I’ve tried calling the WD My Cloud number several times and have also tried e-mail (which this is no good e-mail address I’ve found to contact them) regarding the 20% coupon I was supposed to receive in January! I need to get something to replace my existing unit before WD support runs out in April 2022 so I would like to have this coupon so I can shop for the best deal. Any suggestions on how to get my coupon?
Many thanks,
Steve Patterson
Check your email including spam folders. WD set out repeated emails with the coupon code for their 20% discount. If you can search your email messages, search for: “As promised, here’s an exclusive 20% discount coupon”. In my case I received the coupon notification email’s on 1/18/22, 1/20/22, 2/3/22 and 2/10/22.
Really though one should review and seriously consider other manufactures like Synology or Qnap if one really wants to replace their My Cloud. Sometimes the “best deal” (i.e. the cheapest) is not necessarily the best NAS to buy as it will typically have fewer features and options than a NAS that might be a little more money. That 20% discount for some My Cloud users, like first gen single bay My Cloud owners, is basically worthless as the discount would only apply to either the 8TB My Cloud Home or 12TB My Book if one has a first gen single bay My Cloud. The My Cloud Home is generally considered a step down from the My Cloud and not a true NAS as it requires internet access in order to use it. And the My Book is a external USB hard drive not a network attached storage device.
Also note that generally the termination of OS3 support by WD will not affect local network access to one’s My Cloud. One will still be able to access their local network My Cloud just as they do today. It is WD supported remote access and future firmware updates that is being impacted (terminated). Local access is unaffected.
My Cloud OS3 End of Service
https://www.westerndigital.com/support/software/my-cloud-os/os3/os3-eos
Q: Will my device stop working if I can’t upgrade to My Cloud OS 5? Will I lose access to my data?
A: Once the services have been shut down, you will still be able to access the device on a local network. However, access through the My Cloud OS 3 mobile app or web app will not be possible. Email notifications also won’t be delivered. Devices that have auto-update enabled will receive a final firmware update to disable remote access and outbound traffic to cloud services. Then, support will end and you’ll have to use the local network to access the device.
Why did WD choose to do this shut down of OS 3 devices. I have mine and can only use the local network using my desk top iMac… I can no longer access it using my iPad or iPhone even though I am on my home wi fi network alongside the WD My Cloud … I am not happy !!!
For local network access to a My Cloud using a mobile device (iOS/Android) one can use a third party “file manager” app, either free or paid, that can be found in the Apple Store or Google Play Store.
As to why WD did this. They likely decided it was easier to retire the older line of My Cloud devices that couldn’t support running OS5 than try to make OS5 work on older devices with limited hardware (processor/RAM). Even the second generation single bay My Cloud can barely run OS5, with users having a number of issues with the OS5 indexing feature that basically renders their second generation single bay My Cloud unusable/inaccessible. WD has indicated the product support basically ends after 9 years.
Western Digital Product Lifecycle Support Policy
https://www.westerndigital.com/support/software/software-life-cycle-policy
End of Updates and End of Support . Nine years after a product’s release, we may discontinue all updates, including critical software security updates. Western Digital may also discontinue cloud service support for a product in this phase. If a product feature depends on cloud services to function, that functionality will end.
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