My Book Live Duo - USB and software question

WD Legacy Products My Book Live Duo
1

I have the follwing questions related to the My Book Live Duo:

  1. Is the USB powered or have any limitations to connect a WD Passport Essentials SE to it (Y/N)?

  2. Can the USB with the Essentials SE attached, back up (not copy) the Duo Disk, if mirrored, without the original computer powered on (Y/N)?

3. Software - can I just put a folder on the Duo Drive with a folder structure of pictures (2009 photos, 2010 photos, etc.) and set the properties so everyone can see them and then stream them versus copy them to an ipad to see them?

Thank you.  

2

I’ve had mine for about week now. it’s a pretty cool little box.
anyway,

  1. Yes its powered and works well with non powered drives. I’ve also tested it with powered drives and it works the same.

  2. I’ve only tried to use the USB drive as a Samba share/DLNA stream and it works but only had read access when connected to my WD Live SMP. I havent messed with it further as I was just playing around with it. I did read you can back up or mirror the DUO with another My Book Live or DUO but who has that cash lying around right away. :smileyvery-happy:

  3. Yep you totally can. I have a folder (or share) with pics in it and it works great through Samba or Linux share and also DLNA. only thing is you need something that can view the files. the appstore has tons of apps for this and WD also gives you a free and paid fileviewer, also a pic app that saves the pics you take directly to the Live or DUO.

3

On question 2) you can use the safepoint feature of the Duo to backup up the contents of the Duo to an external USB drive attached to the Duo.

4

A few more questions while I wait for my Duo to be delivered:

  1. I plan to move my itunes library over the the duo and keep the duo running ( and PC turned off). Can I still access itunes with my CD music on the Duo in my itunes library on the apple tv, ipad, ipod, etc. ? Remmebr my computer will be off? It says itunes server in the manual but is not very clear.

2.  Get I get access to any files remotely from the duo, if they are shared, with my home PC off?

I am getting mixed reviews on this when I do an internet search and the manual does not say the computer can be turned off. I am not trying to execute programs just get to documents, videos, photos, etc without turning the computer on.

Thank you.  

5

  1. from what I understand (haven’t tried myself) is that you migrate all the files to the DUO (in its own share) and then you just show iTunes where the files are stored so it can update your music library. I do know it also shows up under the iTunes Home Shared section if youre using the default settings for DLNA/Media Server. HOWEVER, I haven’t turned on the iTunes server funtion on the DUO yet so I can’t fully state how that works atm.

  2. as long as you are connected to the network everthing should be accesable on any computer no matter which are off. if you’re outside the network (ie. on a holiday or at a coffee shop) you can register for the free remote access acount to view and edit files over the web. I don’t think it will work for anthing media sharing wise (ie. your iTunes will not play any files in its library)

hope this helps a bit as I’m still playing with mine too.