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The Graveyard - Products No Longer Supported => D-Link Storage => DNR-202L => Topic started by: Dakota on August 12, 2016, 12:52:18 PM

Title: Hard drive file system and video file format
Post by: Dakota on August 12, 2016, 12:52:18 PM
I'm considering buying a DNR-202L (despite the rather sketchy reviews and apparently still not being fully compatible with Windows 10 these many, many months later...), and I am hoping someone can answer the questions I have about the external hard drive once the DNR-202L formats it. I've searched the forum, but haven't found where these questions are addressed.

What does the file system look like? Is it Windows-like NTFS or is it Unix/Linux-like EXP3 or EXP4? (Hopefully it is not FAT???)

How are the video files stored? Are they an open format, readable/playable if you attach the drive to a computer, or are they a proprietary format requiring the use of D-Link software to view / play the videos?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Hard drive file system and video file format
Post by: FurryNutz on August 12, 2016, 12:59:40 PM
Windows 10 is working for me currently and using the 202Ls UI. There's been FW updates.

I believe the file format for all DNR and DNS D-Link products are EXT3. I haven't looked at the file format on the drives yet. Haven't had any time to delve deeper. You might review the User manual for additional viewing information. I currently view the data via it's Web UI.

You can find some info under the Specifications tab here:
http://us.dlink.com/products/home-solutions/mydlink-camera-video-recorder/ (http://us.dlink.com/products/home-solutions/mydlink-camera-video-recorder/)
Title: Re: Hard drive file system and video file format
Post by: RYAT3 on August 23, 2016, 06:27:38 PM
I'm considering buying a DNR-202L (despite the rather sketchy reviews and apparently still not being fully compatible with Windows 10 these many, many months later...), and I am hoping someone can answer the questions I have about the external hard drive once the DNR-202L formats it. I've searched the forum, but haven't found where these questions are addressed.

What does the file system look like? Is it Windows-like NTFS or is it Unix/Linux-like EXP3 or EXP4? (Hopefully it is not FAT???)

How are the video files stored? Are they an open format, readable/playable if you attach the drive to a computer, or are they a proprietary format requiring the use of D-Link software to view / play the videos?

Thanks.

Does this help?

I haven't pulled the drive yet to investigate ...

(https://s10.postimg.org/qg0iag5bd/dnr202_hd.png)

Oddly enough - the DNR202L says it's on FAT32.  I checked in Windows 7- it says it is NTFS.  Go figure.
 (https://postimg.org/image/qsrwgmnl1/)
Title: Re: Hard drive file system and video file format
Post by: RYAT3 on August 23, 2016, 07:34:16 PM


How are the video files stored? Are they an open format, readable/playable if you attach the drive to a computer, or are they a proprietary format requiring the use of D-Link software to view / play the videos?

Thanks.

"DB File".  4 HD cams produce ~53KB every minute.  1 HD cam was ~11KB.


(https://s4.postimg.org/dnq4so3gd/dnr202_harddrive.png)
VLC player could not play it.  SO 4 cams stream are stuffed into 1 file.

Some dbSqlLite attempt by me to open a file wanted a encryption key to open it.  Not even sure if that's the write program to try to read data.
 (https://postimg.org/image/w3alq2hkp/)
Title: Re: Hard drive file system and video file format
Post by: FurryNutz on August 24, 2016, 06:42:03 AM
I think this format indication box is a select box to format the connected drive to either FAT32 or NTFS, I don't think it showed what the drive is actually formatted for...

(https://s10.postimg.org/qg0iag5bd/dnr202_hd.png)


 (https://postimg.org/image/qsrwgmnl1/)
Title: Re: Hard drive file system and video file format
Post by: BAMoh on September 11, 2016, 06:01:20 PM
I was told by DLINK tel support that the format is EXT3. But I am curious why the GUI shows FAT 32 and NTFS and not NTFS.

If one sticks a blank NTFS drive in do you have to format again? If so why, if the options are FAT 32 and NTFS? Confused about the EXT3.

Title: Re: Hard drive file system and video file format
Post by: RYAT3 on September 11, 2016, 06:55:17 PM
I was told by DLINK tel support that the format is EXT3. But I am curious why the GUI shows FAT 32 and NTFS and not NTFS.

If one sticks a blank NTFS drive in do you have to format again? If so why, if the options are FAT 32 and NTFS? Confused about the EXT3.

I wouldn't worry about EXT3.  My drive was showing NTFS as stated above when connected to windows 7.

I think they are referring to other models (DNS) that do use EXT3 from what I've read.
Title: Re: Hard drive file system and video file format
Post by: BAMoh on September 11, 2016, 09:53:39 PM
Did you ask the GUI to format your HDD in NTFS again despite the fact it was probably already in NTFS out the box or you may have formatted it in Windows?
Title: Re: Hard drive file system and video file format
Post by: RYAT3 on September 12, 2016, 04:45:17 AM
I don't fully remember.  :o
Title: Re: Hard drive file system and video file format
Post by: nick xx on September 17, 2016, 11:16:20 AM
if you have formatted your HD from a computer previously...its ready to go although the ndr would still asked you to format them to fat32
Title: Re: Hard drive file system and video file format
Post by: BAMoh on September 17, 2016, 02:07:20 PM
No the box is a drop down. You can select NTFS or FAT 32. I can tell you that selecting FAT 32 wont work for a large capacity drive. DLINK tel support says regardless it gets formatted to EXT3 but as RYATT pointed out they are probably wrong again. I think if you do NTFS on your PC you are good to go. I found that its best to format using the command prompt rather than a Windows quick format.