Thanks Dmitry.



>Jim,
>
>I use a Seagate external USB-attached hard drive for the same purpose you are planning.
>
>>1) Can I make such a device shareable, thus accessible by other systems on the network?
>>
>
>I don't see why not because it looks on my PC just like any other drive (I actually partitioned it to drives J, K, L)
>
>>2) Does it properly handle LOCKING, like a 'real' hard drive does?
>>
>I don't know.
>
>>3) The box said "Included in the box: ... connector for power." It did not say 'power supply' (my XIMETA does have a brick for a power supply) so this has me perplexed. Sounds like it *could* mean that a second USB port is needed for powering the unit. Ideas?
>>
>
>With my drive all hardware, power cord, etc was included.
>
>>4) Am I correct in ASSUMING that I don't need to use it's "backup" methodology, but rather can simply move files to/from the unit as I so choose? ... And that I can create files directly to the unit?
>>
>
>Right. I simply XCOPY my "active" drive to the external drive everytime I need to make a back up.
>
>>5) What are things I should be aware of about such devices?
>>
>
>I can't think of anything. External hard drive for a backup works very well.
>
>HTH.