Iomega announced a Linux-based, dual-drive networked attached storage (NAS) appliance for the home-business and consumer market. The Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 is available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities, and offers RAID 1 support, user-replaceable storage, a QuikTransfer copy button, 5-18 Watt power consumption, and a DLNA/UPnP media server, says Iomega.

StorCenter devices run LifeLine, developed by Iomega parent company EMC, and billed as being a "fully-developed Linux operating environment and suite of information management, security, and sharing software applications." Other Iomega NAS devices based on EMC LifeLine include the 1-2TB StorCenter ix2, and the recently introduced Iomega ix4-200d, which comes in comes in 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB versions.

Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 with hard disk drive

The ix2-200 settles down in between these two offerings with dual 3.5-inch bays that provide 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB hard disk drive (HDD) options for user-replaceable storage, says Iomega. The device is said to support RAID 1 and JBOD, as well as iSCSI block-level access for more efficient storage.

The ix2-200 runs LifeLine Linux on an unnamed 1GB CPU with 256MB RAM, and provides a gigabit Ethernet port, and three USB 2.0 ports. The device is also said to offer a front panel "QuikTransfer" button for copying selected files directly between networked storage devices or with an attached Windows, Mac, or Linux PC. A USB-based Bluetooth option supports data transfers with mobile devices, says Iomega.

Front and back views of StorCenter ix2-200

Measuring 3.7 x 8.0 x 5.6 inches (94 x 203 x 141mm) the ix2-200 is equipped with an AC 100-240 VAC power supply, with power consumption ranging from 5 Watts to 19 Watts, says Iomega. The Energy Star certified ix2-200 is said to offer power management features including automatic HDD spin-down when the appliance is not copying or serving up data.

Firmware and software features touted for the StorCenter ix2-200 include:

• Supports Windows, Mac, and Linux desktops
• Device-to-device replication for business continuity and file recovery
• DLNA certified UPnP AV media server
• Windows Active Directory support
• IP security camera support connects up to five Axis Network video cameras
• VMware certification for virtualization installations
• Time Machine target for Apple computer backups
• Built-in torrent support for file-sharing
• Cooliris slide show plug-in for photo viewing
• Remote web access
• Print server
• Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) for USB transfers
• EMC Retrospect Express backup software
• RSA BSAFE encryption security technology

Stated Jonathan Huberman, president of Iomega and the Consumer and Small Business Products Division of EMC, "The new StorCenter ix2-200 is definitely the easiest to use small office and consumer network storage appliance in the marketplace today."

Availability

The 1TB StorCenter ix2-200 is now available in the Americas and Europe for $270, and the 2TB model is available for $370, says Iomega. The 4TB model will be available later this month for $700, and next month all three versions will be available in Asia. More information may be found here.

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