2big? Lacie says RAID device just right
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Oct 2, 2007 at 12:23pm
]LaCie is now shipping the 2big Network, a next-generation RAID device that provides up to 2TB of professional storage. It has a Gigabit Ethernet interface and two disks that can be “mirrored” to ensure data integrity, or “merged” to allow maximum capacity. Pricing starts at US$399
Remote access allows users to obtain all files stored on the 2big Network situated at the office, with any Internet connection. The 2big Network ships with the new LaCie Ethernet Agent that enables configuration in any situation and simplifies data access by offering shortcuts for users to their shared and mapped drives. A web-based administration page allows customized permissions at shares, groups and users levels. It’s compatible with Mac OS X, Windows and Linux systems.
The 2big Network can be initialized in SAFE 100 (RAID 1) mode, which automatically mirrors data across the two hot-swappable disks or BIG mode, which combines the two drives together. If one drive fails in RAID 1 configuration, the data will remain available and will automatically be rebuilt on to a new spare drive without the need to shutdown, according to the folks at LaCie.
Available in 1, 1.5 or 2 terabyte versions, the 2big Network was created for LaCie by Neil Poulton and features a natural cooling heat sink metal design with a thermoregulated progressive smart fan. The 2big Network can be rackmounted, placed horizontally, or stood vertically to conform to any office environment. The 2big Network also features a 1-click data-sharing button. Plug a USB key into one of the two USB slots, press the large glowing blue button on the front and the information will be copied over to its own folder on the 2big for automatic sharing with colleagues.
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Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
