Review: Ideal Backup For SMBs

Small businesses can be particularly hard hit when disaster strikes, as they typically don't have regimented backup processes in place or the technical staff to oversee them. It is therefore crucial that solution providers convince small businesses to invest in a proper backup appliance, one that protects data both in the short term and the long term. Iomega's 500-Gbyte StorCenter Pro NAS 250D with a built-in Rev drive fits the bill.

Priced at $1,999, StorCenter Pro NAS 250D offers up to 500 Gbytes of storage with hot-swappable hard drives and RAID technology. The appliance also features a built-in 70-Gbyte Iomega Rev drive, which stores data on removable cartridges based on hard-disk technology. The unit lets businesses protect, manage and share data across all Windows, Macintosh, NetWare, Unix and Linux clients on a LAN or WAN. It also offers print server capabilities.

The StorCenter Pro appliance runs the Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 Express Edition operating system. It is based on a 3.2GHz Intel Celeron D352 processor with 512 Mbytes of memory. Connectivity options include a 68-pin VHDCI Ultra 320 SCSI connector, Gigabit Ethernet and four USB 2.0 ports (two front and two rear). A serial port allows connection to a UPS for automatic shutdown; a VGA port allows a monitor to be connected directly to the appliance for configuration and maintenance. A display is not required for normal operation.

Storage space is provided by two 250-Gbyte SATA-II hard drives. The 7,200-rpm drives are mounted in removable trays, making them hot-swappable. Note that it is not possible to install higher-capacity drives in the appliance without each drive having Iomega's special software image installed. If capacity greater than 500 Gbytes is required, solution providers should opt for an Iomega StorCenter appliance with a higher capacity.

The StorCenter Pro NAS 250D can be configured for RAID levels 0 and 1. RAID 0 offers the best performance and maximum capacity but adds no data protection. It uses striping to map data across two or more physical drives to create one large virtual drive. Data is written in consecutive segments, or stripes, across all the drives in the array. Because a small partition of approximately 8 Gbytes on each drive is used to store the operating system, the maximum capacity falls closer to 470 Gbytes for RAID 0.

Next: The Bottom Line RAID 1, the StorCenter's default configuration, uses mirroring to achieve good performance with data protection, but the capacity is reduced by half. A RAID 1 array keeps duplicate sets of data on two or more drives. If one of the drives should fail, read and write operations can continue using the surviving drive. The failed drive can then be swapped out without shutting down the appliance, and the new drive is rebuilt by copying the surviving drive. Configured with RAID 1, the StorCenter Pro NAS 250D has a maximum capacity of approximately 235 Gbytes. The StorCenter Pro NAS 250D can also be configured as JBOD. A JBOD configuration offers good performance, though not as good as RAID 0.

Based on hard-disk technology, the StorCenter Pro's integrated SATA Rev drive provides the speed and reliability of a hard drive with the portability and renewable capacity of tape and optical media. The Rev cartridges house only a magnetic platter, spindle hub and motor, while the read/write heads and electronics are contained in the drive. Both the drive and cartridges are sealed by a shutter mechanism that keeps out dust and other contaminants.

Rev cartridges have an archival shelf life of 30 years, and they never have to be fast-forwarded or rewound so they offer instant file access. There's also no cleaning or maintenance required. The latest version of the Rev drive has a native capacity of 70 Gbytes per cartridge and up to 140 Gbytes per cartridge using compression. The 70-Gbyte drive is also backward-compatible with Iomega's first-generation 35-Gbyte Rev cartridges.

The Rev cartridges are hardy. Unprotected Rev cartridges are rated to withstand a drop of 48 inches onto commercial-grade carpet, while cartridges stored in their protective cases can withstand a drop of 60 inches onto a hard floor. The cartridges have a 400,000-hour MTBF rating, and will endure 2,000 insertion and removal cycles. The Rev drive is rated for 10,000 insertion and removal cycles with a service life of approximately five years. The Rev disks cost about $250 for a pack of four.

One solution provider said Iomega's Rev drives go a long way toward solving backup issues for small customers.

"One big dilemma is how you back up easily in an SMB environment without placing additional traffic on the network," said Rich Arbaugh, CTO of FA Resources, Ambler, Pa. "Having the built-in Rev drive gives you the best of both worlds: Backups are done internally without putting extra traffic on the network, and the removable media can be brought off-site for safekeeping."

Benefits of Iomega's channel program include dedicated account management, product discounts, enhanced customer support, presales support and marketing tools. There are no costs associated with joining the channel program, and free Web-based training is offered. Beta testing opportunities exist and demo units are offered at a discount. Other benefits include rebates, spifs and MDF opportunities. Margins average between 15 percent and 30 percent, and about 98 percent of Iomega products are sold through the channel.

All in all, Iomega has put together a solid performer for SMB accounts.