**Western Digital Ex2 NAS Review**

The Western Digital Ex2 is a compact and powerful network-attached storage (NAS) device that can be configured in either RAID 1 or RAID 0. This device features a 1.2 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM, and comes in four different models with varying capacities ranging from 6 to 8 terabytes. It also supports WD's Enterprise-level Red drives, allowing users to opt for disc-less models if they plan on using their own external hard drives.

**Hardware and Design**

Inside the box, you'll find a compact matte gray enclosure with ventilation holes on top and bottom, along with some rubber feet on the front of the unit. The NAS has power and hard drive LEDs as well as two USB 3.0 ports for storage expansion or creating backups to and from your USB drive. There's also a Kensington lock available, which is a great feature for those who want to secure their device.

To set up the Ex2, simply connect the power and Ethernet cables, press down on the top lid, and you'll gain access to your drive base. Unscrewing the metal retention plate will reveal numbered stickers on your device and hard drives, ensuring that you can easily identify them if you need to remove and reinstall them.

**Setup and Software**

Connecting the power and Ethernet cables is all it takes to get started with the Ex2. Once connected, users can download the setup software from WD's website and follow the easy instructions to set up the dashboard. The dashboard grants users full control over the NAS's parameters, including WD MyCloud for file management and Public Share Folder.

The dashboard homepage provides a comprehensive look at your device's stats, available capacity, diagnostic information, network and hardware usage, and the number of connected Cloud devices and users. Under the Users tab, you can add new users to the NAS and designate their share access or add them to customize groups for easier management of multiple users.

The Share tab allows users to create folders or shares for storing files, creating multiple shares on a single storage device, and controlling access to each share. Cloud Access enables mobile devices to connect to your personal cloud, allowing you to view files remotely using a randomly generated code. Backing up data to or from the Ex2 is straightforward, with options to back up locally, set recurring backups for specific dates and times, and even backup to remote servers.

**Performance and Features**

The storage tab provides information about your drives and allows users to change the RAID volume to different modes, such as redundancy or performance. Users can also set iSCSI targets and create volume virtualizations on the Apps page. Here, you can download files using HTTP, FTP, or PTP, install third-party applications to expand the functionality of your device, and find settings for further customization.

**WD MyCloud Software**

After taking care of all your business in the dashboard, users can head over to the WD MyCloud software, which appears as a window on their desktop. This is where you can drag and drop files straight into the cloud, organize folders or make playlists with all of your media uploaded to the cloud, and browse and play all of your files from the Public Shared Folder.

**Conclusion**

The Western Digital Ex2 works great for home media storage, and I'm even planning on using it to store my YouTube channel asset files like logos and fonts. Apart from its many cool features, I think the main reason this product works is because the software is so easy to use and actually functions quite well.

**A Patreon Page**

Before ending the video, I have a quick announcement for y'all. After posting last week's update explaining my resignation from Newegg, a couple of you suggested I look into getting a Patreon page. I had never heard of it before, so I checked it out and found that it looked pretty cool. The site allows me to offer reward incentives to users who support the Channel with monthly contributions. I've put some cool rewards in my Milestone goals, so check out the link in the description and become an awesome Sauce Patron! Don't forget to toss me a like if you enjoyed the video, and I'll see you guys in the next one.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhow's it going guys welcome back to the channel so for the last year or so I've been storing all of my media files on a 2 tbyte external hard drive connected to my htpc since this little guy is only packing a 256 gig SSD and for the most part that's been working out just fine but last week I came across a more robust solution for all of my media storage and Playback needs enter the WD M cloud ex2 this is a Nas for home and small office use that holds two 3 and 1/2 in drives that can be configured in either raid 1 or Raid zero it has a 1.2 GHz processor and 512 mby of RAM and it comes in four 6 or 8 terab models featuring wd's Enterprise level red drives you can also opt for the disc lless model if you plan on using a couple drives of your own Inside the Box you get Dad nass power and ethernet cables and some paper the nas has a plastic matte gray enclosure and some ventilation holes on the top top and bottom along with some rubber feet on the front of the unit are power and hard drive LEDs and around back are your power and ethernet ports accompanied by two USB 3.0 ports for storage expansion or creating backups to and from your usb drive there's also a Kensington lock because everyone knows that burglers go straight for the nas pressing down on the top lid pops it open and gives you access to your drive base unscrew the metal retention plate and you'll see some numbered stickers on your device and hard drives so there's no doubt if you have to remove and reinstall them speaking of which you can easily pull the drives out and slide them in by pulling them out and sliding them in to install the nas connect the power and ethernet cables that's it you can then download the setup software from wd's website and follow the Easy instructions when you're finished you'll have installed the dashboard which grants you full control of the Nas's parameters WD McLoud for file management and the public share folder which holds all of your files stored on or outside of your network in the dashboard homepage you get a comprehensive look at your device's stats available capacity diagnostic Network and Hardware usage and the number of connected Cloud devices and users under the users tab you can add new users to the Nas and designate their share access or add them to customize groups to more easily manage multiple users at a time the share tab lets you create folders or shares for storing files you can create multiple shares on a single storage device and control access to each share for example if I hired a new employee for my business and needed a way to send them information I could give him read only access to a new share called Kyle's coffee orders Cloud access allows you to connect a mobile device to your personal cloud in order to view the files remotely here you can randomly generate a code to enter into the WD mycloud app on your tablet or smartphone once connected you can use your mobile device to view all the files and media you've been given access to backing up all your data to or from your Nas is pretty straightforward as well you have the option to back up data to or from a USB drive a remote mycloud ex device the ex2 unit itself or a Cloud Server which gives you internet access to your backup when backing up data locally to the the ex2 you can set up a recurring backup for a specific date and time which is cool in the storage tab you can see some information about your drives and change the raid volume to a different RAID Mode whether you're looking for redundancy or performance you can also set iSCSI targets and create volume virtualizations on the apps page you can download files using HTTP FTP or PTP or install thirdparty applications to expand the functionality of your device and finally in the settings tab you'll find a lot of settings after taking care of all your business in the dashboard you can head over to the WD mycloud software which appears as a window on your desktop this is where you can drag and drop files straight into the cloud organize folders or make playlists with all of your media uploaded to the cloud you can then browse and play all of your files from the public shared folder this essentially holds all of the folders and files that can be accessed by any device or computer that's been given permission for the brief time I've spent with it the ex2 works great for home media storage and I'm even planning on dumping in my YouTube channel asset files like logos and fonts so I can access them if I happen to be editing a video on someone else's computer apart from the many cool things you can do with the Nas I think the main reason this product works is because the software is so easy to use and actually functions quite well now before I end the video I have a quick announcement for y'all after posting last week's update explaining my resignation from Newegg a couple of you suggested I look into getting a patreon page I had never heard of it so I checked it out and it looked pretty cool the site basically lets me offer reward incentives to you guys for supporting the Channel with monthly contributions I put some cool rewards in my Milestone goals in there so check out the link in the description and become an awesome sauce Patron I'm Kyle with awesome sauce Network please don't forget to toss me a like if you enjoyed the video and I'll see you guys in the next onehow's it going guys welcome back to the channel so for the last year or so I've been storing all of my media files on a 2 tbyte external hard drive connected to my htpc since this little guy is only packing a 256 gig SSD and for the most part that's been working out just fine but last week I came across a more robust solution for all of my media storage and Playback needs enter the WD M cloud ex2 this is a Nas for home and small office use that holds two 3 and 1/2 in drives that can be configured in either raid 1 or Raid zero it has a 1.2 GHz processor and 512 mby of RAM and it comes in four 6 or 8 terab models featuring wd's Enterprise level red drives you can also opt for the disc lless model if you plan on using a couple drives of your own Inside the Box you get Dad nass power and ethernet cables and some paper the nas has a plastic matte gray enclosure and some ventilation holes on the top top and bottom along with some rubber feet on the front of the unit are power and hard drive LEDs and around back are your power and ethernet ports accompanied by two USB 3.0 ports for storage expansion or creating backups to and from your usb drive there's also a Kensington lock because everyone knows that burglers go straight for the nas pressing down on the top lid pops it open and gives you access to your drive base unscrew the metal retention plate and you'll see some numbered stickers on your device and hard drives so there's no doubt if you have to remove and reinstall them speaking of which you can easily pull the drives out and slide them in by pulling them out and sliding them in to install the nas connect the power and ethernet cables that's it you can then download the setup software from wd's website and follow the Easy instructions when you're finished you'll have installed the dashboard which grants you full control of the Nas's parameters WD McLoud for file management and the public share folder which holds all of your files stored on or outside of your network in the dashboard homepage you get a comprehensive look at your device's stats available capacity diagnostic Network and Hardware usage and the number of connected Cloud devices and users under the users tab you can add new users to the Nas and designate their share access or add them to customize groups to more easily manage multiple users at a time the share tab lets you create folders or shares for storing files you can create multiple shares on a single storage device and control access to each share for example if I hired a new employee for my business and needed a way to send them information I could give him read only access to a new share called Kyle's coffee orders Cloud access allows you to connect a mobile device to your personal cloud in order to view the files remotely here you can randomly generate a code to enter into the WD mycloud app on your tablet or smartphone once connected you can use your mobile device to view all the files and media you've been given access to backing up all your data to or from your Nas is pretty straightforward as well you have the option to back up data to or from a USB drive a remote mycloud ex device the ex2 unit itself or a Cloud Server which gives you internet access to your backup when backing up data locally to the the ex2 you can set up a recurring backup for a specific date and time which is cool in the storage tab you can see some information about your drives and change the raid volume to a different RAID Mode whether you're looking for redundancy or performance you can also set iSCSI targets and create volume virtualizations on the apps page you can download files using HTTP FTP or PTP or install thirdparty applications to expand the functionality of your device and finally in the settings tab you'll find a lot of settings after taking care of all your business in the dashboard you can head over to the WD mycloud software which appears as a window on your desktop this is where you can drag and drop files straight into the cloud organize folders or make playlists with all of your media uploaded to the cloud you can then browse and play all of your files from the public shared folder this essentially holds all of the folders and files that can be accessed by any device or computer that's been given permission for the brief time I've spent with it the ex2 works great for home media storage and I'm even planning on dumping in my YouTube channel asset files like logos and fonts so I can access them if I happen to be editing a video on someone else's computer apart from the many cool things you can do with the Nas I think the main reason this product works is because the software is so easy to use and actually functions quite well now before I end the video I have a quick announcement for y'all after posting last week's update explaining my resignation from Newegg a couple of you suggested I look into getting a patreon page I had never heard of it so I checked it out and it looked pretty cool the site basically lets me offer reward incentives to you guys for supporting the Channel with monthly contributions I put some cool rewards in my Milestone goals in there so check out the link in the description and become an awesome sauce Patron I'm Kyle with awesome sauce Network please don't forget to toss me a like if you enjoyed the video and I'll see you guys in the next one\n"