Maxtor Packs More Punch With MaxAttach NAS 4100 - Product Announcement

Computer Technology Review, April, 2001 by Ilona Fass

MaxAttach NAS 4100 is the first product in a new generation of NAS file servers offered by Maxtor. The product is based on Windows 2000 with interoperability features such as active directory and support for different backup environments. Maxtor believes IT managers will view the active directory feature as particularly advantageous since it incorporates, among other elements, DFS (distributed file system), which virtualizes two separate NAS devices and allowing them to appear as one. MaxAttach is capable of storing 320GB in a one U-high industry standard rack space. There is also a 160GB model available. The 320 model has 256MB of RAM and the 160 model has 128MB of RAM.

Another transport mechanism offered on the 320 model is Gigabit Ethernet, created as a response to internal studies that showed that the majority of Maxtor's users plan to deploy Gigabit Ethernet in the near future. Gigabit Ethernet addresses the customer's need to transfer large files and relieve bandwidth. The 160GB model does not offer this feature. Other than the Gigabit Ethernet and the different amount of RAM space, both models are the same.

MaxAttach has dual 10/100 Ethernet ports that provide load balancing when connected to the network. In addition, MaxAttach includes a SCSI port, a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) port, and embedded software.

MaxAttach addresses redundancy with both RAID 1 and RAID 5 support and a journaling file system. The RAID 5 provides fully redundant data with 220GB of usable storage. RAID 1 provides 147GB of usable storage. The journaling file system, a data availability feature, provides additional redundancy in the event of unexpected power down. This feature continuously updates the log as data is written.

If power loss should occur, the IT manager can get back on line much more quickly than with less sophisticated systems.

MaxAttach also comes with a client backup utility called 1 Safe that enables IT managers to easily back up information onto the NAS device from their PCs and laptops. IT managers can connect data servers to Max Attach in the middle of the night and then back up information onto tape during the day. This should allow the user as much time as needed.

All of the remote agents that work with Windows servers (included in backup packages), also work with MaxAttach. Agents like Legato's Networker and Veritas' Backup Exec are compatible.