Seagate is readying a four-bay network-attached storage device for small businesses that runs embedded Linux and stores up to 8TB. The hot-swappable BlackArmor NAS 440 offers an iTunes server and DLNA-compliant media server, RAID 0/1/5/10, dual gigabit Ethernet ports, and four USB ports, says Seagate.

(Click for larger view of the BlackArmor NAS 440)

With the BlackArmor NAS 440, Seagate has launched its first homegrown, small business NAS device, re-launching a BlackArmor brand that it picked up when it acquired Maxtor in 2006. Shortly thereafter, Seagate released a Linux-based Maxtor Shared Storage II NAS that offered dual drives and gigabit Ethernet.

Designed to backup, archive, and restore data and rich media from up to 50 PC workstations, the NAS 440 is preloaded with 2TB Seagate SATA II drives, for up to 8TB total storage. Users can also buy a NAS 420 system, which is identical, except that it has only two bays filled for 1TB drives, for 2TB capacity, says the company.

BlackArmor NAS 440 (open)

With the dual gigabit Ethernet ports, users can implement port failover and NAS-to-NAS replication functions, says Seagate. Other features are said to include four USB ports for additional external drives, printers, and UPS equipment. The company did not disclose the system's processor or memory.

The NAS 440's Linux-based multi-volume management firmware lets users configure drives into subset volumes, with each assigned its own level of redundancy using the device's RAID 0/1/5/10 and JBOD options. Other features are said to include incremental and full-system backup, bare-metal system restoration, and encryption for individual files or entire volumes. The NAS 440 offers secure access from any popular web browser, and provides DLNA and iTunes media streaming servers, says Seagate.

Specifications listed for the NAS 440 and NAS 420 include:

• Storage — 4 x bays with four (NAS 440) or two (NAS 420) bays loaded with 2TB (NAS 440) or 1TB (NAS 420) Seagate SATA II (7200 RPM) drives
• Networking — 2 x gigabit Ethernet ports
• USB — 4 x USB 2.0 ports
• RAID support — RAID 0/1/5/10 and JBOD
• Network protocols — CIFS, NFS, HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, Bonjour, Microsoft Rally; supports MS Windows Server Active Directory
• Servers — ITunes; DLNA media streaming; HTTP; FTP
• Other hardware features — On-board LCD screen with status
• Other software features — Volume management with shared folder level ACL support; disk, backup, and event management
• Dimensions — 6.3 x 8.2 x 10.6 inches (160 x 207 x 269mm)
• Weight — 13.6 lbs (6.16 kg) with four drives (440 model)
• Operating system — Embedded Linux; supports Linux Kernel 2.6.7 or later, Windows XP/Vista, or Mac OS X 10.4.11 networked PCs (CD-ROM software supports only Windows and Mac desktops)

Availability

Seagate's new BlackArmor NAS devices cost $800 (NAS 420 with 2TB), $1,200 (NAS 440 with 4TB), $1,700 (NAS 440 with 6TB), and $2,000 (NAS 440 with 8TB), says Seagate. The products will ship in May. More information may be found here.

 
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