Western Digital 8TB My Cloud EX2 Ultra Network Attached Storage - NAS - Western DigitalBVBZ0080JCH-NESN

Very easy to set up. I love the dual redundant drives and the peace of mind it gives in knowing that my cloud server is always fully backed up. I did have an issue with being able to access the server via Finder on my MacBook. It turned out that there was a bug in the firmware version that was installed during the set up. I found this out by posting questions on the WD community boards. WD does provide excellent support on their web site and members of the community are very responsive and helpful. I was able to resolve my issue in a matter of hours and after following the advice given on the community board everything worked perfectly.I highly recommend this cloud server for anyone interested in setting up a personal cloud. It is awesome to have access to all of my music, video and photo collections from anywhere in the world I have access to the internet. There are many choices for personal cloud servers out there these days. I chose WD because it got the best reviews from tech sites like CNET. In addition, I found it to be the best value in terms of TB per dollar. $599 for a 12TB NAS is a very good deal, in my opinion. 12TB may be overkill for some but in my case it gives me good room to grow. WD also has a very good reputation for the quality of their hard drives, as well as for customer support. Choosing a NAS with the drives installed and RAID 1 pre-configured is a no brainer. If you are computer savvy you can purchase the box and install your own drives and set up your own RAID configuration. But for this price why go to the trouble of doing that just to save a few bucks? The EX2 Ultra is a great cloud server that even a novice will find easy to set up.

I recently invested in the WD 12TB My Cloud EX2 Ultra Network Attached Storage, and I must say, it has been a game-changer for my personal and professional data storage needs. This powerful, high-capacity NAS device offers an exceptional combination of performance, reliability, and ease of use, making it an invaluable addition to my home network.One of the standout features of the WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra is its impressive 12TB storage capacity. This ample space has allowed me to securely store all of my important files, media, and backups in one central location, providing both peace of mind and easy access to my data whenever I need it.The performance of the My Cloud EX2 Ultra is also top-notch, with its high-speed processor and ample memory ensuring smooth, efficient operation. File transfers are quick and seamless, and I've experienced no lag or slowdowns when accessing my data, even when multiple users are connected to the device.Setting up the WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra was a breeze, thanks to its user-friendly interface and step-by-step instructions. The device easily integrated into my existing network, and the intuitive dashboard made it simple to configure settings, manage users, and monitor the health of my NAS.Another feature I appreciate is the device's remote access capabilities. With the My Cloud mobile app, I can access my files from anywhere, using my smartphone or tablet. This has proven incredibly convenient for both work and personal use, allowing me to stay connected to my data even when I'm on the go.

Very good for home use. Set-up went quickly, file transfers from existing drives was basically drag and drop on my screen. Don't try to run your medical clinic patient filing system on this unit - not what the operating system and software is designed for - get a big boy meant for business for that type of application. Not sure what other reviewers are referring to with 'substitution of lower quality disc drives' - mine arrived with the WD Red Pro drives - just as specified. Set-up was pretty straight forward - only instructions are on-line. If you're not already familiar with which RAID mode you want to run in - there's not really any tutorial to help you learn - BUT it starts up in RAID1 which is the most conservative and safest for data (it keeps a copy of every file on each drive - every time you save one - like an automatic back-up). That means one drive (of the two) could crash, you drop a new one in that slot, copy all the files from the other to it - and you're back in business. The cooling fan is not silent (large data transfers spool the fan up) - I wouldn't sit this next to my bed, but it's OK in a home office setting. If you're into energy and drive-wear conservation just be aware that it does not come set up to automatically 'hibernate' when inactive. You can manually instruct it to hibernate but you will have to unplug it and re-power it up to restart - no restart from your PC - this is a well-known belly-ache you'll see on-line. There are very involved instructions from several you-tube geeks on how to alter your firmware and system boot files to create an automatic mode to come out of hibernation when the drive is queried by LAN activity - but not for the feint of heart. Not really a 'problem' for the average user - you buy WD Red Pro in the first place for reliability - they are rated at 1,000,000 operating hours between failures - I'm letting mine run 24x7 which is basically what it's designed for. A little frustrated with Western Digital for obsoleting the original MyCloud - somewhat expected eventually - BUT the 20% discount offer e-mailed to those of us stuck buying a new unit only brought the replacement unit down from list to the same discount price you can get anywhere on-line for that unit - come on guys...I went Amazon instead, paid $3 less, free shipping and had the unit on my doorstep in 6 hours - not bad (must stock these in Minneapolis). Would buy again.