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• The “Lifeline” operating system from EMC that comes with the Intel SS4200-E leaves us with mixed feelings. On one hand, the NAS device is easy to set up and use. On the other hand, it’s almost too easy—enthusiasts will be forced to sit through some of the features intended to dumb-down network storage, like automatic RAID configuration. Automatic RAID Configuration Once the Intel SS4200-E is connected to the network, the baseline configuration is done by the "Intel System Storage Manager" program, which comes on a CD included with the device. The default setup contains, for example, a step to set a password for administrative access, as well as to enter the date and time. However the user cannot directly access the hard drive configuration. If you install two hard drives, they will automatically be put into a RAID 1 configuration; if you have four hard drives, they are automatically put in a RAID 5 configuration. In spite of the automatic setup procedure, the user can manually access the configuration of the NAS device after the initial configuration. In order to do so, you log on to the Web interface using the password created during initial configuration. Here you have to be careful, because the data on the hard drives will always be lost when the RAID mode is changed. Setting up the RAID mode and formatting the hard drives can take several hours, depending on the number and capacity of the drives. As an alternative to the RAID 5 configuration, with four hard drives, you can also choose a RAID 10 configuration. Unfortunately, this cannot be done until you set up a RAID 5 array first. Web Interface Design The Web interface is well-organized, and you can access it using Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, as well as Google’s Chrome. The PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and Nintendo Wii browsers are also supported. On the start page you will find frequently-used functions, like creating user profiles and folders, creating and restoring data backups, and searching. The search function lets you find files on the NAS device that are recognized by the integrated index server. Common file types are supported: .txt, .php, .doc, .xls, .pdf, .ppt, and .html. The “Dashboard” menu gives you an overview of the system’s status. It shows free and used storage space as well as the device’s RAID mode. You have access to folder and user administration through the menu’s "Shared Folders" and "Users" options, respectively, and can find the extended configuration under the menu "Settings". Extended Configuration Here you will find settings for the power saving modes of the hard drives, an event log, group administration, as well as email notification settings (used in case of hard drive failure). To be able to use group administration, NFS network protocol support, event logs, as well as further improvements to the details, you need firmware version 1.1.11.32736. Although this version contains several improvements compared to the previous firmware version, it is still missing some crucial features: online capacity extension and RAID-level migration. If you’re running out of storage space, or you decide to switch from RAID level 10 to RAID level 5, you have no choice but to back up all of your data and restore it later. When the RAID level is changed, all data is erased. Network Management With SNMP It doesn’t really make sense that the Intel SS4200-E supports a feature that private users will never use because it is primarily employed in professional environments: the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). SNMP is used to monitor and control network elements like servers, routers, switches or NAS devices from a central location. With that said, perhaps it’d work in a small office managed remotely by a VAR.

• Drobo is based on VXWorks, which constantly checks available storage capacity in the background and distributes data across all inserted hard drives if necessary. This way Drobo makes sure that all your data will be safely stored on remaining hard drives in case one of the drives fails. To accomplish this task, Drobo divides available storage capacity into logical discs, which Drobo fills with data. In case a hard drive fails or is added, those logical drives are re-allocated. The data is then re-allocated to account for the missing drive. This process always takes place in the background and therefore users won't even notice. You can even access your data during the reallocation process. The system will only ask for user intervention if Dashboard or the status lights on the front tell you to do so. Dashboard will notify and recommend counter-measures if you run out of storage capacity. Status lights on the right-hand side of Drobo indicate the system status. Depending on LED color or flashing frequency, users will know which drive is failing, if everything is running smoothly or if hard drives can be removed or not. The blue LED line on the lower end of Drobo indicates the amount of data that is stored. Drobo can also be used without having Dashboard installed. The fill level indicator and hard drive status are indicated.

• Windows has all you need to run Drobo, so you don't have to install the software that comes with it. But if you want to know how much storage capacity Drobo is actually providing and if Drobo is keeping your data redundant, you should install the Drobo Dashboard. Windows Explorer accurately displays hard drive storage use. To initialize and format Drobo's virtual hard drive in your hard drive manager, you need to insert at least one hard drive. Choosing the file system is specified by the manufacturer. For now, Drobo supports NTFS or HFS. Using FAT32 is neither officially supported nor recommended by Data Robotics, but it happens to work in limited ways. Data Robotics says it also wants to add support for additional file systems over time. For the time being, Drobo will only work reliably with Windows and Mac OS'. Neither NTFS nor HFS support is stable under Linux. Installed Dashboard: a single click helps you to keep Drobo's firmware up to date. The Dashboard is an easy way to keep firmware updated, to format Drobo or to set up how responsive it shall be. In case you want to use several Drobos with your computer, it makes sense to have a control panel indicating their status. This way, you can identify individual devices.