WD 8TB My Cloud Pro Series PR2100 Network Attached Storage - NAS - WDBBCL0080JBK-NESN

In spite of the cost, I highly recommend these semi-professional RAID drives for anyone needing to store large amounts of data in a redundant manner for safety against data loss. The unit installs easily. Just plug it in, attach a network cable, and fire it up. You then install a small software package on your computer to access the data on the drive and to carry out administrative functions. The admin program, which is web-based, is pretty nice, with many features and functions for the more advanced user, yet an intuitive interface for those not as familiar with these functions. A somewhat slow spin-up time and shut down time is a factor, but not really a big issue if you keep the drives on and go into sleep mode when not in use. Physically, the unit is compact, but heavy (of course, the drive contains two 3.5-inch RED network drives, plus the RAID hardware itself), and is visually attractive. Noisy at startup and shutdown, it is nearly silent during normal operations. Transfer speed through Ethernet is good, with speeds nearing 100 Mbs for many transfers (speed will depend on if you are transferring many small files, or a lesser number of large files). The drives themselves are easily accessed from the front panel by pulling up the hinged lever, and the drive slides out. So, if you ever need to replace one of those network drives, it's a snap (and let's hope we never have to do so). After a couple of hard drive crashes, I knew that I had to move to a more robust method for storing data (I'm a photographer), and this fits the bill. I like the device so much that I have two: a 18Gb RAID model and a 10Gb RAID model. Their relatively small size and overall quietness make them an unobtrusive pair of storage devices. When you think of the cost, ask yourself the "cost" of losing all those photos, recordings, videos, etc. you've made over the years. Highly Recommended.

I rigged my PR2100 with two Western Digital 4TB WD4005FZBX hard drives, set them up as a 4TB hot swappable raid and then proceeded to try and set up my Western Digital (WD) My Cloud account using their My Cloud OS 3 app. Despite having built numerous computers and setting up countless networks, this process turned into hours and hours of frustration.I am an engineer and even I was confused by the process! So much so that my mind has literally blocked out the details. The process was not even slightly plug and play and WD was relentless in trying to update me to their new OS 5.However, now that I have the storage device running, I can tell you what I have done with it. Not only are the files on the device available to my Win 10 and Win 7 computers, but the files are also available to my cellphone and tablets! I even connected a usb hub which shares the content of two 512gb usb sticks. I can even limit what each device can do with the files.Try that with Windows 10 now that they have removed Homegroup, eliminating your ability to share drives between Win 7 and Win 10 computers through a simple CAT cable.P.S. Western Digital is really pushing their new O.S., My Cloud OS 5, but I have read some very poor reviews of the app and after what it took to get OS 3 up and running, I have no intention of risking going through that again any time soon.

I rarely write reviews, but my experience with the Western Digital 8TB My Cloud Pro has been beyond frustrating and disappointing.• Never Functioned Properly: From the start, this device consistently sent power failure notifications, even when connected to reliable power sources. It never performed as expected and proved to be completely unreliable for secure file storage or access — which defeats the purpose of a NAS system.• Poor Customer Service Experience: I contacted Western Digital support multiple times over nearly two years. Each time, I was given the runaround — endless troubleshooting suggestions, repetitive questions, and no accountability. It was an exhausting and time-consuming process.• Warranty Replacement Denied: After finally convincing them to accept the unit for warranty inspection, I was told that internal damage to one of the rails disqualified it from coverage. On top of that, they refused service because it was purchased through a third-party seller on Amazon, claiming they could not verify the age or origin of the product — even though Amazon listed it as new at the time of purchase.• No Resolution or Replacement: Despite a clear history of malfunctions and my extensive attempts to resolve the issue through proper channels, I ended up with no working product and no support, all for a significant investment.Bottom line:If you’re considering buying this product — especially from a third-party seller on Amazon — beware. You may end up with a defective unit and no warranty protection whatsoever. Western Digital’s refusal to stand behind their product and their inability to verify purchases made through one of the largest online marketplaces is unacceptable for a company of this size and reputation.