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[gunrunnerjohn]

Actually, I signed up for a photobucket account some time ago.  Let's see if it works.

Here they are, it's actually a very simple mod, just hog out plastic from the bottom of the cover.  This is for my DNS-323, the DNS-321 is very similar except I had to leave the center section because of the way it's designed, so it just has two vents on either side.  It's in the basement, and I'm too lazy to go down and take it apart down there.

It's simple, but it does drop the temperatures significantly.  I have no idea why D-Link doesn't do something similar for better cooling...

[JoeSchmuck]

Looks like it would flow some air.  Yea, I don't know why D-Link designed it without good airflow.

[gunrunnerjohn]

It would be very easy to do, and I don't know any reason why they don't do something similar.  They could even make it a bit neater, I was going for function over form.

[tfiveash]

I have another thought on this mod.  My DNS-321 is on a ups so I don't have to worry about auto power on but mine is used from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday.  Therefore, it spends most of its time running and not doing anything.  I am of the old school that electronics are going to last so many hours running so if you are not going to use them turn them off.  My thinking is hook this mod up to a small timer circuit that will activate at lets say 6pm. It stays on long enough for the DNS-321 to think the shutdown button has been activated and turns off.  The next morning at lets say 7am it does the same thing again but this time the DNS-321 thinks that the turn on button has been pushed and starts up.

Before I go design and build this additional mod I would like some thoughts from some of you on what you think of this or that I am all wet.  I take criticism well but try not be beat me up to bad.

Terry

[gunrunnerjohn]

Actually, there is very little evidence to support the thesis that power on hours affect MTBF.  It's as likely that the power cycles would do as much harm as continuous power.  In addition, one issue with power on and powering off is the temperature shifts.  Whenever the temperature changes, either up or down, it has a small potential to draw moisture into circuitry.  This is actually a special test for aerospace equipment to insure that it can take the temperature excursions.  My take is to leave it running, in standby it uses very little power, around 6 watts.

[JoeSchmuck]

Terry,
  Here is my honest opinion on how to perfrom this without making timer circuits.  I normally leave my equipment on if there is a standby mode and I have my drives set for 30 minute hibernate.  It's your call if you would like to turn it off every night.

Purchase an electronic timer that controls 115 VAC devices.  Do not use a mechanical timer because if power goes out, time is all off.  The electronic ones are normally under $10.00 and I have two for use with the living room lights.  Set the OFF time for 5 AM and the ON time for 6 AM and plug the NAS into it.

Install the capacitor modification I described so when power is restored, the unit comes on.

Now for the tricky part and you may need to do some research but I think it's the best method...

Load Fun Plug on your NAS.  Do a search with Google and you will find instructions for it.  This will allow you to communicate to the linux OS on the NAS.  What you now need to do is create something to force a shutdown at 6 PM every night.  Try the command "shutdown -h 18:00".  This tells the OS to shutdown at 6 PM.  To test this command you could just send "sudo shutdown -h +2" which means wait 2 minutes and then shutdown.  Fun Plug gives you options for the shutdown but I don't know if the unit will actually power off, but I think it will.  Now for turning the unit on via software, I doubt that will happen.  I like the timer myself but if it's possible to have a software timer turn it on, spread the wealth when you find out.

How would I expect this to work? ...
1) It's 10 AM and you are turning on your modded system.
2) 6 PM rolls around and the shutdown command turns off your NAS (I hope).
3) 5 AM occurs and since the capacitor power on trick needs power gone, this is what we do here.
4) 6 AM rolls around and we turn on power and the NAS powers up again.
5) and we go back to step 2

My NAS is currently backing up my computer so I can't pull the drives and install my test drive.  And let me make a point here, if you have a spare SATA drive you can test with, do it!  I can't afford to lose my data, or I guess I could since it's all backed up but moving it from DVDs back to the NAS is times consuming.

Another command is Halt but it's immediate.  I'm sure there is some command or method to accomplish this.

Good Luck

-Joe

EDIT:  I just tried shutdown and the command doesn't exist.  Halt will stop normal activity but does not power down the machine.  There is a set of 323 utils that looked like it had a shutdown command.  Maybe that's the ticket.

[moses_x]

Sorry about my ignorance, but as i could understand, the capacitor is connect in parallel with the switch? 

[JoeSchmuck]

Sorry about my ignorance, but as i could understand, the capacitor is connect in parallel with the switch?  

Parallel with the power on button.  I just wanted to be clear since I have a disable switch as well.

I just added a schematic, sorry it so large, I was in a hurry.

-Joe

[moses_x]

For how long are you using this mod? No problems at all? You said that a minimum 220uF capacitor can be used. What's the value are you using?
Thanks

[gunrunnerjohn]

Where would that schematic be?

Never mind, I see you edited an earlier post. 

[JoeSchmuck]

For how long are you using this mod? No problems at all? You said that a minimum 220uF capacitor can be used. What's the value are you using?
Thanks

Mosesx:  I've been using this mod since a few days before I posted this thread.  Works great.  Now I do have my NAS on an UPS, but if it run out of juice (happened twice that I know of, once during winter, once about 4 weeks ago) because of a long power failure, then this will work.

Capacitor size I used was 220uf (think it was 16VDC).  I tried a much smaller value but it didn't hold the voltage low for a long enough period of time resulting in the electronic not seeing the short.  The next value I found in my spare parts was the 220uf so I used that.  You can use a larger value or smaller if you wanted to experiment, just make sure it's at least a 5 VDC or higher, 3.3 VDC could be damaged.

Also, you could just solder the capacitor directly across the button contacts, but it will turn on automatically everytime you apply power to the box via the wall plug.  That could be something you desire plus it's minimalistic.

GRJ:  Yes, I just added it to the original posting.  Makes more sense.  I can't believe I didn't have it a long time ago.

-Joe

[moses_x]

Iīve found a 220uF capacitor, 6.3V. Do the mod and work like itīs suppose to work. I though that i could not power the unit off, but i can without problem. Itīs totally unbelievable that a NAS, even a simple one, doesnīt support auto power feature. Itīs a must feature.

[gunrunnerjohn]

Thank that Schmuck that posted the mod.

[JoeSchmuck]

Iīve found a 220uF capacitor, 6.3V. Do the mod and work like itīs suppose to work. I though that i could not power the unit off, but i can without problem. Itīs totally unbelievable that a NAS, even a simple one, doesnīt support auto power feature. Itīs a must feature.

You can power it off, however the catch is, if the NAS is off and the power is cycled, the NAS will turn on, unless you have a disable switch.  On mine, if I open the front cover, it disables the power on feature I added because I added the micro switch. 

[moses_x]

You can power it off, however the catch is, if the NAS is off and the power is cycled, the NAS will turn on, unless you have a disable switch.  On mine, if I open the front cover, it disables the power on feature I added because I added the micro switch. 

You save the product!!! DLink must employ you !!! Thanks