To set up the Seagate Central, all you have to do is plug it in to a functioning wireless network router using the supplied Ethernet cable. This alcove can make it hard work to remove some types of Ethernet cables because there is very little room to get a finger above the cable to release it.
The rear has a Gigabit Ethernet port, a power port, and a USB 2.0 port (for plugging in external drives), all of which are in an alcove. It makes some distinctive clicking noises when it’s seeking and writing data, which can be noticeable during quiet nights. The drive in the Central is not accessible, which means if anything goes wrong with the drive, you’ll have to send it back to Seagate for a replacement (assuming it’s within the two-year warranty period).Ī vented top ensures that the drive stays cool while it operates (you can feel the heat rising through it after the drive has been running for a few hours), and the drive basically spins up and powers down according to network activity. In this respect it’s not like other NAS devices on the market, which tend to be tall and have one or more accessible drive bays. Physically, the Central is a neat, single-drive unit that rests flat rather than upright.
