Axentra Unveils Personal Server

LAS VEGAS -- Axentra is showing at Comdex here its Rumba Multifunction Server Appliance, a low-powered network server for home and small offices.

The Rumba uses Via's 800-MHz C3 processor and the Red Hat Linux operating system to provide file and print services, Internet gateway and firewall services, and more. It is housed in a stand-alone tower case no bigger than a typical hard-bound book.

Axentra officials say they expect the Rumba will ship in two months for an estimated street price of $499. It is part of a showcase of Via-based computing products here.

Product Specs

Axentra uses a small, inexpensive Mini ITX motherboard in the Rumba. The box has standard I/O ports that include serial, parallel, and USB connectors, plus a WAN connector and two network interface connections. With these, you can attach almost any shared peripheral, including printers, scanners, external storage drives, and wireless adapters.

The Rumba also has a 40GB hard drive for server applications and file storage, which may be somewhat small given the size and low price of hard drives currently available.

Like most servers of the Rumba's size, users manage it through a Web browser on any connected Windows-, Linux-, or MacOS-based PC.

For more Comdex news, check PCWorld.com's ongoing coverage of the trade show.