LaCie 2big NAS Delivers 100MB/s
Online backup killer with 2 bays, $649 for 6TB
This is a Press Release edited by StorageNewsletter.com on May 17, 2012 at 2:53 pmLaCie Group announced a 2-bay NAS that delivers the combination of speed and security for small businesses, the 2big NAS, designed by Neil Poulton.
Powered by a 2GHz processor and improved file system, the 2big NAS delivers speeds up to 100MB/s, ensuring employees can share files from any PC, Mac, or Linux workstation.
"According to data from Research and Markets, network storage is growing in excess of 30% annually, increasing the demands placed on network storage devices," said Erwan Girard, professional business unit manager at LaCie. "The LaCie 2big NAS was developed to scale with the needs of SOHO users, delivering fast file sharing and data security, the two most critical factors for a small business."
Collaboration
In a data-dependent world, small offices can’t afford delays in workflow. The 2big NAS supports non-stop data accessibility and collaboration thanks to its 2GHz processor and LaCie NAS OS 2 software. It delivers enough storage capacity and bandwidth to back up multiple workstations, share large files and work on projects concurrently.
Data security
Because data multiplies by the second, office administrators and IT professionals must ensure all digital assets are backed up and secure. The 2big NAS offers multiple levels of security including RAID-1 for data mirroring. Coupled with its hot-swappable drives, a failed disk can be replaced with no interruption, no data loss and without needing to turn off the device.
The 2big NAS ensures a backup of any Linux, PC or Mac workstation. Choose from the Time Machine and Windows 7 Backup software, or the included LaCie backup software. Consistent automatic backup means users can restore lost files instantly.
NAS OS 2 dashboard makes it easy for businesses to backup the 2big NAS automatically. Wizards with presets make tasks such as RAID management, users management and NAS-to-NAS backups easy. No IT degree required. With a few clicks users can back up the 2big NAS onto a direct-attached external hard drive, or schedule a nightly backup onto a NAS in a different location.
Remote accessibility
Complementary to fast file sharing and data security is instant access to your data. The 2big NAS allows employees to access files anywhere where there is an Internet connection. They can download the free iOS app, LaCie MyNAS, to access files from an iPhone or iPad.
Energy savings
The 2big NAS saves businesses money by allowing control of its energy usage. Users can schedule shutdown and restart during optimal business hours to boost efficiency. Plus, it is now ten times more energy efficient when in deep sleep mode. Thanks to the wake-on-LAN protocol, users can access the 2big NAS from deep sleep without being next to the system.
Availability and price
The 2big NAS is available in 0TB and 6TB capacities through the LaCie Online Store, LaCie PROgram+ Partners and LaCie PROgram+ Resellers starting at $299 diskless.
Comments
That's exactly what I want to protect my data.
It's probably not the only product with this kind of functionalities. There are also NAS from Synology, Thecus, WD (My Book Live Duo) and other ones, but the new LaCie's device has precisely about all the specs I need, and no more.
I think that the reasons of my choice could help any individual workers or small businesses if they want a total and secure protection of their files at an affordable price.
What I want
In my office, I have around 1TB of files and data on my primary HDD into my Mac tower and I want to be sure to NEVER lose them to avoid to definitively close my business. I need a secure backup in my office and a second one outside in case of fire or flood.
What I don't want
I don't like online backup on the cloud because I am not going to put my data in the data center of an outside company. I have some confidential information on the storage industry and I'm not going to send them to a storage firm even if it tell me that its service is secure with encryption and password. These cloud companies generally owns my password and finally can read my data. Most frequently the data are encrypted at the end, by them, not at the source, which means they are readable on the network during the transmission. Also I don't want to be limited in total capacity, file size or bandwidth as it's usual with online backup services. It also takes time to renew monthly or annually the subscription. There are so many online backup firms that I'm not sure that my provider will never close its activity.
I don't want to spend hours for the initial backup of my HDD and then same time if I need a complete data recovery.
I don't want a complicated software doing it all, not only backup but also for sharing my data with other people, video surveillance, A/V features or to get music or movies on Internet. I don't care about BitTorrent protocol.
Two sync NAS
The best solution for me is to have inside my computer a second hard disk drive of the same capacity mirroring my primary disk, and two NAS.
With this second internal HDD, I can immediately boot on myMac if my primary disk fails.
Then I want two NAS, both of them with two removable mirrored disks. RAID-5 or -6 are nice solutions for big enterprises to avoid to buy a lot of HDDs but with an expansive controller. I need only 1TB in my office and I can buy several HDDs that are now affordable. I will never use RAID-0, too risky.
The first backuping NAS, connected to Ethernet, is located near my computer. The second one will be installed in my country house where I work around half-time. It will be filled with exactly the same data as the first one through Internet with encryption at the source.
I will execute the first backup directly and rapidly from my computer through USB or eSATA connection on two disks, each of them then being manually inserted into each NAS. Then the backup software on my Mac will only transfer regularly to both NAS my updated files (CDP). I prefer not to use Time Machine. With this software, you cannot boot after recovery.
At the end I have five copies of my data:
- one the mirrored disk of my computer
- two on my local NAS
- two on my outside NAS in the country
Which price for this total protection?
I only need 1TB but prefer to have two 3TB HDD in each NAS if I need more in then future. For two NAS with two mirrored 3TB disks, it costs $1,298 at LaCie and $1,000 at WD to have my complete personal cloud storage solution. This investment is not so high with the assurance to never lose and never see my business critical data stolen.
(Updated June 1, 2012) Finally my private cloud will be less expansive than using a public cloud. At Amazon S3, it's $125 for 1TB/month, more than the price of only one 1TB HDD at around $100. ROI is less than one year.
If you have only one office, you can propose to a friend or a partner to share the investment, each one acquiring and installing a NAS in his location and each one backuping its data on the other remote NAS.
To conclude, I have two suggestions
to LaCie, WD and others:
- Offer a bundle: with two NAS for a better total price
- Find another name for your product: 2big NAS or My Book Live Duo mean nothing to end users; choose Total Data Protection, Never Lose Data Unit/Bundle/Solution, or something like that. Push your marketing department to find new ideas not to reach only IT specialists.
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