A TonidoPlug Is Plugged In
I have added a companion plug computer to my 3 month old PogoPlug (Version 1), a TonidoPlug. For the same $99 + shipping I paid for the PogoPlug (the new version 2 PogoPlug is now $129), I got almost identical hardware and a lot more software. I’ve had the unit up and running for a couple of days, so this is not an in-depth review.
The TonidoPlug is built on the same Sheevaplug platform as the PogoPlug version 1 (and others), with the exception that the TonidoPlug has more RAM. Both units came nicely packaged, the consumer plug manufacturers have paid attention to Apple here. As with the PogoPlug, there isn’t much in the package: The plug computer, a power cable, an ethernet cable. Plug it into power, your router, add a USB drive, and you are up an running. Actually, you can set up the TonidoPlug without the USB drive attached, but some functionality will be necessarily absent.
The hardware is basically the same, so what makes the TonidoPlug special? Ubuntu for one. The plug is running Ubuntu 9.04. So it has a very recent Linux kernel, and messing around the plug via SSH is similar to any other Linux server. Apt-get is there, as well as other standard Linux tools. More on this later. The main difference between the PogoPlug and TonidoPlug is the Tonido software suite. This is a collection of apps running on the TonidoPlug, and administered as plug-ins in the Tonido admin app. This is in addition to the plug administration app to handle the low level setup of the plug (adding SMB shares, mounting drives, etc.). The apps include: Explorer (file explorer), Torrent (bittorrent client), WebSharePro (file/drive sharing), Workspace (PIM, group collaboration), OpenID (OpenID server), Photos (photo sharing), Jukebox (mp3 server), Money (personal finance), Thots (basic blog), Desktop Search, Backup. In addition for $19.99, you can add an SSL cert to run these apps over SSL.
PogoPlug is mostly focused on file/drive sharing. And it does it well. I have used mine to make my files available to me wherever I have internet access. And I have used it to make photos and other files available to other people via an obfuscated URL. This has worked well to transfer large numbers of large files to people with minimal computing skills. But, that is about it. And this functionality requires the intervention of the PogoPlug.com services to make the connection to your PogoPlug.
The TonidoPlug is much more autonomous. It does support a re-director service to connect you and others to your TonidoPlug via a sub-domain. But, you can use DynDNS.com or any other dynamic IP service. Or, if your plug has a static IP, you can point your self managed domain name to it. It’s your choice. I tried out the WebSharePro, OpenID, and Torrent apps so far. The Torrent app works well. It’s similar to using the Transmission web client. WebSharePro is taking a little getting used to. I haven’t figured out yet how to set a readonly share that I can send a link to someone to gain access. It appears to require setting up individual users, with usernames/passwords. I’ve only just started using it, so I won’t say it can’t do it. The OpenID server seems to work fine. I was able to log into serverfault.com using my TonidoPlug OpenID URL. I like that. That is all I have had time to explore so far.
As I said earlier, the TonidoPlug runs Ubuntu 9.04. So, if there is room, it should run most anything that will run on the ARM version of Ubuntu. I installed Webmin and Firefly using guides found in the TonidoPlug user forums. It took some tweaks to get them both running. Firefly picked up my iTunes library, but doesn’t appear as a shared library on the network. More tweaking needed. Webmin works fine. The TonidoPlug is probably a friendlier hacker plug than the PogoPlug, but with more out of the box functionality than a plain Sheevaplug.
Look for a slightly used version 1 PogoPlug on eBay soon.
hi,
just came across your review of the TonidoPlug, and was wondering if it still needed an external service just to do local network sharing? I remember thinking that the pogoPlug required you to go through their service ANYTIME you wanted to share a file, and therefore my biggest reason for not purchasing it.
The TonidoPlug does not need an external service to access it. They do offer domain relay service similiar to PogoPlug, but it’s not required. I use DynDNS.com to redirect a domain to my TonidoPlug. The PogoPlug is easier to get set up and use drive/file sharing quickly, but it is limited and requires their external service. If CodeLathe added a something like the PogoPlug software in addition, it would be almost perfect.
I actually owned the Tonido Plug prior to ordering my PogoPlug a month before Christmas and then watching the dodging of the answer on delivery. They got them shipped out before Christmas and I received mine 2 days before Christmas – Paying $129 plus $7 shipping. My son ordered a PogoPlug from TigerDirect and paid $129 but no shipping. He got his the day after I got mine.
I was enjoying the differences between the pair. And not feeling terribly secure with the PogoPlug and having to run through their server. Then I discovered that unlike Windows and OS-X, Linux cannot attach the drive. You have to build your own scripts to do an automatic file transfer from computer to drive using -fuse. The VP of Sales finally admitted that they couldn’t do it either and offered to buy my unit back.
The problem was the Tonido plug hung and couldn’t be cleared. I sent it back for repair and they simply refunded my money. So I have been trying to find a buyer for my Pogoplug as well. Any luck with selling yours?
I’ve kept both units. I use the TondioPlug for most of my needs, and the Pogoplug when I need to share files with others. I like that I can share one or more files with someone without setting up an account on the unit for them.
I have a Sheva Plug, and will be getting a Sheva Plug II with wireless
capability. My home internet service is AT&T “U-verse”. Is there a tutorial
on seting up a web server via DynDNS.com across the AT&T “2Wire” router ??
Thanks for any help or guidance,
I have AT&T U-verse as well. So, yes I can tell you how to set it up. Using your web browser, access your routers administration interface (my router is at 192.168.1.254). Go to the ‘Firewall’ page. Click on ‘Applications, Pinholes and DMZ’. Select your Pogoplug from the list of computers. In section 2, select ‘Allow individual applications’. Under ‘Filter Applications By’, select ‘User-defined’. Under ‘Application List’, select ‘Add a new user-defined application’. On the ‘Firewall Application Profile Definition’ page fill in the relevant information, and press ‘Add to list’. Select your new ‘application’ and press ‘Add’. Save your changes. On Dyndns, create a new host service. The IP address should be set to your routers external IP address. Save your host, and you are done.
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