Data Backup Digest

One of the biggest names in consumer hard drives, Seagate Technology is a brand that is recognized by computer users worldwide. What some do not realize, however, is the fact that Seagate also provides a comprehensive line of products for business use. Dubbed the "Business Storage" line, this class of storage solutions provides a wide range of hardware; including a rack-mounted NAS that is available with either four or eight drive bays.

Technical Specifications

Seagate's Business Storage 4-Bay Rackmount NAS is available with capacities of 4 TB, 8 TB, 12 TB or 16 TB, while the Business Storage 8-Bay Rackmount NAS is available with capacities of 8 TB, 12 TB, 16 TB, 24 TB or 32 TB. Both come complete with a dual-core Intel Atom processor, but the 8-bay version runs at a slightly faster speed of 2.3 GHz as opposed to 2.13 GHz seen in the 4-bay version. However, both devices include 2 GB of RAM for maximum performance. This allows each of the NAS devices to achieve file transfer rates as high as 200 MB/s.

Compatible Operating Systems

Because the two devices do belong to the same family of products, there are many similarities shared between the Business Storage 4-Bay Rackmount NAS and the Business Storage 8-Bay Rackmount NAS. For starters, both units are compatible with both PC and Mac operating systems. This ensures a quick, easy and seamless implementation into the most popular operating systems. Moreover, the integrated iSCSI support allows for maximum server performance and extra storage space to accommodate virtual machines and applications.

As for the NAS devices themselves, both the Business Storage 4-Bay Rackmount NAS and the Business Storage 8-Bay Rackmount NAS feature Seagate's proprietary operating system, NAS OS. This operating system provides intuitive and useful features such as a built-in File Browser, RAID control, user / group control and file transferring via HTTP.
Storage

The Business Storage 4-Bay Rackmount NAS includes Seagate NAS HDDs that feature proprietary NASWorks technology. This provides advance power controls, improved error recovery functionality and additional vibration tolerance.

An eco-friendly and high-capacity drive, Seagate's own Constellation ES.3, is included with the Business Storage 8-Bay Rackmount NAS. Providing exceptional cooling and low power consumption, the drive is ideal in larger systems that depend on uninterrupted reliability.

Wuala

One of the biggest features of both the Business Storage 4-Bay Rackmount NAS and the Business Storage 8-Bay Rackmount NAS is the fact that they include complete support for the Wuala service. Meant to facilitate remote access to your files via a simple smartphone application, the Wuala utility lets you maintain productivity from anywhere in the world. Automatic encryption lets you uphold the maximum amount of security, and the freely available Wuala app lets you sync files automatically.

Pricing

The Business Storage 4-Bay Rackmount NAS, which is meant as an entry-level NAS for small businesses, has a manufacturer's suggested retail price that ranges from $1,099.99 for 4 TB capacity to as much as $2,299.99 for a 4-bay NAS with 16 TB capacity. Seagate's Business Storage 8-Bay Rackmount NAS ranges in price from $2,999.99 for 8 TB capacity, $3,299.99 for 12 TB capacity, $3,599.99 for 16 TB capacity, $4,299.99 for 24 TB capacity or $5,099.99 for 32 TB capacity.