Pro 500), new copy of file on ND Pro 500 will RETAIN OLD SIZE (bigger) and it will KEEP LAST BYTES FROM PREVIOUS FILE VERSION.

Is there any chance for this serious bug to be corrected soon?

(more details can be found here: http://www.openfsg.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=24129)

Regards,
Dejan

Hello Dejan,

I have not experienced the problem you mentioned yet, but that's probably because I only use the ND Pro for backups until now.

Maybe someone can explain the procedure Freecom follows to implement bug-fixes? The first reports of this problem were posted in August 2007. Is Freecom taking any actions in this matter? I guess users would like to know their bug-reports are taken seriously

Backups can also cause a problem, if you try to restore file which was previously in this situation; you will get wrong file.

It is easy to repeat this very serious bug (it is consistent and repeatable; if new copy is shorter than old, network copy will retain old, bigger size and content will be combination of new version and rest from old version) and if you copy network copy back to PC you will get usualy unusable file.

I surely hope that they will treat this seriosly. I reported to Freecom support and will wait for response; if I do not get it via mail, will call them.

ND Pro 500 is almost 300€ and I would like to get proper value for my money.

Hello Dejan,

I have tried to simply recreate your problem. Maybe you can tell me more about how you copy the file(s)

I have tried it with WSFTP and then the problem doesn't occur. I made a simple file with 10 characters and copied that to the Network Drive. Then I removed the last character from it and copied it again: no problem

Perhaps this can be a work-around for you too

This is simple copy over Netbios (samba share, Windows OS, XP or Vista), not over FTP.

And I definitely do not want to use only FTP because of bug in Samba/Kernel software

To recreate:

• Local PC: open text editor, add couple characters / lines, save file
• Copy file to ND Pro 500
• Local PC: open same file in editor, remove couple of characters
• Note size of file on Local PC (new copy) and on ND Pro 500
• Copy new version to ND Pro 500
• New copy on ND Pro 500 will retain old, wrong size, and file content will be new content + rest from old version

It is not just display problem; if you copy file from ND Pro 500, it will have old size and wrong content, which is for network device of this type (file server) very serious problem.

Hello Dejan,

I have repeated the simple test, but now copying the file to the shared map in Windows (XP that is in my case). You are perfectly right

When copying the smaller version to the share the popup: Do you want to overwrite file xyz with size 10 bytes, with file xyz with size 9 bytes? seems to indicate that everything will work but it doesn't The original data that was removed is still there...

I certainly hope Freecom will correct this problem soon, because it seriously corrupts your precious data. Could anyone who has close contact with Freecom please react to this thread

P.S.: I didn't mean you should use FTP all the time, but only until a fix is provided

No problem about FTP but I need really stable file server; I can use other computers in network until fix is provided (but I fear that this won't happen soon) but it is apsolute must that shares over Samba work correctly.

I tried this as well, Your perfectly right,


this drive is starting to give me the willy's.

suddenly I have have 0 faith in this drives ability to back up.

I'm going to do the same test but with the nti software.......

yep, this is really bad

NTI shadow exibits the same behavour.

It will only overwrite the file if the file gets bigger.

ie

origionl text file contains abcdefg
modify and save abcdefhi (backup is correct)
modify and save abcd (backup does not overwrite old file)

there fore you loose your latest version!!!

thats also true also if you set it to create versions, the versions created are wrong unless the file that is being saved is bigger than the file being overwritten.

I don't know whether to hang on to NDP or send it back, as a backup device its fundamentally useless

Update: I received a new beta firmware version (4.3.8 ) that fixes this issue. I will not talk about the fact cat 4.2.7 is also BETA but was shipped.

Anyways, the issue with Windows is solved and this new version also includes some very promising features. So stay tuned

FFS, I thought it must be a beta release,

where can i get the new firmware from? can I DL,

salivating......

tech support have so far ignored my phone calls & emails on this matter

just phoned them again, ....blah blah blah not currently availiable, blah blah

I NEED IT NOW!!!

Hello guys,

Nice to see that development of the software is progressing

The way I use the Network Drive now, I experience no real problems. Nevertheless it's nice to hear that the bugs in the current release (that really should not have existed in a Pro product) are going to be fixed.

I think I'll wait with an upgrade until it's no BETA anymore.

I cant wait, at the moment the device is useless for me, I have a returns number ready, its kinda waiting for me to send it back at the moment

I am shocked that this device has such serious problems. I've bought it just because I need solution to keep my data safe. I wanted to buy RAID NAS, but Data Tank doesn't have LAN.

I was preparing to merge my data from several sources two desktops, ext usb hdd, and notebook. This supposed to be solution and centralized storage... but it looks like worst investment...

Is there any workaround for this? Is there any utilities like Total Comander, Sync Toy, or anything that can correctly overwrite files? Is there tool which can verify contents after copy?

I have to move all my data from 4 sources and consolidate in one centralized location. Is there any other problems? I don't want to discover even more bugs when I try to reorganize (move, rename) data.

Worst thing is that I am stuck with this, can't return because I have to do this before New Year... No way that I can get refund and find something else so quick...

It is a so bad timing to be a beta tester with this suff... I am so frustrated...