Overview

BUFFALO's LinkStation line covers home and small-office network storage, and the LS720D/N — sold under the model number LS720D0802/N — is the two-bay variant with a pair of 4TB drives for 8TB of total capacity. It is the kind of box you plug into your router and start using as shared storage without building a server yourself.
The network port supports 2.5GBASE-T and steps down automatically to 1000BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, and 10BASE-T. If your home network already runs 2.5-gigabit wired gear, this unit has more headroom than a plain gigabit NAS. Maximum power draw is a modest 36W, which keeps always-on storage from becoming a noticeable line on the electricity bill.
The chassis measures 92 x 128 x 207mm and weighs roughly 2.3kg, so it tucks beside a desk or into a shelf corner. Windows PCs, Intel-based Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Android phones and tablets are all listed as compatible clients, which suits households juggling several devices.

Compatibility Guide

The only connection point is a single RJ-45 wired LAN port. You link it to a router or switch with an Ethernet cable, then reach the shared folders from other machines on the same network. BUFFALO lists Windows PCs with a wired or wireless LAN connection, Intel-CPU Macs, iPhones and iPads, and Android phones and tablets as supported clients.
The box ships with the unit itself, a 2m Cat5e LAN cable, an AC adapter, and a manual. Power comes from a standard AC100V 50/60Hz outlet, so plan for both a power socket and a cable run to your network gear at the install spot.
There are no USB ports or PCIe slots for expansion here; this is storage you reach over the network, not a box you open up and fill with new drives. Treat the 8TB as the capacity you buy rather than a starting point you grow later.

Product Info

Released on December 5, 2020, the LS720D0802/N sits in the mid tier of two-bay network drives at the 8TB capacity point. It asks less effort than assembling a DIY NAS from a bare drive and enclosure, yet costs far less than a large multi-bay unit. For backing up family photos and videos or sharing files across several devices, it trades hardware flexibility for setup simplicity.

Best Use Cases

  • Households that want phone and tablet photos consolidated in one place: iPhones, iPads, and Android devices can reach the shared folders directly, so scattered camera rolls end up together. Skip it if you mostly need to move huge files remotely while away from home.
  • Homes with both a Windows PC and a Mac: either OS can open the shared folders, which makes cross-platform file handoff painless. Not ideal if you prefer to keep storage powered off between sessions.
  • Users who already own a 2.5GBASE-T router or switch: the faster port has room to breathe compared with plain gigabit gear. Anyone chasing 10-gigabit-class throughput will find it short of the mark.

Things to Consider

Although the unit has two drive bays, it arrives as a finished 8TB package rather than an expandable frame you keep filling. If you expect your storage needs to climb over the next few years, plan for a roomier model from the start instead of assuming you can add capacity later.
With only one network port, link aggregation across multiple ports is off the table, and heavy simultaneous access can run into the wired link's bandwidth ceiling. It is also not a wireless device, so you need a cable path to wherever it sits.
Compared with a DIY NAS, you give up hardware freedom in exchange for far less setup work. If you enjoy fine-tuning services and adding your own apps, the limited extensibility may feel restrictive.

FAQ

Q: Can I use it if my PC only connects over Wi-Fi?
A: The unit itself connects by wired LAN only. You cable it to your router, then reach it from PCs and phones on the same network, including wireless ones.
Q: What kind of data does 8TB cover?
A: Two 4TB drives give 8TB total. It suits photo, document, and video backups gathered in one place, but heavy day-to-day video editing footage will fill it quickly.
Q: How much power does it draw?
A: Maximum consumption is 36W, low enough to leave running as always-on shared storage without much concern.

Product Disclosure (Amazon)

  • Model: LS720D0802/N
  • ASIN: B08N4Z7HC3
  • Note: This article covers a manufacturer-made product based on Amazon listing details.