Axiomtek announced a rackmountable, 1U network appliance that runs Red Hat Linux on Intel Atom D410 or D510 processors and provides six gigabit Ethernet ports. The NA-320R includes both hard disk and CompactFlash storage, accepts up to 2GB of RAM, and has a PCI Express Mini Card expansion slot, the company says.

Obviously aimed at small or medium-sized businesses, the NA-320R is at the other end of the performance scale compared to the similarly rackmountable NA-510 Axiomtek released last year, which offered Core i3, i5, and i7 processors. It's claimed, however, that the hyperthreading capabilities inherent in the NA-320's single-core Atom D410 or dual-core Atom D510 allow the device to perform adequately in multitasking environments.

Axiomtek's NA-320R

According to Axiomtek, the NA-320R (above) is suitable for VPN, firewall, unified threat management, bandwidth control and network management applications. The device has six gigabit Ethernet ports, using Intel 82583V controllers or, optionally, Intel 82574 controllers, the company says. LAN bypass capabilities are also cited, though without word on how many of the ports this applies to.

Equipped with Intel's ICH8M I/O controller, the NA-320R is expandable to 2GB of DDR2 memory. Fixed storage can be provided by one or two 2.5-inch hard disk drives, a single 3.5-inch hard disk drive, or a CompactFlash Type II slot.

A previously released desktop equivalent of this product, the NA-320 had a front panel bearing only LEDs (monitoring power, hard disk status, link activity with transfer rate, and LAN bypass), everything else being on the back. With the NA-320R, almost everything's up front: the LEDs, the six gigabit Ethernet ports already mentioned, two USB 2.0 ports, and a serial port with RJ45 connector. (Axiomtek notes that BIOS output is redirected to the latter, easing setup via a serially connected screen.)

The NA-320 accepted 12VDC power via an external AC adapter. The NA-320R instead has an internal, 84 Watt power supply and takes AC power directly, as one would expect in a rackmountable piece of equipment.

According to Axiomtek, the NA-320R includes an optional PCI Express Mini Card slot, which may be used for installation of a wireless networking card. Equipped with a watchdog timer, the device may be operated in temperatures from 32 to 113 deg. F, the company adds.

Features and specifications listed by Axiomtek for the NA-320R include:

• Processor — Intel Atom D410 or D510, both clocked at 1.66GHz
• Chipset — ICH8M
• Memory — up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM
• Storage — 2 x 2.5-inch bays or 1 x 3.5-inch bay for SATA hard disk drive; Type II CompactFlash slot
• Expansion — 1 x PCI Express Mini Card slot (optional)
• Networking — 6 x gigabit Ethernet, with configurable LAN bypass
• Other I/O:
  • serial console port with RJ45 connector
  • 2 x USB 2.0
• Power — 110~240VAC; 84 Watts
• Operating range — 32 to 113 deg. F
• Dimensions — 16.93 x 9.76 x x 1.73 inches
• Weight — 15.43 pounds

Further information

While it did not cite pricing, Axiomtek says the NA-320R will be available later this month. More information may be found on the NA-320R product page.

According to Axiomtek, operating system support for the NA-320 includes Red Hat Linux 2.6. Windows support was not detailed, but of course may be taken for granted due to the device's use of a familiar Intel chipset.

A reverse example of this situation can be found in two Axiomtek 15-inch panel PCs the company announced earlier this week with Windows support, but no mention of Linux. The Intel Atom-based GOT-3156TL-830 and GOT-3156T-823 have resistive screens with resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels, plus 2.5-inch SATA drive bays, CompactFlash and PCI Express Mini Card slots, and multiple serial ports, the company says.

Jonathan Angel can be reached at [email protected] and followed at www.twitter.com/gadgetsense.

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