WD 8TB My Cloud PR2100 NAS Storage Dual-Bay

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

The WD 8TB My Cloud Pro Series PR2100 Network Attached Storage (NAS), identified by the model number WDBBCL0080JBK-NESN, represents a significant step up from basic home NAS solutions, positioning itself as a robust and feature-rich centralized storage hub tailored for demanding users in the USA. This pre-configured unit, housing two 4TB 3.5″ SATA hard drives for a total of 8TB raw capacity, is engineered to address the needs of creative professionals handling large media files, small businesses requiring secure and collaborative data management, and advanced home users building extensive digital libraries. Its core strength lies in providing a secure, accessible, and high-performing platform for storing, managing, sharing, and protecting valuable digital assets.

Delving Deeper into Key Components and Functionality:

1. Processing Power and Memory Architecture:

At the heart of the PR2100 lies an Intel Pentium N3710 Quad-Core processor clocked at 1.6 GHz. This processor provides the necessary horsepower to handle concurrent user access, file transfers, background tasks, and importantly, hardware transcoding. Hardware transcoding is a crucial feature for smooth media streaming, as it allows the NAS to efficiently convert video formats and resolutions on the fly, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of playback devices (smart TVs, smartphones, tablets) without taxing the client device’s processing power.

Complementing the processor is 4GB of DDR3L RAM. This amount of memory allows the NAS to efficiently manage multiple applications and processes simultaneously, contributing to a responsive user experience even when handling large file operations or running several services in the background (e.g., Plex Media Server, backup jobs, file indexing). This is a significant upgrade compared to entry-level NAS devices, directly impacting multitasking performance and overall system responsiveness.

2. Storage Subsystem and RAID Configurations:

The dual-bay design of the PR2100 offers significant flexibility in how the two pre-installed 4TB Western Digital hard drives are configured. Users can choose from several RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) levels:

• RAID 0 (Striping): This configuration combines the two drives into a single logical volume, providing the full 8TB of storage capacity and maximizing read/write speeds. However, it offers no data redundancy; if one drive fails, all data is lost. This is best suited for scenarios where speed is paramount and data can be easily backed up elsewhere.
• RAID 1 (Mirroring): In this configuration, one drive acts as a direct copy of the other, resulting in 4TB of usable storage. If one drive fails, the other continues to operate, ensuring data availability. This is ideal for users prioritizing data protection and fault tolerance.
• JBOD (Just a Bunch Of Disks): This option treats each drive as an independent volume, providing the full 8TB of combined storage but without any performance or redundancy benefits of RAID.
• Spanning: Similar to JBOD, but the two drives are presented as a single logical volume, offering the full 8TB capacity without redundancy or performance enhancements.

The tool-less and tray-less drive bays simplify the process of installing or replacing hard drives, making maintenance and upgrades more convenient. The system also supports hot-swapping (depending on the RAID configuration), allowing for drive replacement without powering down the entire NAS, minimizing downtime.

3. Network Connectivity and Performance:

The PR2100 is equipped with two Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps) ports. This dual-port configuration offers several advantages:

• Link Aggregation (LAG or 802.3ad): When connected to a compatible switch, these ports can be combined to create a single logical link with double the bandwidth, resulting in significantly faster file transfer speeds, especially when multiple users are accessing the NAS simultaneously.
• Network Failover: The ports can be configured for network redundancy. If one network connection fails, the other automatically takes over, ensuring continuous network access to the NAS.

This robust network connectivity is crucial for seamless file sharing, remote access, and smooth media streaming across your network.

4. My Cloud OS and User Interface:

The PR2100 runs on My Cloud OS, a Linux-based operating system specifically designed for WD’s network storage devices. The web-based user interface is intuitive and user-friendly, allowing for easy management of various aspects of the NAS, including:

• User and Group Management: Creating and managing user accounts with varying levels of access permissions to shared folders.
• Shared Folder Management: Creating and configuring shared folders with specific access rights for different users or groups.
• RAID Management: Configuring and monitoring the status of the RAID array.
• Backup Management: Setting up and scheduling local, remote, and cloud backups.
• Media Server Configuration: Enabling and configuring DLNA media server and Plex Media Server.
• Application Management: Installing and managing third-party applications.
• System Monitoring: Monitoring system health, resource usage, and logs.
• Network Settings: Configuring IP address, DNS, and other network parameters.

The My Cloud OS is regularly updated with new features, security patches, and performance improvements.

5. Remote Access and Mobile Applications:

The MyCloud.com web portal and the My Cloud mobile app (available for iOS and Android) provide secure remote access to your files from anywhere with an internet connection. This enables:

• File Browsing and Management: Accessing, viewing, downloading, and uploading files remotely.
• Media Streaming: Streaming your photos, videos, and music to your mobile devices.
• File Sharing: Easily sharing files and folders with friends, family, or colleagues via shareable links.
• Mobile Backup: Automatically backing up photos and videos from your mobile devices to the NAS.

This remote access functionality transforms the PR2100 from a simple local storage device into a personal cloud solution.

6. Data Protection and Backup Capabilities:

The PR2100 offers a comprehensive suite of data protection features:

• RAID Redundancy (as discussed earlier): Provides hardware-level data protection against drive failures.
• Password Protection: Secure access to the NAS and its shared folders through user authentication.
• 256-bit AES Volume Encryption: Encrypts the entire volume stored on the NAS, protecting data from unauthorized access even if the drives are removed.
• WD SmartWare Pro (for Windows): Provides automated backup software for Windows computers, allowing for scheduled backups of important files and folders.
• Apple Time Machine Support (for macOS): Seamlessly integrates with macOS’s built-in backup utility for automatic backups of Mac computers.
• Remote Backup: Ability to back up data from one My Cloud device to another over the network, providing an offsite backup solution.
• Cloud Backup Integration: Supports integration with various cloud backup services (e.g., Amazon S3, ElephantDrive) for an additional layer of data protection and disaster recovery.
• Dual Power Ports: Offers redundancy in case of power supply failure (requires a compatible redundant power supply unit).

7. Media Streaming and Entertainment:

The PR2100 excels as a home media server due to its powerful hardware and software capabilities:

• Plex Media Server: The PR2100 is a certified Plex Media Server, allowing you to organize your movie, TV show, music, and photo collections and stream them to various Plex clients on your network and remotely. The hardware transcoding capabilities ensure smooth playback even on devices with limited processing power or when streaming in different resolutions or formats.
• DLNA Media Server: Supports DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) protocol, allowing compatible smart TVs, game consoles, and other devices to discover and play media stored on the NAS.
• iTunes Server: Enables the NAS to host your iTunes library, allowing you to stream your music collection to iTunes-compatible devices on your network.

8. Additional Features and Connectivity:

• One-Touch USB Copy Button: Located on the front panel, this button allows for quick and easy backup of data from USB drives or cameras directly to the NAS without needing to use the web interface. The NAS also supports exFAT file system on the USB ports for broad compatibility with external devices.
• USB 3.0 Ports (x2): Two high-speed USB 3.0 Type-A ports on the rear panel allow for connecting external hard drives for expanding storage capacity or performing backups, as well as connecting other USB peripherals.
• Third-Party Application Support: The My Cloud OS supports the installation of various third-party applications, extending the functionality of the NAS. These can include backup tools, surveillance software (like Milestone Arcus for managing IP cameras), and other utilities.
• Adobe Creative Cloud Connectivity: Provides seamless integration with Adobe Creative Cloud workflows, allowing creative professionals to directly access and work on their large media files stored on the NAS from within applications like Photoshop and Premiere Pro.

The WD 8TB My Cloud Pro Series PR2100 is particularly well-suited for:

• Creative Professionals (Photographers, Videographers, Graphic Designers): The large storage capacity, high-performance processing, and seamless Adobe Creative Cloud integration cater to the needs of individuals and small teams working with large image and video files. RAID options ensure data protection for valuable project files.
• Small Businesses: Provides a centralized and secure storage solution for shared documents, project files, and backups, facilitating collaboration and data management within a small office environment. User access controls and data encryption ensure data security.
• Home Media Enthusiasts: The ample storage, powerful hardware transcoding, and Plex Media Server support make it an ideal solution for building and streaming large personal media libraries (4K movies, high-resolution music, extensive photo collections) to multiple devices throughout the home.
• Families with Significant Digital Assets: Offers a secure and organized way to store and share family photos, videos, and important documents, with easy remote access and mobile backup capabilities.

Conclusion:

The WD 8TB My Cloud Pro Series PR2100 (WDBBCL0080JBK-NESN) stands out as a powerful and versatile 8TB NAS solution in the USA market. Its combination of high-performance hardware (Intel Pentium processor, 4GB RAM), flexible RAID configurations, robust data protection features, seamless remote access, and excellent media streaming capabilities (Plex with hardware transcoding) makes it a compelling choice for professional NAS users, small business NAS deployments, and demanding home media server setups. Its user-friendly interface and comprehensive feature set provide a centralized, secure, and accessible platform for managing and protecting valuable digital assets, positioning it as a strong cloud storage alternative with enhanced control and privacy. The dual-bay NAS design offers a good balance of capacity and potential for redundancy, making it a reliable foundation for various storage needs.