Stardom's DeckRAID DR4 stackable storage runs RAID 5
updated 10:15 pm EST, Tue December 8, 2009
Deck styled for used with iMacs, Cinema Displays
Stardom has launched its latest storage device, theDeckRAID DR4. The new desktop system runs RAID 5 for a balance between speed and redundancy, while a quad-interface provides connections for eSATA, FireWire 800, FireWire 400 and USB 2.0. The eSATA port also supports port multiplication. The unit is hot-pluggable and recognized by both Mac and Windows without installing software. The deck can also be used as a boot drive via FireWire and USB 2.0 connections.
The unit holds up to four 2TB drives, for 6TB of storage using a RAID 5 array, while data transfer rates are claimed to reach 220MB/sec. The integrated Oxford 936QS controller can notify the user with a status indicator and audio alert when a drive fails. It can work off of three drives while waiting for the fourth drive to be replaced, while the replacement drive is rebuilt in the background without requiring any downtime.
The audio alarm sounds to alert the user of fan or power supply failure, in addition to hard disk failure alerts. The units are stackable and support the weight of 27-inch iMacs, 30-inch Cinema Displays, or any other device up to 66 pounds.
The DeckRAID DR4 requires Mac OS X 10.2 or higher, with Mac OS X 10.4 or higher required for eSATA use. The deck ships without hard disks for $500.
