More Networked Storage In Depth

Hands-on: The ReadyNAS NV+ provides serious storage for prosumers

Netgear's ReadyNAS NV+ device includes storage for up to four 1TB hard drives along with three levels of RAID synchronization. Insider (registration required)

LaCie CloudBox: Compact drive tightly integrates with cloud storage

Device offers undeniably simple combined NAS and offsite backup, but the 100GB local capacity is too limited, and it's a poky performer.

NAS shoot-out: Iomega StorCenter px6-300d

Iomega's free and easy replication and remote access services put a shine on the StorCenter Insider (registration required)

NAS shoot-out: Netgear ReadyNAS Pro 6

The ReadyNAS scores with simple setup, easy management, and the best hardware in its class Insider (registration required)

NAS shoot-out: QNAP TS-659 Pro II Turbo NAS

The QNAP NAS leads the pack with a smooth Web GUI and excellent performance Insider (registration required)

NAS shoot-out: Thecus N5200XXX

The Thecus NAS is fast and flexible, but lacks the simplicity and ease that business users need Insider (registration required)

NAS shoot-out: Synology DiskStation DS1511+

The Synology hardware is solid and fast, but the software and cloud services lag leading competitors Insider (registration required)

NAS shoot-out: 5 storage servers battle for business

Five- and six-bay NAS cabinets from Iomega, Netgear, QNAP, Synology, and Thecus compete on speed, ease, and business features

Virtual Vexations

Server virtualization can complicate a storage administrator's job by slowing down performance and creating bottlenecks, but IT analysts and virtualization veterans offer their advice on how to deal with the challenges.

Putting the QNAP T-1079 Pro NAS to the test

After wrestling with DSL modems for the last two issues, Gibbs finally gets to check out the QNAP T-1079 Pro NAS and he likes what he finds.

Gibbs takes a look at a new QNAP NAS devices but his 2Wire DSL gateway doesn't help

I stumbled across this nonsense while setting up a new toy, er, product here in the Gibbs Universal Industries Secret Underground Bunker.

SAN/LAN convergence can pay dividends today

Today's workers want faster computing speeds and more storage, management wants it all under budget, and IT professionals are scrambling to save money and improve productivity. The tools of choice to achieve these goals are typically virtualization, cloud computing and data center consolidation, but IT may be overlooking a simple but effective fix: storage area network (SAN) and local area network (LAN) convergence.

Are costly SSDs worth the money? Enterprise users say absolutely

Solid-state storage based on NAND flash can be a pricey option to install in a data center, but I/O-hungry applications such as server and desktop virtualization are prompting IT managers to install them -- with the caveat that they must be strategically placed for the best, most cost-effective results.

What does tiered storage really do to performance?

Enterprises are challenged to keep pace with mounting unstructured file data. While NAS represents the optimal choice for storing such data, the strain to scale NAS economically while preserving application performance is like trying to use your fingers to plug holes in a dam that has sprouted thousands of leaks.

Superior storage for small networks

A small-business NAS with Big Iron roots, Netgear's ReadyNAS is full-featured and flexible, with options for SOHO users up through enterprise workgroups

Rack-mount QNAP storage server packs a wallop

With redundant power supplies, extensive backup options, and a wealth of handy features, the low-cost, multilingual QNAP TS-859U-RP offers flexible network storage to smaller shops

Best NAS boxes for less than $1,000

Buffalo shattered the $1,000 barrier for a terabyte of shared storage back in 2005. With storage prices continuing to drop, that same $1,000 today can buy a four or even five terabyte network attached storage (NAS) device with RAID 5 disk redundancy, plus additional features, like backup storage licenses and indexing capabilities.

EMC to buy Isilon for $2.25B

EMC said it is buying network-attached storage vendor Isilon Systems for roughly $2.25 billion. Both companies' boards have approved the deal, which is expected to be finalized later this year.

Western Digital My Book Live

Western Digital's My Book series of consumer network-attached storage boxes has a new variant, the My Book Live. With new sharing features--including a file-sharing portal--and great performance, it brings the My Book line up-to-date. Offering 2TB of storage, the My Book Live costs $229 (as of October 28, 2010), about half what you'd pay for similarly performing NAS competitors. (A 1TB version sells for just $169, also a deal.)

Stars, e-books, and a mighty fine NAS

Gibbs gets all environmental, continues e-bookishly, and concludes with a great NAS