Seagate Targets SMBs With New Network Storage Servers

Storage specialist Seagate has introduced the BlackArmor NAS 220 (2-bay) and NAS 440 (4-bay) network storage server, aiming the new desktop network attached storage solutions at small to medium-size business (SMBs).

Initially, both solutions will come pre-populated with 3TB drives in each bay and will be offered exclusively for 30-days through the company’s website and select online retailers. For the first 30 days, technology retailer CDW will provide the 12TB NAS 440 for a manufacturer’s suggested price of $1,900 (£1,200), and online IT retailer NewEgg will sell the NAS 220 6TB for a suggested price of $649.99 (£410).

SMB Focus

Both the NAS 440 and NAS 220 network storage servers are designed to help businesses with up to 50 employees, providing software management tools that are compatible across the family, support for Microsoft Active Directory 2000, 2003, 2008 for populating users and groups, hardware-based encryption, remote access with the included, web-based Seagate Global Access service and FTP functionality.

The appliances also feature quick start features, ability to view or map shared volumes to a computer, or back up the PC from which a user is working from, using the BlackArmor Discovery tool software, which automatically displays all BlackArmor NAS products connected to the network. In addition, the servers offer full-system backup and recovery through SafetyDrill+ software, which allows computers to be restored to a previous point in time.

Other features include event email notification to alert the user about status and changes to the server and additional USB ports to connect extra USB storage devices, share a USB printer or connect an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) to safeguard from power failure.

The NAS 440 server is configured with RAID 5 and ships with 10 backup software licenses out-of-the-box, while the NAS 220 server ships with RAID 1 configuration for automatic data mirroring and 5 backup software licenses. Additional licenses for both products can be purchased in 2 and 5 -set increments through the company’s website, according to a press release.

External Drive

In September, the company launched the industry’s first 1.5TB 2.5-inch portable external drive. The latest addition to the company’s FreeAgent GoFlex line of external storage devices ships with a USB 3.0 interface cable and is priced at $250 (£158).

Seagate said it figures users can store up to 60 high-definition movies, about 750 video games, thousands of photos or tens of thousands of hours of digital music.