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[GiGo]

Hi everyone.  I have a 320 that I used to use for an onsite backup in my retial premises for many years, it was used for transfering the epos files everynight.  I have since sold my business and took the device with me and it's been sat in my home office for the last 3 years doing nothing.

I understand that the DNS320 is rather out of date, but I think it could still have a use!  I have recently been on the look out for Photo Storage as I imagine you know Google are ending there unilimted storage for free.  I explored numoures options, including using my currently Synology 1815+ for photo backup and Degoo, which I am currently using to 'test the waters'.  I am happy with my 1815+ backup but I want another backup which got my down the Raspberry Pie root, having two sat in my draws for years doing nothing I decided to see what options I could employ with one, which gets me on to the idea.

I setup a test Raspberry Pi using Syncthing, an open source program that runs on the Pi and on my Phone and syncs, this can be done with as many devices as I want to install Syncthing on.  It will sync anything, not just photos.

So whats all this got to the the DNS320? Well I want a nice little case for Raspberry Pi and the two HDDs I'll be using, I was thinking of ripping it apart and using the shell to house it all but the chances are this probably wouldn't go well, so this got me thinking again. 

I'm no Linux expert and getting Syncthing to work on my Pi has taken longer than it should be hey, it's something I enjoy doing and why the hell not try new stuff out I like to try and repurpose old stuff, for example the Pi I am using the Legacy Model B and TBH it works pretty damn well for what I want it to.

So my idea was to install Syncthing on the DNS320.... I assume that it runs on a version on Linux and it would be just a simple case of SSHing in and installing it, but then I don't want the NAS to be running it's software in the background, I'm more thinking of removing it altogether in favour or running a Damn Small Linux or Raspian Lite.  I have no idea if this is even possible but thought I would reach out to the community and see what other have done with what is now an ageing box which for most people have probably reached the end of life or like mine, been sat in a cupboard for years gathering dust.

Any input, help, advice, tips would be great.

[f-pierre]

Hello !

I'm happy to read your post because I use the DNS320 too, and I thought that I was the last person on 2020 haha.

First of all I advise you to upgrade the firmware to the last version to avoid Cr1pT0r ransomware.
See http://forums.dlink.comindex.php?topic=74741.0 to download the last firmware.

I've recently discover that we can use the plungins from the website down bellow on this NAS (Even if the compatibility says no) :
http://dlink.vtverdohleb.org.ua/Add-On/

We just need to convert the plugin to DNS320 format with a module of the SDK of D-link (mkapkg) on linux.
Thanks to ACME_Corp (http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=62804.0)

Using the SDK I've managed to convert DNS-320L addons to DNS-320B.

HOWTO:
Download the package you want to convert (DNS-320L Twonky Package v2.06_07212015_UA)
Extract the files with binwalk :
binwalk -v -e "Twonky Package v2.06_07212015_UA"
Untar the generated C8 file "tar -xvf C8"
Enter the newly  created directory "cd Twonky"
Generate  the package for DNS - 320B "mkapkg -m DNS-320B"

Now you can upload the package to your NAS using "/web/app_mgr/module.html" wich is inside it but somehow disabled.
Navigate to Administration / Application Management / Right click on Multimedia Services / Inspect Element
and change /web/app_mgr/media_share.html to /web/app_mgr/module.html now click on Multimedia Services and then you just got to select the file previously created "DNS-320B Twonky Package v2.06_07212015(BETA)" and Apply. Once it's been uploaded and installed you can enable it.

With that you can install transmission, openvpn, telnet, ssh, PLEX ?, and many more.

You can try an alternative firmware "ALT-F" https://sourceforge.net/projects/alt-f/
To process it's very simple, you need to download the firmware update on Sourceforge, and go to the admin webpage, in the upgrade page, upload the firmware.
Alt-f will be install after the reboot (Dont panic your file will be conserved, the upgrade don't erase the disk).
If you want to return to the original Dlink firmware do the same process in reverse, upload the DLINK Firmware in the upgrade section of ALT-F.

With this firmware you have the possibility to have more recent version of SMB, FTP etc ... 

I don't know if all this information will help you,
I hope,
Stay safe,
Pierre,

[GiGo]

Hello !

I'm happy to read your post because I use the DNS320 too, and I thought that I was the last person on 2020 haha.

First of all I advise you to upgrade the firmware to the last version to avoid Cr1pT0r ransomware.
See http://forums.dlink.comindex.php?topic=74741.0 to download the last firmware.

I've recently discover that we can use the plungins from the website down bellow on this NAS (Even if the compatibility says no) :
http://dlink.vtverdohleb.org.ua/Add-On/

We just need to convert the plugin to DNS320 format with a module of the SDK of D-link (mkapkg) on linux.
Thanks to ACME_Corp (http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=62804.0)

Using the SDK I've managed to convert DNS-320L addons to DNS-320B.

HOWTO:
Download the package you want to convert (DNS-320L Twonky Package v2.06_07212015_UA)
Extract the files with binwalk :
binwalk -v -e "Twonky Package v2.06_07212015_UA"
Untar the generated C8 file "tar -xvf C8"
Enter the newly  created directory "cd Twonky"
Generate  the package for DNS - 320B "mkapkg -m DNS-320B"

Now you can upload the package to your NAS using "/web/app_mgr/module.html" wich is inside it but somehow disabled.
Navigate to Administration / Application Management / Right click on Multimedia Services / Inspect Element
and change /web/app_mgr/media_share.html to /web/app_mgr/module.html now click on Multimedia Services and then you just got to select the file previously created "DNS-320B Twonky Package v2.06_07212015(BETA)" and Apply. Once it's been uploaded and installed you can enable it.

With that you can install transmission, openvpn, telnet, ssh, PLEX ?, and many more.

You can try an alternative firmware "ALT-F" https://sourceforge.net/projects/alt-f/
To process it's very simple, you need to download the firmware update on Sourceforge, and go to the admin webpage, in the upgrade page, upload the firmware.
Alt-f will be install after the reboot (Dont panic your file will be conserved, the upgrade don't erase the disk).
If you want to return to the original Dlink firmware do the same process in reverse, upload the DLINK Firmware in the upgrade section of ALT-F.

With this firmware you have the possibility to have more recent version of SMB, FTP etc ... 

I don't know if all this information will help you,
I hope,
Stay safe,
Pierre,

Thank you for your reply!  I am afriad to say maybe you are the last person to use it, mine has been 'retired' for many years, it's been sat, spun down for more than 1095 days. However if I work fast and do this in the next 24 hours it may live to see the final day of this bizarre year that is known as 2020.

Your post has given me some food for thought    Looking at the plugin page you have linked too, it shows me the Syncthing plugin for the 320L, which is excatly what I want, Syncthing However unless the latest firmware will support a 6TB disk then this will be a little useless as I plan to use 2x6TB disks.

But if the above is not good for what I need, I noted the Alt-F supports upto 8TB disks so this could well work! And a quick Google search turns up that Alt-F could well work with Syncthing which will provide me with what I want!

Which is great news, if it works it means I have successfully re-used what I thought would be nothing more than a a bit of landfill or an attic box filler.  Then my Raspberry Pi Model B can be re-used for another project!

Thank you for your reply! Happy new year to you.
Stay safe also and a big thank you again.
Giles.

[GiGo]

Well on the last day of 2020 my DN320 has now been re-purposed for a Syncthing backup for my photos with 2 x WD Red 6TB drives

Installing Alt-F was a easy as updating Firmware and so much better than the original.

Very pleased, can't beleive something like Alt-F exist and works so well!

https://sourceforge.net/projects/alt-f/

[easonzys]

Well on the last day of 2020 my DN320 has now been re-purposed for a Syncthing backup for my photos with 2 x WD Red 6TB drives

Installing Alt-F was a easy as updating Firmware and so much better than the original.

Very pleased, can't beleive something like Alt-F exist and works so well!

https://sourceforge.net/projects/alt-f/

what? dns320 supports 6T disk now? I thought 3T is the maximum

[GiGo]

Well on the last day of 2020 my DN320 has now been re-purposed for a Syncthing backup for my photos with 2 x WD Red 6TB drives

Installing Alt-F was a easy as updating Firmware and so much better than the original.

Very pleased, can't beleive something like Alt-F exist and works so well!

https://sourceforge.net/projects/alt-f/

what? dns320 supports 6T disk now? I thought 3T is the maximum

With Alt F firmware the maximum size is 8TB I will be testing that later when 2 8TB drives arrive!

[GiGo]

what? dns320 supports 6T disk now? I thought 3T is the maximum

I'm still waiting for my 2 8TB drives to turn up but take a look at the 2 6TB drives that are installed;
 

All working great!

[easonzys]

Well on the last day of 2020 my DN320 has now been re-purposed for a Syncthing backup for my photos with 2 x WD Red 6TB drives

Installing Alt-F was a easy as updating Firmware and so much better than the original.

Very pleased, can't beleive something like Alt-F exist and works so well!

https://sourceforge.net/projects/alt-f/

what? dns320 supports 6T disk now? I thought 3T is the maximum

With Alt F firmware the maximum size is 8TB I will be testing that later when 2 8TB drives arrive!

Cool, I'd like to try it but I'm not able to download the firmware from the link, when I clicked the download button, only downloaded a readme txt from https://sourceforge.net/projects/alt-f/

[GiGo]

Well on the last day of 2020 my DN320 has now been re-purposed for a Syncthing backup for my photos with 2 x WD Red 6TB drives

Installing Alt-F was a easy as updating Firmware and so much better than the original.

Very pleased, can't beleive something like Alt-F exist and works so well!

https://sourceforge.net/projects/alt-f/

what? dns320 supports 6T disk now? I thought 3T is the maximum

With Alt F firmware the maximum size is 8TB I will be testing that later when 2 8TB drives arrive!

Cool, I'd like to try it but I'm not able to download the firmware from the link, when I clicked the download button, only downloaded a readme txt from https://sourceforge.net/projects/alt-f/

Yes it is only a Readme from that link, try here;
https://sourceforge.net/projects/alt-f/files/Releases/

Make sure you check what hardware version you have and download the correct one.  It is just as simple as loading D-Link one firmware.

There main site is; https://sites.google.com/site/altfirmware/

[easonzys]

Well on the last day of 2020 my DN320 has now been re-purposed for a Syncthing backup for my photos with 2 x WD Red 6TB drives

Installing Alt-F was a easy as updating Firmware and so much better than the original.

Very pleased, can't beleive something like Alt-F exist and works so well!

https://sourceforge.net/projects/alt-f/

what? dns320 supports 6T disk now? I thought 3T is the maximum

With Alt F firmware the maximum size is 8TB I will be testing that later when 2 8TB drives arrive!

Cool, I'd like to try it but I'm not able to download the firmware from the link, when I clicked the download button, only downloaded a readme txt from https://sourceforge.net/projects/alt-f/

Yes it is only a Readme from that link, try here;
https://sourceforge.net/projects/alt-f/files/Releases/

Make sure you check what hardware version you have and download the correct one.  It is just as simple as loading D-Link one firmware.

There main site is; https://sites.google.com/site/altfirmware/

Thanks again, one quick question before I flash the firmware, will all the data disappear after? do I have to backup all the data? Currently I have 2*3T in it and close to 5T data, it would take a few days to copy all to somewhere else....  :-(

[GiGo]

My drives were blank, but according the Readme file it does not do anything to your data, I would advise you READ all the documentation before you flash it tho. it is a lot different to the original firmware and IMO a bit more complex and harder to understand.

[f-pierre]

Hello,
I confirm that you can upload the firmware of alt-f, if you doesn’t change the format of the drive in the settings when Alt-f will boot for the first time, all your data will be conserved. I’ve already done this. And you can return to the official firmware by just upload the firmware file in the update page of Alt-F.