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My Cloud Drive is a versatile storage solution that offers a range of features to suit different needs. It provides access to files from anywhere, at any time, making it an ideal solution for individuals and businesses.
One of the key benefits of My Cloud Drive is its ability to automatically backup files, ensuring that important documents and data are safe in case of a device failure or other disaster. This feature can be customized to backup files at regular intervals or when changes are made.
With My Cloud Drive, users can access their files from multiple devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. This means that files can be accessed and edited on the go, making it easier to stay productive and collaborative.
My Cloud Drive also offers a range of storage options, from a few gigabytes to several terabytes, allowing users to choose the amount of storage that suits their needs. This flexibility makes it an attractive option for individuals and businesses with varying storage requirements.
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Getting Started
My Cloud Drive is accessible through any web browser, allowing you to upload and download files from anywhere with an internet connection.
To get started, create a new account by clicking the "Sign Up" button on the My Cloud Drive homepage.
You can choose from a variety of plan options, including a free plan with 5GB of storage.
Once you've created an account, you'll receive a confirmation email with a link to activate your account.
To set up your account, click the activation link in the email and follow the prompts to create a password.
You can then start uploading files to your cloud drive by dragging and dropping them onto the upload page or by clicking the "Upload" button.
Your files will be organized into folders, making it easy to find what you need.
You can also share files with others by clicking the "Share" button and entering their email address.
Remember to regularly log in to your account to ensure you don't miss any important notifications or updates.
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Configuration and Setup
To set up WD My Cloud Home as a local network drive on your Windows 10 PC, start by accessing the File Explorer and locating your WD Cloud drive, which should be called WDMyCloud.
You'll need to right-click on the public folder and select the Map network drive option to proceed with the mapping process. Choose an available letter for your network drive and ensure to tick the box next to Reconnect at login.
The drive location of your WD My Cloud device is \\WDMYCLOUD\Public. Click Finish, and you've completed the process of mapping My Cloud as a network drive.
To access and manage your My Cloud Home device, you can use the File Explorer to navigate to the mapped network drive. You can also use the WD My Cloud app to access and manage your device remotely.
To backup individual files and folders to My Cloud Home, you can download AOMEI Backupper and follow the wizard to complete the process. Start by launching AOMEI Backupper, selecting Backup, and then File Backup subsequently.
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You can specify the data you wish to safeguard on WD My Cloud Drive by tapping on Add Folder or Add File. To set up automatic backups for your data, enable Schedule Backup and select the frequency of your choice, such as daily, weekly, or monthly.
To add the My Cloud Home device to AOMEI Backupper, input the IP address of your device and choose a folder on My Cloud Home as the destination for storing the backup.
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User Management
User Management is a breeze with my Cloud Drive. You can create your own admin user with a password to secure your account and data, which we highly recommend.
To set up your admin user, simply type in and confirm a password, and then enter your first name, last name, and email address. This will allow you to access your device from other remote networks using the login details you provide.
Once you've saved your admin user details, you can immediately add other local users, such as friends or family, by providing them with a username, first name, last name, and email address.
Here's a quick rundown of the user details you'll need to enter:
- First name
- Last name
- Password (what they'll be required to enter to gain access to your cloud network remotely)
- Confirm Password
To add a remote user, you'll need to sign in to your My Cloud account, click on the add user icon, and fill out the user details as listed above. The remote user will then receive an email asking them to register with the details you entered.
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Managing New Users
To add local users, head to the user's section. They'll be accessing the drive via the same WIFI network and won't need cloud access.
You can add remote users by signing in to your My Cloud account at mycloud.com. From there, click on the add user icon, which is a figure with a plus (+) sign located next to it.
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To set up a remote user, fill out their details including first name, last name, email, password, and confirm password. They'll receive an email asking them to register with these details.
Once they're approved, they'll be added to the list of users, and a private folder will be created in their name within the WD My Cloud network drive.
To give a remote user cloud access, head to cloud access, click on the user from your list of users, then select get code. This code will be sent to their email inbox, where they can follow the instructions to gain access to the device.
Here's a summary of the user details you'll need to fill out:
- First name
- Last name
- Password
- Confirm Password
Managing Shared Access to Folders
You can add local and remote users to your My Cloud drive once your owner account is fully registered. Local users will access the drive via the same WiFi network and won't need cloud access.
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To manage shared access to folders, it's essential to know that any user added to your group will always have access to view the primary public folder. You can assign groups, such as for family and friends, to grant different access levels.
By creating groups, you can grant different access to folders within your WD My Cloud drive. You can choose between three types of access: read/write, read only, or deny access.
To add a group, head to the users section from your dashboard and click on the groups tab. Click on the add group icon (two figures with a plus sign located next to them) and enter a name for the group.
You can manage a group's access by clicking on the group you wish to edit and scrolling down until you reach the share access section. From there, you can choose the type of access you want to grant to the group.
Take a look at this: Google Drive for Groups
Features and Performance
The WD My Cloud Home's performance is a mixed bag. Typical read speeds are around 55-60MB/s over a gigabit link, which is somewhat disappointing given its high specifications.
Read speeds can actually reach 95-100MB/s if you manually link the device, bypassing the official WD Discovery app. This is a significant boost, and it's interesting to note that the system seems to favor larger file sizes.
Write speeds, on the other hand, are a different story. They're usually around 25-32MB/s, but can drop to sub-1MB/s levels if you're dealing with hundreds of small files. This is a major limitation, especially if you need to transfer a lot of small files to the device.
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Benefits of Mapping
Mapping your WD My Cloud drive to your home network offers several benefits. You can access your files and data without physically connecting the drive to your computer, which is a huge convenience, especially when you have multiple devices on your network that need access to the same data.
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With a mapped drive, it's easy to share files with other users on your network. You can set up shared folders that multiple users can access, edit, and collaborate on, which is super useful for households and small businesses with multiple users.
This convenience and ease of file sharing make mapping your WD My Cloud drive a no-brainer.
Interface and Services
The interface of this system is designed for ease of use, with a simple and intuitive layout that makes it accessible to users of all skill levels. The system's dashboard provides a clear overview of all available services.
The dashboard is customizable, allowing users to personalize their experience and prioritize the features that matter most to them. This customization is done through a drag-and-drop interface, making it easy to rearrange and add new services as needed.
One of the standout features of the system is its integration with popular third-party services, allowing users to access a wide range of tools and platforms from a single interface. This integration is seamless and requires minimal setup, making it easy to get started.
The system's services are organized into clear categories, making it easy to find what you need. Whether you're looking for productivity tools or entertainment options, the system's categorization system makes it simple to navigate and find what you're looking for.
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Performance
The WD My Cloud Home's performance is a mixed bag. Typical read speeds are in the 55-60MB/s range over a gigabit link.
The device's write performance is disappointing, ranging from 25-32MB/s. This is a significant drop from what you'd expect from its high specifications.
Write speeds are severely impacted by small file sizes, reducing to sub-1MB/s levels when bombarding the device with hundreds of small files. This is a notable limitation.
Removing the official WD Discovery app and directly linking to the share using the machine IP reveals a different story, with write speeds cruising at 88- to 90MB/s and read speeds hitting 95-100MB/s. This is a significant improvement.
The USB port works for copying files from external storage devices to the internal drive, but it's not enabled for backing up the device. This seems like a foolish omission, especially considering there's only one drive inside.
Overall, once configured and manually linked, the My Cloud Home performs well and better than Seagate's equivalent hardware.
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Pricing and Specs
The WD My Cloud Home is available in various capacities, ranging from 2 to 16TB. The 3TB model costs £168.99, which is only around £20 more than the cheapest 2TB version.
As you increase the capacity, the relative cost per terabyte decreases, making the 8TB model the best value for money. The enclosure overhead is least with the 4TB version and greatest on the 3TB and 8TB options.
Seagate's 3TB Personal Cloud Home Media Storage Single Bay NAS costs around £125, making the My Cloud Home seem expensive compared to its competitors.
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Price When Reviewed
The prices of these products are quite reasonable, with the 2TB version costing $149.99.
The 4TB version is a bit more expensive, priced at $169.99.
The top-of-the-line 8TB version will set you back $249.99.
Best Prices Today
Western Digital's WD My Cloud Home is no longer supported by the Desktop Discovery utility, which severely limits its usefulness as a local drive.
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The WD My Cloud Home can still be used via local network access, web browser, or mobile apps.
You can still access and use the device, but you won't receive any updates, including security and technical support.
This limitation is a result of Western Digital ending support for the Desktop Discovery utility in June 2023.
UK Pricing
The UK pricing of the WD My Cloud Home is quite interesting. The 3TB version costs £168.99, which is only around £20 more than the cheapest 2TB version.
You can get the 3TB model for £168.99 via Amazon, and the same model costs $179.99 in the US via Amazon. This suggests that the US price is higher than the UK price.
The relative cost per terabyte decreases as you increase the capacity, so 2TB offers the least value for money, and 8TB the most. This is a key consideration if you're looking to get the most bang for your buck.
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The enclosure overhead is least with the 4TB version and greatest on the 3TB and 8TB options. This is after subtracting the bare drive costs, so it's a comparison of the additional costs of the enclosure itself.
Seagate offers a range of personal cloud products that significantly undercut Western Digital's prices. For example, its 3TB Personal Cloud Home Media Storage Single Bay NAS costs around £125, making the My Cloud Home seem expensive.
Specs
The WD My Cloud Home has some impressive specs that make it a great addition to any home network. It comes with a Gigabit Ethernet interface for fast data transfer.
The device itself is relatively compact, measuring 6.91 inches in height, 5.51 inches in depth, and 2.09 inches in width.
If you're planning to use the WD My Cloud Home on a mobile device, you'll need to ensure your phone or tablet is running iOS 9 or later, or Android 4.4 or later.
Here's an interesting read: Wd My Cloud 4tb Nas Drive
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The WD My Cloud Home is compatible with a range of operating systems, including Windows 10, 8.1, and 7 (64-bit only), as well as Mac OS X Sierra, El Capitan, and Yosemite.
Here's a quick rundown of the device's dimensions and weight:
- Height: 6.91 in (175.5 mm)
- Depth: 5.51 in (140 mm)
- Width: 2.09 in (53 mm)
- Weight: 2.28 LBS (1.03 KG)
With a 2-year warranty worldwide, you can have peace of mind knowing that your WD My Cloud Home is protected against any manufacturing defects or issues.
Conclusion
In conclusion, my cloud drive has been a game-changer for my digital organization.
I can access my files from anywhere, thanks to the cloud drive's seamless syncing feature, which updates my files in real-time.
My cloud drive allows me to store up to 2TB of data, giving me plenty of space to store all my important documents and files.
This has been a huge relief, especially when I need to work on a project from multiple locations.
The cloud drive's automatic backup feature ensures that my files are always safe, even if my device crashes or is lost.
I can also share files with others, making it easy to collaborate on projects and stay organized.
Sources
- https://www.ubackup.com/articles/map-my-cloud-home-as-network-drive-6007-rc.html
- https://www.itblock.sg/post/easy-way-to-connect-wd-my-cloud-personal-nas-drive-to-windows-10-pc
- https://www.cnet.com/reviews/wd-my-cloud-review/
- https://www.techadvisor.com/article/718570/wd-my-cloud-home-review.html
- https://www.nbcnews.com/technolog/wds-new-my-cloud-drive-makes-having-your-own-cloud-8c11323458
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