Pogoplug Classic Media Sharing Device in Pink or Black (POGO-B01 or POGO-P21) $15 + Free Shipping

Quote from SGS-1 : Is there a reason why you "had" to install Arch instead of using it straight out of box? Any instructions somewhere that will show how to set this all up with Hamachi? Basically my needs are having a drive connected to it and share files back and forth (like dropbox) without paying any other fees besides this box. Also, are there any other untapped potential for this device that I am missing?

Oh. The had refers to the aspect of installing it to an external USB drive. You can't install Arch to internal storage.

If all you want is Dropbox-like functionality, you should be fine with using it straight out of the box. I strongly advise that you do this, as you'll continue to get manufacturer support, should anything go awry.

There's a short video on the What is Pogoplug [pogoplug.com] page that explains what it can do.

On the other hand, installing Arch lets you do pretty much anything a low-powered Linux machine could do. Print server, AirPlay receiver, IRC bouncer, Transmission (BitTorrent client), etc.
Only downside is that it takes quite a bit of time to set it all up.

There aren't any detailed all-in-one instructions for what I've done. Getting Arch set up on the Pogoplug E02 is straightforward [archlinuxarm.org]. Beyond that, your mileage may vary.

Looking back at my notes, I have down that Hamachi requires TUN before it can be activated (ExecStartPre=modprobe tun) and that I used systemctl/systemd for automatic startup... and that all the guides I found online were useless.

I never quite understood the concept. SO you take a non network USB external HD and it makes it network drive?

Quote from lowspeed : I never quite understood the concept. SO you take a non network USB external HD and it makes it network drive?

Yes, not only LAN networked, but also internet enabled. besides this the device can make the content available to android and ios devices, can automatically upload all the videos and photos to device connected storage out of the box. this can be setup in 5 minutes time. Absolutely no fees to do any of the features i listed.

Quote from SGS-1 : How does this exactly work? I can just attach an external hard drive to this and access it on my network and most importantly remotely somehow? Are there fees to access it remotely? Thanks

How it works is you attach a external (usb) hard drive to this device. create an account with pogoplug through their website. register the device through your account on the website.

it takes some time for device to scan through the hard drive depending on how much data you have, i would say approx 7/8 hours then all the data on the hard drive is accessible from the internet, of-course after logging into your pogoplug account.

yes you can share the pics or other documents with your friends or family ( however there are better options available for that then this)

Great little unit for a GREAT price. Thumbs up!! Should go front page soon...

good deal

Hmmm... 4 bucks more for black. I guess it wouldn't be tough to hide this out of site so that my 4 year old boy doesn't think I like pink?

Any way that I can use this to back up my files remotely like some of the other Pogoplugs? I am reading conflicting reports.

I got a couple of these last time to put on the shelf.

I did go through the process of enabling SSH first. Something you first have to do through the Pogoplug website I believe. If you don't you may not be able to flash these up. It was just insurance in case Pogoplug stops support or goes away at some distant point in the future.

Quote from Milkwasabadchoice : Hmmm... 4 bucks more for black. I guess it wouldn't be tough to hide this out of site so that my 4 year old boy doesn't think I like pink?

Cover the pink in tape?

Quote from SGS-1 : Is there a reason why you "had" to install Arch instead of using it straight out of box? Any instructions somewhere that will show how to set this all up with Hamachi? Basically my needs are having a drive connected to it and share files back and forth (like dropbox) without paying any other fees besides this box. Also, are there any other untapped potential for this device that I am missing?

A few other points about installing arch.

Arch is a full linux distro so by replacing the os with arch you are giving you access to many more applications.

For me I use mine to serve videos across my network to my blu ray players, tablet, computer via DLNA.

I can also have it setup as an SSH server so I can remote in to my network from somewhere else encase I need to access something or just want to say do some banking but dont want to risk doing it over open wifi.

A few other things I have seen people do: set up as a simple web server, torrent box, file server (via samba).

It's always the pink ones that are $15 lol.

This is a great little device for someone who just wants quick and dirty cloud storage and remote file access without having to know too much. Nothing all that complicated, it just works. No messing w/ port forwarding or any such nonsense. And for just $15-20 depending on the current deal. No, it won't satisfy a power user, but when someone who's less techie asks me for something cheap and easy, I always recommend this device.

I got two black ones from Adorama last time they were $17, and I ended up getting the older version with the single core but 2x the RAM. The box said it was the newer version but the sticker on the unit indicated it was the old one.

I installed Arch and samba and minidlna and it works GREAT. I don't need the cloud options that much since I have a VPN my devices connect to and can get to the share locally.