Sharing multiple USB attached drives via a computer over a network takes up more energy than needed. Networked attached storage solutions offer much more than space to save files. With Western Digital’s My Cloud EX2 Ultra, get encrypted Red NAS volumes and ultra-fast performance to Macs and PCs on a network.
Overview
The Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra is a dual drive network attached storage system for people who need encrypted drives with maximum uptime and ultra-fast transfer speeds. Western Digital upgraded this NAS with WD Red NAS drives, which are specifically engineered by the drive company for 24×7 use. It comes in 4TB, 8TB, 12TB and 16TB sizes of centrally located storage for the entire network.
The box contains:
- My Cloud EX2 Ultra
- Power Adapter
- Ethernet Cable
- Simple 1, 2 and 3 Setup Guide
Setting up the My Cloud EX2 Ultra network attached backup solution was easy and all options were accessible via a web browser. Download apps for iOS and Android to begin backing up files to the drive. It will ask for an administrative password and any special network settings, otherwise it automatically assigns an IP address from the router.
Western Digital installed their My Cloud OS system on the My Cloud EX2 Ultra. It offers anywhere access to your media while it is safely stored at home or in the office. Its streamlined photo gallery layout is responsive to the screen sizes of PCs, Macs, iPhones and tablets.
Their My Cloud OS software interacts well with the My Cloud EX2 Ultra NAS drive. After creating an administrative account, access control to other aspects of the NAS drive can be assigned or removed. Additional settings allow the device to automatically upgrade to new firmware or not.
Automatically synchronize media and files across computers and the My Cloud EX2 Ultra on the same network with WD Sync. Files on any connected PC will sync to the others via the EX2 Ultra’s ultra-fast gigabit network connection.
The My Cloud EX2 Ultra sets itself apart from others on the market with two WD Red NAS drives and 1GB of RAM. They are the best prosumer level drives designed specifically by Western Digital for network attached storage systems. The included 1.3GHz dual-core Marvell ARMADA CPU ups the ante for high performance. The company has made the drives and the NAS enclosure to perform at its best. It also provides 256 AES volume level encryption for excellent protection.
I currently run a NAS from Western Digital, but this is the system I would choose to protect all of my content. The My Cloud EX2 Ultra will be able to handle full PC backups via its WD SmartWare Pro and MacBooks via Apple’s Time Machine software. Computers on the same network that are scheduled to be backed up by this NAS may require 100s of gigabytes of space per device, so go for the largest model.
All of the media stored on the My Cloud EX2 Ultra is accessible from anywhere via its speedy connection and apps. Simply add a username and password, authorize it with the web based software and the device will then work like OneDrive or Dropbox.
Gigabytes of digital files such as home movies in 4k, photo albums and first person streaming backups are piling up on our mobile devices. Organizing everything and keeping it at the ready is nearly impossible without the right blend of hardware and software. That is where Western Digital’s My Cloud EX2 Ultra can help with up to 16 terabytes of storage.
Final Thoughts
Those looking for a backup solution that provides fast data transfers and Western Digital Red NAS drives will find the answer with the My Cloud EX2 Ultra. The company offers configurations up to 16TB in a dual drive format and multiple options to backup to an offsite cloud.
The included WD Sync software keeps everything synced so each computer has the same media and files. Free apps and a simple setup makes this a powerful solution for nearly anyone in need of a prosumer NAS.
Western Digital’s My Cloud EX2 Ultra brings the biggest and best that they have to offer. It automatically keeps itself backed up to the cloud and the My Cloud OS makes it easy to use. Get the 16TB version so that storage space is not an issue for years to come.
Rating: 4.5/5
Price: $449.99 For 8TB – Available direct from the Western Digital website.
Pros:
- Fast Setup
- WD Red NAS Drives
- 256 AES Volume Level Encryption
- Gigabit Ethernet Port For Ultra-Fast Transfer Speeds
- 1.3 GHz Dual-Core CPU For High Performance
Cons:
- No Secondary LAN Port
Disclosure: I received a My Cloud Mirror EX2 Ultra at no cost for review. I have not been compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Photos are courtesy of Western Digital.
