Frequently Asked Questions
Basics
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What is CloudStor?
CloudStor is a secure, personal storage solution for accessing and sharing photos, videos, music and data with anyone, anywhere. By using virtual cloud functionality from Pogoplug®, you can select the files you want to share instantly and without any fees. A free desktop application for both Mac® and PC enables you to view CloudStor files as if they were on a local drive and also actively copies the content you designate from your computer to your CloudStor.
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How do I get started using CloudStor?
CloudStor comes with everything you need to get started. Just plug it in, turn it on and create your free account at myCloudStor.com. The easy-to-use interface connects with CloudStor functionality over the Internet. When you log in to your account at myCloudStor.com from anywhere in the world, you will be able to easily upload, download, view, stream and share files. Learn more how to get started here.
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What is Pogoplug?
Pogoplug provides a free online service for remotely accessing and sharing your files through any web browser or mobile device. Pogoplug powers the cloud functionality of CloudStor.
Hardware and Software Requirements
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What are the hardware specifications for CloudStor?
CloudStor Solo CS-X and CloudStor CS-WX/1D are equipped with a 600 MHz processor and 64 MB of DDR2 RAM. CloudStor Pro CS-WV/1D is equipped with a 1.6 GHz processor and 256 MB of DDR3 memory. I/O throughput for CloudStor Pro is about 2.5-3x the speed of regular CloudStor (transcoding and media processing time should be equally faster). CS-WX/1D and CS-WV/1D models have additional expansion bay to increase storage capacities.
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Do I need to use any special software with my CloudStor?
No. Everything you need to use CloudStor comes equipped on the device. CloudStor uses your Internet browser to access and share files. CloudStor is compatible with Mac, Windows® and Linux®.
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What drive format does CloudStor use?
CloudStor and CloudStor Pro come with a preformatted hard drive with a native file system called XFS. This format is not readable by Windows PCs. As such, Buffalo provides a free Windows utility for download called EXT3Reader. This small application allows Windows users to access data on hard drives connected to that PC.
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How do I know if CloudStor will work with my home network?
CloudStor works with most consumer home networking equipment. If you have a business-grade router in the home, you may need to manually adjust some network settings.
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How fast is CloudStor?
CloudStor Pro features a 1.6 GHz processor and 256 MB DDR3 RAM and can achieve gigabit network transfer speeds of up to 72 MB/s (576 Mb/s), up to 2X faster multimedia transcode speed. Depending on network conditions and the types of files being transferred, performance may vary. Over the Internet, transfer speeds are limited to the ISP speed that CloudStor is connected to or the Internet speed of the device accessing files on CloudStor.
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How do I increase the storage capacity for CloudStor?
CloudStor comes equipped with one hard drive installed and support for two hard drives. It offers the easiest hard drive addition and replacement on the market. See recommended HDD List. Simply pull the front cover off with your fingers and slide a compatible 3.5” SATA hard drive into the spare bay. No tools and no hard drive trays are required.
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Can I use CloudStor to back up multiple Mac computers?
Yes. The CloudStor has an integrated Time Machine® server allowing multiple Mac computers to back up to the Time Machine server.
Usage
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Can I access my CloudStor from my office, hotel room or from a coffee shop?
Yes. Whether you’re at home, the office or on the road, your CloudStor user experience remains the same. It looks and operates just like a hard drive inside your computer, always accessible via a drive letter in Windows or a device in Mac OS® X.
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How does the BitTorrent™ download feature work?
The BitTorrent feature is accessed through a web browser where a user can upload a .torrent tracker file or simply provide a URL to a tracker. The CloudStor then downloads the BitTorrent file(s) to the pre-determined download folder. Access to the BitTorrent download manager is available from any device in the world with an Internet browser, including mobile devices.
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Can I use CloudStor for backup?
Yes, although there's no specific backup software/application, yet. Initially you can just drag and drop the files you want to copy using Windows Explorer or Mac Finder®. Mac customers may also use the integrated Time Machine server.
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How do I share my photos, music, videos and other files with people?
When you visit myCloudStor.com, you'll have full access to view and share your files. Simply click on a file, folder or album, and then select the person(s) you want to share with by typing their email address(es) in the online form. Your friends or family won't even need to register. They simply click the shared link and the files are immediately available for their viewing.
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How do I use CloudStor with my Facebook® or Twitter™ account?
When you click “Share This” on myCloudStor.com, there are options to publish your files to your Facebook or Twitter, as well as other social media options.
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How do I use CloudStor with my smartphone?
Applications for iPad®, iPod touch®, iPhone® and Android™ offer the capability to view and interact with your files, freeing you from the constraints of small flash drives. When streaming music, CloudStor mobile applications have a usage limit of 16,000 songs.
Other
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What devices can I connect to the CloudStor USB ports? (CS-WX/1D and CS-WV/1D models only)
The USB port supports USB printers - a USB printer can be added and shared through the CloudStor, allowing documents to be printed remotely over the internet.
