Kool Tools: Fusion R400 RAID system
Sonnet Technologies' Fusion R400 RAID USB 3.0 is a four-bay, hardware RAID 5, rackmount storage system with a USB 3.0 interface. It integrates a high-performance RAID controller, and its USB 3.0 interface provides single-cable-to-host connectivity and a wide range of compatibility.
Its compact size makes this Sonnet storage solution perfect for use in a wide range of popular mobile racks, carts, rack cases, and server rooms as well. This flexible four-drive RAID 5 SATA storage system is easy to configure and simple to deploy in a server rack.
The Fusion R400 RAID USB 3.0 features a high-performance internal storage controller that offers five drive configuration options (RAID 5, RAID 0, RAID 10, Span, and JBOD) without requiring additional hardware, software, or a specialized RAID controller card. Drive operation and health status indications are available at a glance with multicolor LEDs. Drive configuration is as easy as flipping a mode selector switch, with configuration options that include maximum capacity (RAID 0), data protection with optimum performance (RAID 5), most concurrent audio file editing (JBOD), or combining all four drives' capacity into a single large volume (Span).
The Fusion system provides low cost storage expansion for a Mac mini (running OS X Server) housed in either the Sonnet RackMac mini enclosure or xMac mini Server PCIe 2.0 expansion system. A second Fusion system can be connected to a computer for added data security and high availability. You can then configure the computer with popular backup and archiving software to automatically mirror the primary storage system to the second one.
The Fusion R400 RAID USB 3.0 includes a quiet, temperature-controlled fan that operates at a slow speed in most situations but speeds up with more extended or intense disk activity. The unit is compatible with Sonnet's line of PCIe and ExpressCard/34 USB 3.0 host controllers, and supports Mac, Windows, and Linux computers.
The Fusion R400 RAID USB 3.0 (part number FUS-R4BR5-0TB) is available now at an manufacturer's suggested retail price of US$349. More information on the product is available at http://tinyurl.com/pfnuxbu .
