ANTenna Blog -- Storage

Designed for small businesses and branch offices, Iomega StorCenter ix-4200d uses virtualization, RSA security, data protection, replication, and video surveillance technology from new corporate parent EMC.

When EMC bought Iomega last year, the combined company promised to bring EMCs storage technology to smaller companies. And Marc Tanguay, Iomega's Worldwide General Manager of Network Products, says the StorCenter ix-4200d shows the company is hitting its stride.

The new unit combines higher-end features, Tanguay says, with wizard based installation and management that doesn't require help from IT professionals (the company claims four-click installation), but a command-line interface is also available for purists.

Nifty features include a QuikTransfer button for easy file copying and a front-panel LCD indicating capacity and network information.

The Iomega StorCenter ix-4200d

Features include RAID and UPS support and built-in device-to-device replication to any network target. Users can easily replace hard drives themselves, and the ix4-200d supports print sharing, Windows Active Directory, and IP security cameras. Units are available with up to 8TB of storage, and additional storage can be added via USB-ports.

More importantly, Tanguay says the ix-4200d can run in three modes at the same time:

1. Standard NAS mode for file sharing and backup.


2. Mac mode for mixed Mac and PC environments, including native Time Machine backup support. (The device also supports Linux machines.)


3. iSCSI mode for use with Microsoft Exchange Server, for example.

Tanguay says the StorCenter ix-4200d is the only device currently VMware certified for both NFS and iSCSI on ESX server 3. "Right now not many small businesses are working iwth virtualization," he says, "but we know it's coming."

Iomega is also pitching the ix-4200d for home offices, citing features such as print server and media server support, optional Bluetooth support, and remote management.

The StorCenter ix-4200d starts at $700 with 2TB of storage, rises to $900 for 4TB, and jumps to $1,900 for the 8TB model, reflecting the relatively high cost of the 2TB disk drives.

The device is sold thrugh the channel and distributors such as CDW and Ingram Micro, direct from Iomega, and via retailers like Fry's, Amazon, and New Egg. It competes against a rising tide of desktop NSAS media and storage servers for small offices and high-end users from a variety of manufacturers.

More From bMighty:

• Synology "Disk Stations" Bridge Business, Consumer Markets


• Drobo Goes Pro With 8-Bay Storage Device


• Netgear Launches ReadyNAS NVX For Desktop Storage

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