Time Capsule cross platform NAS?

anthlover · 12-11-2012, 10:15 PM

I support a user who had Grant and bought a ton of stuff without talking to us first. Among these he Bought A Pegasus 4 and Time Capsule. He thought the former was a NAS. I explained that it was not.

He asked also about the time Capsule be bought.

His only interest with it is to use the Time Capsule as Cross Platform NAS. Is this possible to serve Windows and Mac users with it for file storage?

I never tried? He only ever used a Time machine with USB drives for Time machine and I do not even so that any more. He intends to connect the Time Capsule, wired. Since its a corporate environment we do not even really want the Wireless functionality on.

agentx · 12-12-2012, 09:30 AM

[sigh]

Yes windows users can use a Time Capsule but I would NOT use it for my NAS needs in a Business environment.

IMO they are unreliable, every single one i have had to support in last 4 years has failed. I do not or will not ever advise using Apple Network gear ever.....don't get me wrong i like the Airport Express but EVERY single one(3 in my setup and countless elsewhere) has failed at 13-24 months.

agentx · 12-12-2012, 09:32 AM

Also make sure Bonjour is installed on Windows PCs, if they have iTunes installed then not needed.

anthlover · 12-12-2012, 10:13 AM

Thank you for the response. I have had better luck (Limited experience) with Airport Extreme's and Expresses. No failures. In fact handed down my Older Extreme to my father

when I switched to Simul Dual band.

** Yeah I did not choose the equipment a Pegasus 4 and Time Capsule, the customer has them already. Would not want to use the switch or wifi functionality (ideally would turn off wireless). Would just want to put the Capsule on the network, perhaps also use the USB for making a Printer network ready (save an ethernet port in a room where not enough connections at the moment).

**Is Bonjour required to detect the device or can one attach by IP address on the PCs?

agentx · 12-12-2012, 10:23 AM

So the Pegasus is going to be DAS ( Direct Attached Storage ) to the MBP ?
Shame it is not running off the back of a Mac Mini Server ;-)

Yes you can put Airport Extreme into just a NAS mode with it just being a device on network.

You should be able to drop a USB printer off it in this mode too.

Yes Bonjour is used for easy discovery but you can connect by IP.

anthlover · 12-12-2012, 10:56 AM

Pegasus Has only 2 Thunderbolt ports. Yeah he might by a Mini. He seems to be good with Grants to the point where he had money to burn

and did not talk to us before ordering because he had to use it up fast.

For now Pegasus is hanging off a Thunderbolt Display which he plugs his Retina into. He just opened the box was sitting in a drawer since August.

1) What is the format of the mapping command for Airport from the PC with out Bonjour, e.g. \\10.131.14.xx ?
2) We could share the Pegasus off his Retina but it travels, hence the mutual mini idea.
3) Is there a way to turn off Wifi on Time Capsule? No point in gumming up the airwaves since there are Corporate WiLans.
4) Probably going to have to order him more wired connections

agentx · 12-12-2012, 11:17 AM

1) Yes \\IP\sharename (you might want to setup users etc on TC if needed) and of course enable the windows sharing.
2) Mini's rock for bolt on/satellite use even in corporates ;-)
3) Yes, (always good not to mess with those corporate networks)

anthlover · 12-12-2012, 11:39 AM

TY. Probably go with this plan for now and use the Pegasus for backup... Then explore more options.

12-11-2012, 10:15 PM	#1
anthlover Hall of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,703	Time Capsule cross platform NAS? I support a user who had Grant and bought a ton of stuff without talking to us first. Among these he Bought A Pegasus 4 and Time Capsule. He thought the former was a NAS. I explained that it was not. He asked also about the time Capsule be bought. His only interest with it is to use the Time Capsule as Cross Platform NAS. Is this possible to serve Windows and Mac users with it for file storage? I never tried? He only ever used a Time machine with USB drives for Time machine and I do not even so that any more. He intends to connect the Time Capsule, wired. Since its a corporate environment we do not even really want the Wireless functionality on.

12-12-2012, 10:56 AM	#6
anthlover Hall of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,703	Pegasus Has only 2 Thunderbolt ports. Yeah he might by a Mini. He seems to be good with Grants to the point where he had money to burn and did not talk to us before ordering because he had to use it up fast. For now Pegasus is hanging off a Thunderbolt Display which he plugs his Retina into. He just opened the box was sitting in a drawer since August. 1) What is the format of the mapping command for Airport from the PC with out Bonjour, e.g. \\10.131.14.xx ? 2) We could share the Pegasus off his Retina but it travels, hence the mutual mini idea. 3) Is there a way to turn off Wifi on Time Capsule? No point in gumming up the airwaves since there are Corporate WiLans. 4) Probably going to have to order him more wired connections Last edited by anthlover; 12-12-2012 at 11:38 AM.

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12-12-2012, 09:30 AM	#2
agentx Hall of Famer Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 3,832	[sigh] Yes windows users can use a Time Capsule but I would NOT use it for my NAS needs in a Business environment. IMO they are unreliable, every single one i have had to support in last 4 years has failed. I do not or will not ever advise using Apple Network gear ever.....don't get me wrong i like the Airport Express but EVERY single one(3 in my setup and countless elsewhere) has failed at 13-24 months.

12-12-2012, 09:32 AM	#3
agentx Hall of Famer Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 3,832	Also make sure Bonjour is installed on Windows PCs, if they have iTunes installed then not needed.

12-12-2012, 10:13 AM	#4
anthlover Hall of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,703	Thank you for the response. I have had better luck (Limited experience) with Airport Extreme's and Expresses. No failures. In fact handed down my Older Extreme to my father when I switched to Simul Dual band. Yeah I did not choose the equipment a Pegasus 4 and Time Capsule, the customer has them already. Would not want to use the switch or wifi functionality (ideally would turn off wireless). Would just want to put the Capsule on the network, perhaps also use the USB for making a Printer network ready (save an ethernet port in a room where not enough connections at the moment). Is Bonjour required to detect the device or can one attach by IP address on the PCs?

12-12-2012, 10:23 AM	#5
agentx Hall of Famer Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 3,832	So the Pegasus is going to be DAS ( Direct Attached Storage ) to the MBP ? Shame it is not running off the back of a Mac Mini Server ;-) Yes you can put Airport Extreme into just a NAS mode with it just being a device on network. You should be able to drop a USB printer off it in this mode too. Yes Bonjour is used for easy discovery but you can connect by IP.

12-12-2012, 11:17 AM	#7
agentx Hall of Famer Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 3,832	1) Yes \\IP\sharename (you might want to setup users etc on TC if needed) and of course enable the windows sharing. 2) Mini's rock for bolt on/satellite use even in corporates ;-) 3) Yes, (always good not to mess with those corporate networks)

12-12-2012, 11:39 AM	#8
anthlover Hall of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,703	TY. Probably go with this plan for now and use the Pegasus for backup... Then explore more options.