Iomega is unveiling this week an entry-level network-attached storage (NAS) device designed to work with both conventional ATA drives and the Rev removable hard drives that Iomega recently released.
Called the Iomega NAS 200d, the cube-shaped appliance will be priced starting at $1399 and will give small businesses a way to add a file server to their networks without having to pay the client licensing fees associated with a Windows Server 2003 system, says Wayne Arvidson, a director with Iomega's professional storage solutions group.
NAS Specs, Prices
The NAS 200d uses the Windows Storage Server 2003 operating system, which does not require client licenses, Arvidson says.
"You plug it into a network, and it publishes itself as a drive to everyone on the network," he says.
The 200d will come in two models: a 320GB model with two 160GB Serial ATA drives, and a 480GB model with three drives. Because they will be Iomega's first NAS devices that are not designed to be mounted on server racks, the storage servers are more appropriate for small and medium-sized business customers that do not have racks of servers, says analyst Brad Nisbet, a program manager with market research firm IDC.
The NAS 200d with 320GB of storage will have a list price of $1399. The 480GB model will be priced at $1999. Both products will begin shipping in the United States, Canada, and Latin America in June. They are scheduled to become available in other international markets by September, according to Iomega.
The 320GB 200d server connects to the network using a 10/100/1000 megabit-per-second Ethernet interface. The 480GB server includes two such ports.
For adding more storage or tape backup devices, the NAS appliances will have four USB 2.0 ports. The 480GB model will also have an UltraSCSI 320 port, according to Iomega.
Enhancing Rev
By September, Iomega plans to begin selling a Rev drive kit that can be inserted directly into the 200d chassis. This will give users another way of creating removable backups of their data, Arvidson says.
The Rev drive kit is "probably going to be similarly priced" to Iomega's existing Rev drives, which cost approximately $350, Arvidson adds.
The 200d will offer users a Windows-based alternative to Linux-powered NAS devices such as those sold by Snap Appliance, Arvidson says.
"Having a Microsoft-based solution makes it very easy for small and medium businesses," he says. "There is native support for Active Directory, and the management screens are exactly like what you have with your Microsoft desktop."
