External drive with iso image emulation. Review of Zalman ZM-SHE350. Reliable protection for your hard drive. Virtual disks and software
IN modern world There are a lot of stereotypes... for example, that Japanese cars are better than South Korean ones, or that money is best kept in Swiss banks. Sometimes it can be interesting to see how much existing stereotypes actually justify themselves. Electronics produced by South Korean companies such as LG or Samsung have always been considered a good compromise between product quality and cost. The hero of our today's testing is an external 2.5" enclosure for hard drives, Zalman ZM-VE200, also made by a South Korean manufacturer. Zalman actually has a good reputation among manufacturers of cooling systems for computers. But HDD enclosures are not cooling systems. Let's see how The Zalman company is doing well in the “HDD pockets” market.
The factory packaging turned out to be relatively small, as was the product itself. On its front side there is an image of a black HDD pocket, on the sides of which two silver devices are placed in the background. Apparently, the manufacturer has set itself the goal of presenting the external HDD box to the buyer at a glance, and in the same way helping him decide on the more desirable color of the product. The packaging is well balanced and not overloaded with secondary information; only the basic names and designations of the external HDD pocket ZM-VE200. Despite the laconicism of the packaging, one inscription still makes you pleasantly surprised: “External HDD Case + Virtual Drive.” Wait a minute, is the virtual disk included? This is great, but let's talk about everything in order.
Let's first take a brief look at the main features and technical characteristics of the external pocket for hard drives Zalman ZM-VE200, which can be found both on the back of the package and on the manufacturer's official website.
Key features of Zalman ZM-VE200:
Aluminium case
Pre-installed software for mounting CD/DVD images from ISO files: no additional software is required to mount any ISO image.
Built-in screen showing status information hard drive
Protective case included
The ability to mount ISO images, a built-in screen on which information is displayed - yes, it looks like we have here a case with its own operating system, no less!
Specifications Zalman ZM-VE200:
Dimensions (LxWxH): 135.3x78.6x13.1 mm
Weight: 98.5 g
Material: aluminum, acrylic, polycarbonate
Type: 2.5" SATA HDD
Interfaces: USB 2.0 (compatible with USB 1.1), eSATA Direct HDD Access
Data transfer rate: USB up to 480 Mbit/s, eSATA up to 3 Gbit/s
Spindle speed: 5400 or 7200 rpm
Nutrition: USB
Color: black, silver
The factory packaging opens from the top, after which you can take out another additional cardboard package (gray, without beautiful pictures), in which, in addition to the HDD pocket itself, a protective case, a short user manual, and a screwdriver with bolts are neatly packed. It's nice to note that USB and eSATA cables also come standard. Obviously, the device comes without a hard drive. The protective case is a very nice bonus that protects appearance HDD case, especially considering that the ZM-VE200 can be located in it while it is connected to the computer, without fear of overheating.
As mentioned above, the outer case for the hard drive can be either black or silver. The USB pocket we received for testing is painted silver, and in my opinion, it is more attractive than black, since it contrasts more with the overall appearance of the product.
Connecting and using the Zalman ZM-VE200 will not cause any trouble even for you to the average user PC. On the right, on the upper side of the HDD case is located USB port, write-protect function switch, hard drive activity LED, factory firmware recovery button, and eSATA port. Unlike other 2.5" and 3.5" devices, this HDD box is powered only by a USB or eSATA cable, which explains the absence of a special power connector. This fact is both a plus and a minus at the same time. The fact is that not all today's eSATA ports support the function of powering the devices connected to them, so it would be nice to still leave a special connector for powering the hard drive if necessary, or at least emphasize the fact of incompatibility with the eSATA standard.
Installing a hard drive in the Zalman ZM-VE200 we tested today turned out to be even easier than I could have imagined. All you need to do to install your hard drive inside the pocket is to connect the HDD itself to a special controller via the appropriate connectors, and then insert the HDD along with the connected controller inside the pocket (HDD first, the controller remains at the top). Once you have connected and inserted the hard drive inside, all that remains is to securely fasten it inside using a screwdriver and two bolts, which the South Korean manufacturer thoughtfully included in the delivery package. During installation, you need to slightly open the rubber band that hides the mounting holes. By the way, after installation, this tape will stick out a little due to the tightened bolts, and this, although small, is still a flaw of the Korean engineers.
After installation is complete, it would be a sin not to test the strength and build quality of the case of our today's test subject. Simply shaking and moving the device convinced me that the engineers had designed the case well and that it was strong and reliable. While most 3.5" devices aren't designed for everyday carry, the ZM-VE200's 2.5" HDD pocket—one of the smallest HDD enclosures I've ever handled—is specifically designed for maximum mobility and portability.
The undoubted advantages of this device also include LCD display. Few modern HDD enclosures can boast of its presence; in fact, I have never encountered similar devices before. And while external hard drives usually don't need a built-in screen (which is probably why they don't come with one), having a display on the ZM-VE200 is a really important option. Of course, using the LCD, the user will be able to monitor such minor indicators as the temperature of the hard drive (the pocket in any case must provide the necessary ventilation for the HDD, otherwise serious problems may arise), but also using the LCD you can quickly obtain information about the status of more important details.
In addition to its main functionality of turning the internal hard drive into an external one, the ZM-VE200 also boasts one very interesting feature– virtual CD/DVD drive. And this is really a very nice bonus. Zalman ZM-VE200 is the first HDD box to offer a virtual CD/DVD drive option. Even its predecessor, the ZM-HE100, did not have such a feature, which offers a wealth of new possibilities for the end user.
By the way, do you want to know why the LCD display is so important for this device? It allows the user of the ZM-VE200 not only to switch the mode of use of the device between HDD, ODD or both at the same time - with its help the user can easily mount existing ISO files, which in itself is an alternative to CD, DVD and yes, you guessed it, BD-ROM drives. The user can mount any ISO image, as long as it is located in the "_ISO" folder on the HDD. If necessary, you can create additional subfolders in this folder, each of which can accommodate up to 32 optical disc images.
The USB 2.0 HDD port of the ZM-VE200 pocket has some specifics of working with the SATA port of the hard drive itself. First you will need to remove the protective coating on the chip, and then read a special disguised code printed in very small font. The thing is that the interface converter board is based on the OXU931SF controller from Oxford Semiconductor, now a division of PLX Technology (http://www.plxtech.com/products/consumer/oxu931sf), which entails some features of its use.
Three modes of operation Zalman ZM-VE200
The idea of the South Korean manufacturer Zalman to integrate a virtual CD/DVD drive into a HDD box is actually very good. In theory, this additional functionality will greatly expand the capabilities of the ZM-VE200, and perhaps even transfer this HDD case to new level. However, this virtual optical disk is not without its flaws. Simply put, I'm not very happy with this new functionality.
As stated above, this device can operate in three different modes: HDD, ODD and Dual Mode. HDD mode is a hard drive mode in which the ZM-VE200 can be used as a regular HDD pocket. ODD mode is an optical drive mode in which the user only has the option of mounting ISO files into a virtual drive using it like a regular CD/DVD device. In HDD mode, the user does not have the option of directly mounting ISO images into a virtual drive, and vice versa. In fact, the ZM-VE200 will be recognized by your operating system as two various devices, two disks: the first for storing information, that is, for normal work with a hard disk (HDD mode), and the second for operating a virtual drive (ODD mode). Despite the creation of two virtual devices, the data is stored on one internal hard drive. That's why the ZM-VE200 can still be considered a "normal" external HDD pocket. Well, the last mode is Dual Mode - a combination of the first two modes.
Technically, there is one more mode left - eSATA, however, this mode is kept “apart” from the first three, and here’s why. The first three modes are very easy to use. On the left side of the HDD pocket there is a special switch with which you can activate the mode you need: by sliding the switch down and connecting the USB cable, the device will turn on in HDD mode, switch up + USB cable - ODD mode, switch inward + USB cable - combined mode. All three modes create virtual devices in your computer, while eSATA is activated when you connect the cable of the same name, and is used only for normal information transfer between the computer and the HDD pocket.
A physical drive can only handle one optical drive at a time. The same applies to the virtual CD/DVD drive in the ZM-VE200; Only one ISO image can be downloaded at a time. I was easily able to mount the images I had DVDs, game and music CDs, as well as disk images with software. There was no need to use the OS to control the device when the device itself can control the OS. A special jog-switch, together with the LCD display, made it possible to quickly and easily view existing ISO images, mounting which took approximately 5 - 10 seconds, depending on the size of the ISO file itself.
Among other things, the Zalman ZM-VE200 can not only emulate a virtual CD/DVD drive - it allows you to create up to 4 floppy drives, and they can work simultaneously. Interestingly, Zalman did not provide any information about this functionality. Of course, floppy disks are rarely used these days, but this feature will help target the product at a very specific market where technicians sometimes still use floppy disks to run system diagnostics.
Testing
For testing, we used a Samsung HM160HI hard drive; the external box was connected via USB to the computer. The results are as follows: reading - 27.8 MB/s, writing - 21.6 MB/s.
During our work, sometimes the built-in hard drive was detected as empty, and the operating system offered to format it. It is also known about some “floating” glitches in this model, which are software in nature.
conclusions
Today, it is very easy to buy a cheap 2.5" hard drive enclosure. In fact, there is now a large selection of different HDD boxes on the market. However, a smart choice would be to purchase a device not only with USB 2.0 support, but also to consider options with support for eSATA interfaces and, possibly, even USB 3.0. The good news is that the Zalman ZM-VE200 doesn't fit the usual criteria for choosing external HDD pockets. The fact is that the Zalman ZM-VE200 we're testing today is more than just an external HDD case.
From a theoretical point of view, I see a dual external HDD box, with an optional virtual optical drive, as a great addition to the main unit. Why hasn't this idea been used before? Who knows.
The nice and slim design allows the user to effectively use the internal hard drive as an external drive. And such “little things” as an LCD display and a “jog-switch” switch make it easy to mount the necessary images of optical disks, or switch the mode of using the HDD enclosure. Although the Zalman ZM-VE200 has distinct advantages, it also has disadvantages. The disadvantages include the use of an aging USB 2.0 interface, which makes this purchase less promising. Let us also remember that this HDD enclosure is incompatible with the eSATAp interface; The manufacturer should have provided the possibility of using an external power supply.
With all this, the Zalman ZM-VE200 is a kind of unique product that will appeal, first of all, to enthusiasts and lovers of technical innovations, for whom the novelty of the product is important and who value the quality of the materials in the product.
We thank OST-COM, the official distributor of Zalman in Russia, for the equipment provided.
V.Golub
04/08.2011
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It quickly became one of the most necessary and useful devices. The owners of such boxes will understand me; they get used to good things quickly.
Soon after the purchase, bootable flash drives were almost a thing of the past, joining the previously retired BootCD and the almost forgotten floppy disks. It seemed that the question of the best device for OS installations and other actions related to booting from an external drive would not arise for a long time. But less than a year has passed since he appeared ZM-VE300 from the same manufacturer. Although I have never come across computers with USB 3.0 ports before ( I know that this is not the first year they have been produced), I couldn’t help but take the opportunity to evaluate the VE300.
First look
The appearance and equipment are almost the same as its predecessor. The aluminum case itself is identical, only on the upper part connected to the disk, instead of a write-protect switch, there is a Backup button, and instead of the Mini USB_B and eSATA sockets, there is one USB 3.0 Micro_B.
Included with the ZM-VE300 is a USB 3.0 A - USB 3.0 Micro_B cable, a disk with software, brief instructions in English and "micro screwdriver with micro bolts".
The screen is the same as on the ZM-VE200, but instead of constantly displaying the disk temperature, it shows the connection mode.
The temperature can be viewed by selecting view SMART parameters in the menu (there is only the temperature and the status of the drive, “good” in my case). In general, the menu is more extensive than it was before.
Speed
First of all, of course, we were interested in the write/read speeds, for comparison with the previous model.
The following system was assembled for testing:
The disk was one third full different files, tests were performed using the ATTO Disk Benchmark utility.
ZM-VE300 connected via USB 2.0 port and through USB 3.0.
ZM-VE200 connected via USB 2.0 port and through eSATA.
Somewhat unexpected was the difference in data exchange speed with the VE300 and VE200 connected to the same USB 2.0 port, with the same hard drive.
The difference between USB 3.0 and eSATA seems to be insignificant, but here we must not forget about some things:
* eSATA on VE200 is without power, so a USB cable must also be connected. The most annoying thing is that you cannot boot your computer from a virtual image via eSATA, it is only for copying files.
* USB 3.0 requires drivers at boot, which are not present in every liveCD image. Even if the image itself is loaded, there will be no access to the disk itself in Zalmane. Therefore, these drivers have to be either integrated into the image in advance, or loaded along the way.
With drivers included, downloading/installing/operating via USB 3.0 is very fast. It feels as if you are working with the internal drive of the computer and not with an external one via USB. Even large wim images are loaded in a matter of seconds. Windows 8 installation takes place in a few minutes ( I didn’t time it but it seems no more than ten). Working with Knoppix DVD is an absolute pleasure.
Virtual disks and software
The utility is included with the product and can be downloaded from the official Zalman website / I did so due to the lack of a disk drive. From there you can download the manual in .pdf format and the latest firmware that is flashed, unlike slipping it into the VE200 iso file, directly from Windows by executing the exe file.
The main BackupUtility window is launched from the tray or by pressing a button on the case.
To work with the Backup Utility program, you need to install it on the Windows computer to which the VE300 will connect. The Backup button on the device calls up this particular program. And that means the program must be launched with administrator rights. If in the Backup settings you specify the contents of which folder of the host OS where to backup on Zalman, and set Automatic backup to ON, then the copying should occur without a window appearing.
Actually, I’m a little disappointed by the need to pre-install the utility on the host OS. I wanted to secretly save a bank client from the chief accountant, bummer :).
The most noteworthy button, in my opinion, is Virtual HDD. In the window it opens, you can create images of floppy disks (*.ima), flash drives (*.rmd) and partitions or completely hard drives(*.dsk). These virtual disks can then be mounted by Zalman by selecting them in the "_ISO" folder.
You can work with mounted virtual disks in the same way as with regular ones, that is, write files to them, split them into partitions, format them into any file systems, make them bootable... I experimented in every way using Paragon Partition Manager.
You can boot your computer from bootable images by selecting BIOS Setup or Boot menu corresponding device. Those. USB-FDD for *.ima, USB-ZIP for *.rmd or USB-HDD for *.dsk. Although there may be collisions here.
It is interesting that as soon as any non-CD/DVD/Bluray disc image is mounted, the physical Zalman disc itself becomes read-only.
On the screenshot:
*Disc 1 (I)- "virtual HDD partition", file.dsk
*Disk 2 (H)- "virtual flash drive", file.rmd
*Disc 3 (Q)- "main disk" Zalman
*CD-ROM 0 (F)- "virtual BD-ROM", file.iso
Total
After working with the ZM-VE300 for several days, I hurried to return it to the owner. I've had enough. It's too addictive, and the VE200 hasn't had enough yet. And USB 3.0 is rarely seen today. In a word, I don’t need it. The desire is now there :) but so far conquerable. I think the high price is justified, let Zalman make money while competitors click their beaks, it’s his right.
Our next review is dedicated to the Zalman ZM-VE350 external hard drive enclosure. The box is designed for 2.5-inch SATA drives and supports high-speed USB 3.0 interface. The device is equipped with a virtual optical drive function, allowing you to connect ISO images on the fly. The write protection feature helps prevent damage to important files.
VIDEO REVIEW ZALMAN ZM-VE350
EQUIPMENT AND CHARACTERISTICS ZALMAN ZM-VE350
An external hard drive box that arrived to us for testing Zalman ZM-VE350 comes in a black cardboard box.
Packaging Zalman ZM-VE350
Package Included:
- Boxing itself.
- Case.
- USB 3.0 cable.
- Set of screwdriver and four screws.
- Quick guide.
Equipment Zalman ZM-VE350
The complete cable is 50 cm long, including connectors.
USB 3.0 cable
The case is very thick and it is easy to remove the device from it. You can, of course, use the box directly in the case, but we do not recommend doing this, otherwise the inserted drive may overheat.
Zalman ZM-VE350 in case
We have compiled the technical characteristics of the device into a single table.
| HDD interface | SATA, form factor 2.5″ |
| Device interface | USB 3.0 (backwards compatible with USB 2.0) |
| Device interface baud rate | USB 2.0: up to 480 Mbps; USB 3.0: up to 5 Gbps |
| Working with ISO images | Virtual optical drive |
| Indicator | Lights up when power is turned on, flashes when data is being exchanged |
| Nutrition | Power via USB |
| Dimensions | 131x79x13 mm (L x W x H) |
| Weight | 96 g (without storage) |
DESIGN ZALMAN ZM-VE350
Frame Zalman ZM-VE350 mostly made of painted aluminum with soft polymer inserts on the sides. On the front side there is an LCD display and an LED activity indicator.
External hard drive box Zalman ZM-VE350
At the top end there is a Backup button and a USB 3.0 connector (Micro-B type, which also transmits power to the HDD) for connecting the supplied cable.
Upper end of Zalman ZM-VE350
Glued to the opposite end Technical information about the model.
Bottom end on Zalman ZM-VE350
On the left side there is a push lever for navigating through the device menu, and the rest of the space is occupied by a soft insert.
Left side panel Zalman ZM-VE350
On the right side, except for the second such insert, there is nothing important.
Right side panel Zalman ZM-VE350
The build quality is decent - buttons and body elements do not loosen. In general, the design gives the impression of being monolithic.
TESTING ZALMAN ZM-VE350
To install a drive into the box, you will first have to remove the module with the LCD screen, which essentially contains the entire contents of the device.
Base unit Zalman ZM-VE350
For testing we took solid state drive Intel Solid X25-M and connected it to the internal SATA port.
SSD connected to Zalman ZM-VE350 board
For reliability, it is worth clamping the module with the supplied screws - the holes for them are hidden under the folded edges of the soft inserts.
Screw holes for Zalman ZM-VE350
To do this, we used the included screwdriver - fortunately, little effort is required, so the miniature size of the screwdriver is not a hindrance. It is worth noting that the kit includes twice as many screws as needed - four versus the required two.
Zalman ZM-VE350 base unit secured with screws
After connecting to the PC, the display of our device turned blue and displayed a simple menu.
Display Zalman ZM-VE350
At the same time, the operating system recognized two devices at once: the USB drive itself and an additional optical drive - completely virtual, as indicated in its name.
Zalman ZM-VE350 in task manager
This is precisely the main feature of this case - you can mount any ISO images by placing them in a folder "_ISO" on the disk inserted into the case. For example, downloaded from MSDN Windows image 7 was read without problems.
Windows 7 image in virtual Zalman drive ZM-VE350
However, our copy was initially with faulty firmware, and for the virtual drive function to work correctly we had to update software devices up to more current version. We attach the archive with the firmware and update instructions below. REMEMBER: This operation is carried out at your own peril and risk, and if you are not exactly sure what you are doing, it is better to contact technical support or a service center.
- Instructions for firmware Zalman ZM-VE350 (122.7 KB).
- Archive with Zalman ZM-VE350 firmware (579.78 KB).
However, the drive function can be turned off completely - to do this, you just need to select the appropriate mode, of which there are three:
- HDD Mode – drive mode without a drive.
- VCD Mode – “virtual drive only” mode.
- DUAL Mode – simultaneous operation.
Zalman ZM-VE350 modes
Another great feature Zalman ZM-VE350– ability to set write protection. This allows you to work even in a potentially or actually virus-infected system without the danger of contracting an infection. All you need to do is select “Enable WP” from the menu. The lock icon closes on the start screen - and that’s it, no problems.
Installing write protection in Zalman ZM-VE350
Additionally, in the “Information” section you can see the storage temperature (let’s say right away that for SSDs it is determined incorrectly, don’t be alarmed), S.M.A.R.T. status, serial number and controller firmware version.
Information about the drive in Zalman ZM-VE350
Now let's check the performance when using the USB interface. 3.0. IN HD Tune 5 the speed graph has an average read speed of 161.9 MB/s with a random access time of 0.169 ms. The CPU load was 9.8%.
Result of Zalman ZM-VE350 (USB 3.0) in HD Tune 5
IN Crystal Disk Mark 3 sequential read and write speeds showed results of 250.3 MB/s and 96.19 MB/s, respectively.
Result of Zalman ZM-VE350 (USB 3.0) in Crystal Disk Mark 3
Next, we switched to the USB 2.0 interface and tested the speed characteristics again. IN HD Tune 5 an almost flat graph shows that the drive’s performance significantly exceeds the capabilities of the USB 2.0 interface, so we have an average read speed of 31.7 MB/s with an increased random access time of 0.408 ms. But the load on the processor is only slightly higher – 11.5% versus 9.8% when transferring data via USB 3.0.
Result of Zalman ZM-VE350 (USB 2.0) in HD Tune 5
Result in Crystal Disk Mark 3 also hit the USB 2.0 performance ceiling.
Result of Zalman ZM-VE350 (USB 2.0) in Crystal Disk Mark 3
So, the indicators correspond to the declared ones bandwidth even for SSD. So the box can handle a regular hard drive without any problems.
ZALMAN ZM-VE350: CONCLUSIONS
Price Zalman ZM-VE350 at the time of testing is approximately 4,000 rubles. For this money you get a fairly convenient tool that not only works as a portable one HDD, but also allows you to install operating system from an ISO image on virtually any PC, and the images can be mounted right along the way. The box not only delivers speeds sufficient to run an SSD, but is also backwards compatible with USB 2.0. At the same time, to ensure data safety, a write protection option is provided, with which you can work even on an infected computer without fear of losing files or spreading the virus further.
Pros of Zalman ZM-VE350:
- Support for mounting ISO images.
- Works with USB 3.0 without reducing the performance of the inserted drive.
- Write protection function.
- The metal body dissipates heat well.
Cons of Zalman ZM-VE350:
- No significant findings were found.
Zalman ZM-VE350 does not see iso. Solution to the problem.
The other day I became the owner of a Zalman ZM-VE350. Since the main area of my work is related to computer repair and system administration, I desperately needed it. I had to buy it because I lost the Zalman ZM-VE300, about which a lot has already been said. But if you came to this article, then you know why you need it and what its main capabilities are. You can skip everything and go to the instructions.
External box for 2.5-inch drives with USB 3.0 interface and with virtual optical drive function. An interesting and no less useful gadget from Zalman. An excellent alternative to Chinese “boxes” for 2.5 inch HDDs.
Specifications
Interface: USB 3.0 (compatible with USB 2.0/1.11)
Form factor/drive interface: 2.5″/SATA 1.2
Supported OS: Windows 98.ME, 2000, XP, Vista. 7/Mac OS/Linux
Additionally: text display, Backup button, virtual optical drive function
Dimensions: 135.3×78.6×13.1 mm
Weight: 96g
Advantages and disadvantages of Zalman ZM-VE300 V
Advantages
- Aluminum alloy body
- Compact dimensions
- Hi-Speed USB 3.0 Interface
- Virtual optical drive feature
- Rich equipment
Flaws
- High price
Design and ergonomics
As you have noticed, the device looks very impressive. Its body is made of durable and lightweight aluminum alloy, making the gadget thin (slightly thicker than 1 cm) and ensuring effective heat removal from the drive. At the top is a small text-based LCD display that shows the device's status and settings menu, which is navigated using the three-way joystick on the left side of the device. On top there is a Backup button and a micro-USB 3.0 connector for connecting to a computer.
Gadget functionality
Zalman ZM-VE300 V It is distinguished by extremely high functionality for devices of this kind. The most interesting thing is that to use its capabilities in practice, you do not need to install special drivers or utilities on your computer (besides the proprietary backup utility). You can control the device using your own menu: change the brightness of the screen and the idle time of the drive to go into sleep mode, analyze the current parameters (temperature, disk condition - S.M.A.R.T., supply voltage, etc.), as well as perform reconnection and safe shutdown, and even activate write protection.
Virtual optical drive emulation
The “chip” of the device is virtual optical drive emulation. By activating this “ODD Mode” in the corresponding section of the “Mode Select” menu, the device is not detected by the computer as external hard disk (HDD Mode), but as an optical drive. The usual ISO files (images) are used as optical discs, which must be placed in a folder called “iso”. If you place several files with images in it, you can quickly switch between them using the screen and joystick without disconnecting the external box from the PC. And of course, it is possible to boot your computer from a virtual optical disk by selecting its image. The main thing is that the BIOS supports booting from a USB optical drive. Besides everything else, boxing from Zalman can simultaneously work both as an external HDD and as an optical drive - Dual Mode. Accordingly, the computer sees it as two separate devices.
Those wishing to use this external box for an SSD drive with SATA 3 will be disappointed with the performance and an unjustified purchase of this type hard drive. SATA 2 media works great.
Equipment
Fans of the included accessories will also like the device. They will find there a USB 3.0 cable, a high-quality case to protect against scratches, screws for securing the drive inside the box and a small screwdriver. There is also a disk with a proprietary backup utility and a user manual in English.
Nowadays it’s difficult to surprise anyone external hard disks and cases for them. But among its competitors, the Zalman ZM-VE300 external hard drive enclosure stands out. In addition to the traditional 2.5" box with a fast USB 3.0 interface, the Zalman ZM-VE300 has a unique function - it can mount images of disks and floppy disks recorded in it. That is, in addition to the regular external HDD mode, it can work as a DVD-ROM and floppy drive Similar devices appeared on the market many years ago, but I was able to truly appreciate their convenience only when I saw them in action with my own eyes.Now I am another happy owner of the Zalman ZM-VE300.
The kit includes an aluminum ZM-VE300 case, a thick carrying case, a USB 3.0 cable, an installation CD with programs, a quick user guide and a small screwdriver with bolts for fixing the hard drive.
Zalman ZM-VE300 has an impressive design: a lightweight aluminum case with plastic inserts on the sides, a small LCD screen that displays the status of the disk. On the top edge there is an activity indicator, a socket for connecting a USB cable and a “Backup” button. In addition, on the left side of the box there is a three-position joystick-wheel, with which almost all actions are performed. The activity indicator is two-color. White color is used to indicate operation in USB 2.0 mode, blue - in USB 3.0 mode.
In order to install a hard drive in the Zalman ZM-VE300, you need to remove the top board with the display and connect the drive itself to it. Then insert the resulting structure into the aluminum housing.
Of the three 2.5" drives we tried, the Zalman ZM-VE300 refused to work with one, but accepted the other two normally. I did not find any pattern in its preferences, and, as it became clear from reviews on various Internets, I was not the only one who had this problem. So it's probably better to have a few different drives ready.
When the disk is installed and functionality has been verified, you need to secure it. Bend the seal from the sides of the case; holes for the bolts are hidden under them. As I already said, bolts and a small screwdriver are included in the kit, so there shouldn’t be any problems with fastening. But the seal doesn’t want to go back up, since it is made of hard plastic and after bending it starts to hang out. A trifle, of course, but it spoils the impression. A regular rubber seal would look more harmonious here.
In the first Zalman ZM-VE300 models, the firmware only allowed working with drives formatted in FAT32 to support file system NTFS had to install alternative firmware from a similar device - iODD-2531. In new batches, the firmware is more recent, with it NTFS drives are perfectly supported without additional steps. Download latest version Firmware and programs necessary for updating can be found on the website.
ZM.VE300.Firmware.Upgrade.R1288N.zip (343,728 bytes)
In order to install firmware from iODD-2531 on Zalman-VE300, you will need to slightly modify the firmware program. I corrected the latest firmware version. After installing it, the device is identified in the system as iODD, but this will not work any worse. On the contrary, all new features from the iODD-2531 will be added to the functionality, which include official firmware Zalman-VE300 does not exist and is not expected.
iODD.2531.to.ZM.VE300.Firmware.Upgrade.R1600N.zip (345,755 bytes)
Entering and exiting the Menu occurs by pressing the side switch for more than 3 seconds. Navigating through the menu and selecting items is done using the joystick; returning to the previous level is done using the "Backup" button.
- Main menu:
- Mode Select- setting the device operating mode
- Setting- adjust the brightness of the LCD display and Sleep mode
- Information- view information about the HDD and firmware version
- USB Connect- USB connection setup
- Advanced- setting up a virtual HDD connection
- Mode Select menu:
- Dual Mode- work in combined mode, external HDD and virtual DVD-ROM/Blu-Ray drive
- ODD Mode or CD Mode(for iODD firmware) - works only in DVD-ROM/Blu-Ray mode (this mode is usually used when installing the OS)
- HDD Mode- the device is detected only as an external HDD (this mode is used when connecting to devices other than a PC)
- Settings menu:
- LCD Bright- adjust the brightness of the LCD screen backlight
- Idle Bright- adjustable LCD backlight in sleep mode
- Standby time- setting the time to go into sleep mode
- Load Default- return to default values
- Menu "Information":
- S.M.A.R.T- S.M.A.R.T information
- HDD Model- display the name of the hard drive model
- HDD Serial- display the serial number of the hard drive
- Firmware Ver.- display firmware version
- USB Speed- display the type of current connection (USB2.0: Hi-Speed, USB3.0: Super-Speed)
- USB Input Volt- display the lowest input voltage via the USB port after connecting to a PC and the current input voltage
- Menu "S.M.A.R.T":
- HDD Temp.- display HDD temperature
- HDD Health- display the HDD status (Good, Warning, Bad). If a Warning or Bad appears, immediately backup all data and check the HDD
- "USB Connect" menu:
- Refresh- reconnect the device to the PC
- Safe Removal- safe removal of the device
- Advanced menu:
- Umount VHDD- unmount all disk and floppy images
- Write Protect- enable or disable write protection
- Instant Save- remember the image immediately after selecting it (only in iODD firmware)
- Force USB 3.0- USB 3.0 priority mode (only in iODD firmware)
It is not indicated anywhere in the documentation, but it has been experimentally established that there should be no more than 32 images in the “_ISO” folder at the same time, otherwise the Zalman ZM-VE300 will display the message “Too Many Files”. This can be easily circumvented by creating subfolders, although this still leaves a limit of 32 files per folder. There are alternative firmwares that do not have such a limitation, but personally, I have the entire necessary set of distributions in a dozen files. By the way, as a cheaper alternative to the Zalman ZM-VE300, unscrupulous sellers may offer you enclosures for hard drives of the brand Konoos. Such a replacement is far from equivalent, since low-end models of Konoos cases support only one image, while more sophisticated ones support only three. Naturally, online shopping sites are modestly silent about this.
The Zalman ZM-VE300 comes with a utility for Reserve copy Backup Utility. It is recorded on a CD, but the latest version is always available on the website. As you might guess, it is used to make backups selected files and folders from your computer to an external hard drive in Zalman ZM-VE300. In the program, configure the required paths, then click the “Backup” button on the box and the utility copies the information.
But that's not all she can do. WITH using Backup Utility, you can create virtual disks, and then save them to the "_ISO" folder on an external hard drive. It's worth understanding virtual disks better. "Virtual HDD" are empty files of a given size with the ability to connect them as external drives. Naturally, the Zalman ZM-VE300 is responsible for the connection and emulation functions.
Everything should also be clear with the “Safe Removal” function. You can safely turn off the Zalman ZM-VE300 by pressing the wheel or the "Backup" button on the device itself, or you can do this at the initiative of the computer through this Backup Utility function.
And this is how the system displays physical hard disks and virtual drives connected or created using the Zalman ZM-VE300.
Returning to the topic about installing Windows XP on the HP Mini 210-1130ER netbook. The inconvenience of installing the system from a flash drive was the last argument for me to buy the Zalman ZM-VE300. After purchasing it, I conducted an experiment: I recorded the prepared image on an external hard drive, installed a blank hard drive in the netbook, then mounted the image onto a virtual CD and tried to install the system. As I expected, everything went well.
The instructions that come with the kit are very sparse. All you can learn from it is where to attach the bolts and how to install backup software. There are instructions on the Internet for in electronic format, even translated into Russian, but in essence they are no different from the paper version. According to rumors, complete documentation is available in Korean, but this is unlikely to be of any help. So you'll have to be content with what you have.
Zalman.ZM.VE300.Manual.RUS.zip (546,663 bytes)
Zalman.ZM.VE300.Manual.ENG.zip (492,463 bytes)
Because the instructions are quite brief, and they do not describe all the capabilities of the Zalman ZM-VE300. In preparing this review, I collected from various sources and systematized useful tips and undocumented functions. Other possible problems discussed in detail at the IXBT conference.
- If you hold down the "Backup" button while connecting the device, write protection will turn on.
- If you hold down the joystick wheel while connecting, the write protection is removed and the device goes into “Dual Mode”.
- If you hold the joystick wheel up while connecting, the “ODD Mode” is set.
- If you hold the joystick wheel down while connecting, the “HDD Mode” mode is set.
- If you turn down and hold the joystick wheel during operation, the device will be safely turned off. The same thing happens if you press and hold the "Backup" button.
- If you turn up and hold the joystick wheel while working, the “_ISO” folder will be rescanned and the list of images contained in it will be updated. This is very convenient if new images were recorded on the device in “Dual Mode” or “HDD Mode”.
- In order for Zalman VE-300 to remember the last mounted image, it must be safely disabled. Install the desired image, press and hold the "Backup" button or scroll down, wait for the "Data Saving..." message and disconnect the disk from the computer. After this, Zalman VE-300 will start with the selected image.
- To unmount a floppy disk image or drive from a "Virtual HDD", you need to go to the "End Of List" item and hold down the wheel for 3 seconds.
- When connected to desktop computer It's better to use USB ports that are located at the back system unit, not on the front panel.
- If the hard drive installed in the case is divided into several partitions, then the partition with the "_ISO" folder should be Primary.
- It is not recommended to install SSD drives in the Zalman ZM-VE300, as they are more sensitive to insufficient power supplied via USB and may fail.
The most convenient way to defragment files and directories is to use free program WinContig. Her main feature- quickly defragment individual files without having to defragment the entire disk. Just launch WinContig, select one or more image files and defragment, after which the Zalman ZM-VE300 quietly mounts everything.
What can I say to sum it up? Zalman ZM-VE300 is a very cool thing that justifies its cost to the penny. Now the problem with preparing installation flash drives and a stack of CD/DVD disks with different distributions has been solved once and for all; all this remains a thing of the past. The Zalman ZM-VE300 will be an excellent assistant for system administrators and advanced users who often have to rearrange the system or use different boot disks.
Despite all the advantages, there are some disadvantages. Neither the instructions nor the website contains a list of recommended hard drive models that work with the Zalman ZM-VE300. As a last resort, it would be possible to indicate the recommended characteristics, such as amperage and rotation speed, so that you can independently select the right model, but this information is not available anywhere. The USB cable included in the kit is short and VERY stiff, which is why there is a risk of damaging the housing connector with frequent use. It would not hurt to provide additional power so that the Zalman ZM-VE300 can be connected to older computers. Of course, no one bothers you to find and purchase the right cable yourself, but it’s strange that the manufacturer made such a wonderful device and saved on a cheap cable. Judging by the reviews, for some hard drives you have to add an additional seal to the case so that the drive does not hang around inside. In my case this was not necessary, but in general I agree that the fastening system could have been thought out better. Otherwise, I am very pleased with the purchase.
UPD. After the untimely death of the Zalman ZM-VE300 (connected it to a problematic system unit, and there was a breakdown of electricity on the USB port), I purchased the original iODD-2531. So, there are no problems with seals described there. They are of sufficient length and have “horns” at the end, which are tucked under the side plugs and hold perfectly. Zalman also has these “horns”, but the seal itself is shorter, as a result they are useless. The cable is also long and flexible. The only thing is that the iODD case is uncomfortable - soft. I replaced it with a vacant case from Zalman. So it makes sense to purchase original iODD devices, rather than crookedly copied replicas.
