Local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can now access technology that will provide scalable storage and backup facilities without the costs of server-based storage.
Ximeta`s network direct attached storage (NDAS) technology was recently introduced to the local market by Dimexcor, sole distributors of the Netdisk external hard drive.
"Netdisk is the only external drive that can be connected directly to a local area network (LAN) and universal serial bus (USB)", says Steven Gordon, Dimexcor MD.
"NDAS is new technology that allows direct connection to a network without a server, IP address, or any other protocol."
Drivers are available for the Linux and Mac operating systems, and although supported by only Windows 2000 and XP, Dimexcor expects Windows 98 drivers to be available early next year.
NDAS enables users to connect directly to networks using Ethernet, USB, and even wireless LAN, explains Gordon.
"This technology is mainly directed at SMEs and home-based businesses because Netdisk is user-friendly, quick and easy to install, and no additional resources or IT experience is required."
Gordon says Netdisk is a cost-effective solution for SMEs because of the relatively expensive connectivity costs associated with network attached storage (NAS) and storage area networking (SAN).
"Netdisk is easy to use and flexible, giving users the ability to connect and disconnect units without powering down computers, and providing mirroring functionality that continuously saves a copy of data to a second Netdisk for secure backup."
"Netdisk can be recognised as a local drive by each PC on the network and multiple units can be used to build storage or backup capacity incrementally," says Dino Batista, Dimexcor sales manager.
"Each PC is connected directly to the network and processes data individually, which means all PCs can use the storage under optimum conditions."
Gordon says Netdisk eliminates bottlenecks and provides instant, high speed storage that can be used to replace or complement traditional servers and backup solutions such as tape drives and compact disks.
"At present only one user can write to the Netdisk at a time, but a software solution from Ximeta should be available in the first quarter of 2004."
"In addition to the flexibility that NDAS technology brings to Netdisk, it has all the advantages of a compact, portable, external hard disk drive, such as offsite storage and practical storage for the latest multi-media file formats", says Batista.
"Netdisk is available in 80Gb, 120Gb, and 160Gb configurations, ranging in price from just over R2000 to just under R3500."
Gordon says Netdisk is particularly suited to professionals such as lawyers or accounts who are fairly mobile and who rely heavily on information availability and security. "Lost information means lost business."
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