The DNS-323 D-Link is a product that is found for quite a while in all over the world. As so often in the Taiwanese manufacturer, it is distinguished first by a particularly attractive price, but also very easy to use to get a place in the sun. Note that less than 200 euros a bare box (it is delivered with no HDD), it is simply the least expensive of our record ... It is even cheaper than the DS107 + from Synology yet limited to a hard disk.


Overview

Price requires the DNS-323 does not really fancy, but he finished quite correct, even if the implementation of hard disks is a little "tinkering" on the cover to slide towards top before inserting each disk into its compartment. To remove them, it's even simpler: it operates the levers at the rear to remove the hard drives. Nothing to plug in, nothing to screw / unscrew the system is in fact to all. The same goes for the launch of the device that simply connect to the network to see through your browser. Note that a detection tool (the D-Link Easy Search) is also a party.

In technical terms, it is important to note that the motherboard can be placed horizontally under the hard drives. As a main consequence to ensure a relatively efficient cooling despite the presence of a single fan, also 40 mm. This fan of any size can also be borne in mind and allows the DNS-323 to be among the quietest products in our comparison. However, it is much less at ease level of cooling capacity. This is obviously not a surprise: small and discreet can not synonymous with performance. However, our records are not really complain within the DNS-323 NAS and the D-Link is in the middle of our high ranking, we remain at suitable values.


In practice

If the installation and start up the DNS-323 is worthy of all praise, shame on the first glance that the user interface is limited to English only. This is particularly unfortunate for a product that is destined to the general public and we certainly hope that D-Link fixes quickly shooting. This is likely to be with the next model because the DNS-323 is already on sale for many months: it had to be a change, it would probably already been done. Most of us are likely to have some problems to handle the DNS-323 even though the functions are fairly well arranged and quite accessible.


It must be said that these functions are not very numerous. Logical consequence of its floor price, the DNS-323 is thus the deadlock on the most advanced options. So when it comes to downloading, D-Link seems to mix the download itself and as backup. However, it benefited from a to add the Bittorrent protocol in addition to conventional FTP / HTTP. the same vein, the DNS-323 does not function Web server and it is only for our case that will not let you connect a USB storage device external (the port is limited to printers). Finally, D-Link limits its service for streaming media to the most current and of course does not function "accessory" as an integrated switch, the management of IP cameras and Web access to files.

Although real, these limitations should not obscure the primary role of a NAS, a role that finally fulfills very well the DNS-323. Simple to implement, rather efficient and relatively quiet, it is about average, while its price is much lower than those of competitors. A model a little "rustic", but that should satisfy many users.