The good people from LaCie sent me a 5Big Office + NAS unit to review. This is the installation process.
LaCie recently sent me a 5Big Office + NAS unit running Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials to review, and it is a really nice piece of hardware. I’ll have a series of deep dives for you soon, but wanted to start with the installation process. First, here is how LaCie describes the product:
Total protection for your data. Easy collaboration for your business. Solid investment for your company. The LaCie 5big Office+ brings professional backup to your small office in record time. It features the industry-trusted Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials and a powerful 1.6GHz Dual-core Intel® 64-bit Atom™ processor. It provides full data protection, superior data sharing for your office and offsite partners, easy integration, and low maintenance.
Powered by Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials
Familiar environment, bullet-proof reliability.No-Compromise Hardware
Powerful hardware to support powerful software.Complete Data Protection. Simplified.
Protection against any calamity, including human error.Sharing Done Right
Back up any OS and share files with anyone via the Cloud.Easy Integration. Low Maintenance
Get up and running fast, with convenient hot-swappable disks.
And here are the specs:
Capacity :
- 2 TB (single drive)
- 10 TB
Interface :
- 2 x Intel Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000 Base-TX
Dual link aggregation IEEE 802.3adNetwork Protocols :
- Files server: SMB, NFS, FTP
- Other: DHCP Client, IPv4, IPv6
Operating System :
- Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials
Processor/Memory :
- Dual-core 1.6GHz Intel® 64-bit Atom™ processor
- 2GB RAM
Compatible drives :
- See here for list of compatible drives
Expansion Ports :
- 1 x eSATA
- 3 x USB 2.0 (type A)
- VGA
Maximum Users :
25RAID Modes :
0, 1, 5, 5+spareBackup Tools :
• Deployable PC server connector for continuous system and data backup
• Bare-metal PC and server recovery using DVD or USB key
• File-, folder-, or system-level restore
• Versioning management
• Back up 5big onto DAS or NAS targetsSpecial Features :
• Wuala secure online storage: back up, sync, and share
• Remote desktop services
• PC health monitoring
• Printer sharing
• Distributed file system (DFS-N and DFS-R)
• Expandable with add-onsAdministration :
• User-friendly dashboard
• Shares and users configuration
• Disk management
• Native integration with Windows domains (Active Directory)Environment & Power :
• Energy-efficient process with Level V power supply
• Recyclable: Aluminum, ROHS compliantCooling :
Solid aluminum casing for superior heat dissipation
High-performance Noctua magnetic levitation fanDimensions (WxHxD) :
173 x 220 x 196 mm / 6.8 x 8.6 x 7.7 in.Weight :
Single disk: 4.7 kg / 10.4 lbs.
Five disks: 7.6 kg / 16.8 lbs.Software :
Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials
Wuala Online Backup
LaCie Hardware Monitor
Excellent Jim.
I have a demo of the Western Digital’s DX4000 and I can see right off, that the LaCie box has a VGA port, 5 drive bays instead of 4, and it supports multiple drives. Western Digital will only support their own Enterprise 2TB & 3TB drives.
Please let me know if it handles a server backup. Due to the 2TB VHD backup limit of SS2008R2E, WD’s DX4000 disables the server backup function, is this the same with LaCie ?
John this is using the same OS as the WD, so I expect the same type of issue will pertain. However, I plan on testing ISCSI nas-nas backup to a QNAP that I have around and will do a post on that. Please keep an eye out for that post.
John, confirming that this 2TB limit pertains to this product. If you install all of these drives in one RAID, you will have to find other backup solutions. Otherwise, this is a stellar product and I recommend it.