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Data storage specialist LaCie announced the launch of the 5big NAS Pro, its latest five-bay, network-attached storage offering powered by Intel.
It has a dual-core 2.13GHz Intel 64-bit Atom processor and 4GB RAM and features dual local area network (LAN) and link aggregation for optimized network speeds.
The 5big, with NAS OS 3 and integrated Wuala, a cloud-based storage platform owned by the company, features network-attached and cloud storage in a single view. In addition to industry-standard RAID modes (5, 5+spare, 1**, or 0), the 5big NAS Pro ships with SimplyRAID, which chooses the fastest and most secure RAID mode according to the number of disks and lets users get improved available storage compared to traditional RAID solutions when using disks of different sizes.
Other features include the browser-based LaCie rescue utility, which allows the administrator to install the operating system on a diskless chassis or recover from a system failure using the included USB key. The product also features a 100GB free trial of Wuala Business secure cloud storage for three months and is available in three different storage sizes, starting at $549.
The company also released the 5big Thunderbolt series, a five-bay RAID offering. The 5big features capacity up to 20TB and speeds up to 785M bps and five 7200rpm/64MB cache hard disks preconfigured in RAID 0. The disks are hot-swappable.
In addition, the 5big’s advanced dual cooling system helps ensure long-term reliability by preventing overheating. The system consists of three components: a heat-dissipating aluminum casing, a Noctua cooling fan and jumbo heat exhausts.
Designed by Neil Poulton, the storage system is available in 10TB and 20TB capacities through the LaCie online store and LaCie resellers starting at $1,199. A Thunderbolt cable for Mac computers is included and the appliance is also protected by a three-year limited warranty.
Finally, in collaboration with noted designer and creator Philippe Starck, LaCie announced the Blade Runner. Inspired by the power of IT, the Blade Runner combines an anthropomorphic metal interior with an angular, cage-like shell. The artistic effort combines a high-speed USB 3.0 interface and cross-platform compatibility with custom-built design aesthetics for which Starck is known.
The Blade Runner, equipped with 10GB of complementary Wuala secure cloud storage and user-friendly backup software, is available in a 4TB capacity through the LaCie online store and specialty retailers for $299. The appliance also features an LED power button in the form of Starck’s signature symbol that glows to indicate activity.
“In my design, nothing is useless – style, symbolism or functionality,” Starck said in a statement. “In the Blade Runner, the warm interior electronics are encased in a mystifying shell, and the blades are the radiator that cools it down. The suspension gives space for air to circulate around the hard drive, and the metal material increases the temperature conduction.”