Question 1

Can i use the built-in USB port to access the files writeen in the HD Faster, or the access is only throught network connection ?

Accepted Answer

To answer the first part of the question, no; for the second part, yes.
Access to the drive is only possible via a network connection. The USB port is available only to expand storage: only storage devices are recognised by the USB interface so that they may, as well, be accessed through the network, as an additional share on the system.

Question 2

I'd like to set this up to set aside a certain amount of space for time machine backups for two macs and have the rest for network storage.  How?

Accepted Answer

There is a convenient slider under the My Cloud settings that you can adjust to limit the space allocated for Time Machine backups.  No need to partition the drive.  It is recommended that you 1st leave the slider to maximum usage for your first backups (use an ethernet cable at first for faster transfer), then adjust the slider down to limit how much space Time Machine will occupy.  The remaining space can be used for storage/media server.  If you need more space, you can always add a 2nd, 3rd, etc. hard drive to the WD My Cloud through its USB 3.0 port.

Question 3

Does it require a static public IP address? Or can I use domain name using a product like NO-IP.org?

Accepted Answer

WD 4TB My Cloud Mirror (Dual-drive) --> You absolutely CAN set it up to use a dynamic DNS service.  The setting can easily be found on the Dashboard of the device's web GUI -- it is located in "Settings | Network Services | Dynamic DNS"; the two options are "www.DynDNS.org" and "no-ip.DDNS" .4TB WD My Cloud NAS (single drive) --> You cannot set dynamic DNS on the NAS, but you can set it up through your router (unless you're using double-NAT...i.e. Comcast -> Router1 -> Router2 -> NAS).  If you're using a double-NAT network, you'll need to install a client-based service on an always-on computer like "DUC" provided by no-ip.ddns.Generally, the answer is usually "yes" if you have the knowledge...

Question 4

Is there any subscription fee, or just 1 time purchase? Is data stored on WD servers somewhere or is the cloud just the physical hard drive at home?

Accepted Answer

It's absolutely a 1-time purchase, and your data is stored on the drive itself, although that os relayed through their servers when accessed remotely; hence the term 'Personal Cloud'.

I would elaborate on the claim that this device is no longer supported; that is not true in regard to the WD My Cloud. Support has ceased for the model which precedes it, which is the My Book Live. I have both of these devices, and My Cloud mantains its cloud capabilities, while My Book ceased being accessed in that manner earlier this year; I am only using it as a local network storage at this stage, although I believe port fowarding should allow it to yet be accesible remotely.

Brand	WD
Product Dimensions	21.08 x 17.78 x 14.22 cm; 961.62 g
Item model number	WDBCTL0020HWT-NESN
Manufacturer	Western Digital
Series	WDBCTL0020HWT-NESN
Color	White
Form Factor	3.5-inch
Hard Drive Size	2 TB
Hard Disk Description	Mechanical Hard Disk
Hard Drive Interface	Ethernet
Number of USB 2.0 Ports	1
Are Batteries Included	No
Item Weight	962 g

WDWestern Digital My Cloud bctl0020Hwt 2Tb Personal Cloud Storage Western Digital

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