NAS in a Snap
NAS (Networked Attached Storage) seems to be the new acronym that gearheads have latched onto in recent months. While NAS and SAN (Storage Area Networks) are “buzzwords” that have been around for some time, it is only within the last year that they have become so prominent. Both, NAS and SANs, allow for amounts of storage to be quickly (in most cases) added to existing networks to meet the seemingly endless demand for network storage space from individual users and companies. What is unique about these technologies is that they can easily (most of the time) integrate into existing network environments, regardless of the network operating system being used.
With the increasing quantity of data that must be retained by companies large and small, options for additional data storage and quick retrieval of that data in a variety of applications became necessary. Companies and enterprise users will not be the only benefactors of these advancements in storage technology. Home users as well as SOHO (Small Office Home Office) users are just beginning to appreciate the benefits of NAS in environments that are outside the traditional corporate and enterprise-level applications. For example, NAS-type configurations have been proposed for use in “media servers” in home environments to house the vast amount of media that many home users wish to have. As we learned at the recent Intel Developer Forum (IDF), this figures into Intel’s overall strategy for “connected home technology.”
Connected home technology will provide a user the ability to continue doing things that have been done before, but will use a new, intuitive interface (whether that interface is a PC, Tablet PC, TV, Notebook, Pocket PC, or any device that is connected on your local network (wired or wireless)) from within your home. Data such as audio (i.e., MP3s) or videos (i.e., movies or TV shows) would be stored on a NAS device within your home, making the NAS function as a media server. While many view the media server as the next ‘Holy Grail’ in home convenience technology, there are some detractors. While we agree that many stumbling blocks will have to be overcome in areas such as digital rights management, NAS devices are poised to provide the building blocks from which to start.
NAS in a Snap, Continued
One clear advantage that NAS devices offer is cost savings over the price of a typical server. This is most evident in Microsoft and Novell servers, where you must buy the license for the server itself, as well as the client access licenses (CALs), which can add up to a hefty fee, and this is in addition to the cost of the server hardware. Server licensing and CALs have become some of the most expensive aspects of adding new servers. Many have told us that as much as one-fourth of their total operating budget covers the fees for licensing servers and workstations. In contrast, an NAS box is (in most cases) a single license deal, where the hardware and the software are bundled together for one fixed fee: there is nothing additional to buy or add on; you pay for use of the license, and the number of users who can access the NAS box is unlimited.
If you need storage, but also want to save some money, NAS or SAN devices can offer attractive alternatives to the other option: recycling an old server and putting it back into production. The problem with this is that you are still required to purchase a server license and CALs to cover this recycled server, which adds extra cost. So, it isn’t as simple as just recycling a server. However, IT shops in enterprise-level agreements may not face the same challenges, due to more open-ended terms of such licensing agreements. Many medium-sized IT shops without large budgets are not covered by such enterprise type agreements, and these shops face the most difficult decisions when it comes to adding servers that use proprietary operating systems (such as Microsoft and Novell), due to the cost of licensing the system software.
Much of the value in these NAS devices is derived from the alternative operating systems that these devices use. In many cases, these devices use Linux, which is open source, and free of charge. And remember, just because a device uses an “alternative” OS such as Linux does not mean that OS is going to be lacking in features. Most of these devices offer easy-to-use Web-based management, and are pre-configured for easy and quick use. Depending on the product, the NAS can offer full integration into existing networking environments. We cannot stress how important this feature can be to corporate or enterprise-level customers! In the recent past, they have seemed to turn a deaf ear to NAS (or SAN, for that matter) technology, perhaps because they did not understand (or believe) that this technology can be easily integrated into their existing networks.
While the roster of players in the NAS arena is still small, the “big boys,” such as Quantum, Dell, Sony, Tricord, Linksys, and Maxtor, all offer a variety of solutions within the same price and capacity range. These options are worth exploring, particularly because you are not limited to just one company. All of these devices have different features and capabilities, so finding the best NAS unit to meet your needs will require some investigation on your part.
Applications for NAS devices are as diverse as the field of products itself. Typical applications include offload of SAN data, software development, radio/ video broadcasting, tradeshow management, or simple back-up storage for a small work group of users.
One of the unique things about this technology is that it is viewed more as a network appliance, instead of as a typical network device. Although these devices look very much like kitchen appliances, that appearance is deceiving. While it may look like a typical kitchen toaster, the overall power and performance from one of these devices will astound you.
In this article, we will examine an NAS design in detail, as well as the features and technology that the unit provides. Will NAS be the next wave in low cost, easy-to-use, and simple to set up storage? We will answer this and other questions in our look at one particular NAS device.
It all Began with a Challenge from Quantum
Who doesn’t like a challenge? We do, and we really like to test the always interesting, and once-in-a-while outrageous, claims that companies offer regarding their products’ performance. In Quantum’s challenge, Quantum claimed that THG could install and configure its new product, the Snap Server 1100, in less than five minutes from when we removed it from the packaging.
For those of you who have been IT network administrators, this may seem to be an enormous challenge. We thought so, too, and decided to see if Quantum could deliver on its promise. We agreed to test the Snap Server 1100 and its five-minute start-to-finish claim. ‘Plug and play’ technology has been around for some time, but in the case of a product such as a network server, it usually requires an extensive amount of planning prior to attempting to integrate it into an existing environment. One of Snap Server’s other advantages, according to Quantum, was that it would not affect or disturb other servers on the network during installation. This could be a big advantage, if this Quantum claim is true.
But perhaps we are getting a little ahead of ourselves. For those of you who don’t know about Quantum Corporation’s history and its products, the company originated in the hard drive business. Several years ago, Quantum sold off its interests in the hard drive business to another hard drive company, Maxtor, so that Quantum could focus exclusively on developing its data storage business. As many hard drive vendors have told THG previously, even in a strong market, the hard drive business is a difficult business in which to make a profit. Continued evolution and rapid product cycles, coupled with intensely narrow profit margins, make this market an extremely difficult one in which to compete and survive.
Fortunately, these difficulties are not found in the market for higher-level storage products such as NAS, SAN, DLT, and ALT, resulting in less risk and, perhaps, a better chance to earn a profit. While entry into the data server storage business was viewed by some as a questionable move on Quantum’s part, it would appear that the risk was worth taking, due to the strong direction the current storage market is taking.
Okay, Quantum, Bring it on…
The folks at Quantum shipped their Snap Server 1100 to our lab for evaluation, and to show they were serious about their claim. Quantum didn’t ask for any company personnel to be present for our testing. As this was a challenge, we found this to be quite unusual. We thought Quantum must have a high level of trust and confidence in either its product or our results, or both, or they would have surely sent an employee to the THG lab to supervise. In the past, it has been common for companies that issue a challenge such as this to take a more proactive, “hands-on” approach, but Quantum took a “hands-off” approach, and instead provided us only with an email address, telephone number and name in the shipping box with the Snap Server, in case we had questions or required any help or support.
A look at the Quantum Snap Server 1100/40. Don’t be shocked by its small size. Lurking underneath is a fully functional server that can be used for a variety of applications. When we opened the shipping box, there was not much included: the Snap Server 1100/40, the AC power adapter, the Quick Start Guide, the Data Keeper Software, and a network cable were the only items included. However, we came to find that we didn’t need anything else!
The Snap Server submitted to us for evaluation was the 1100 series in the 40GB configuration, which is the bottom rung in Quantum’s Snap Server product line. From the information included in the box, it would appear that Quantum considers this their introductory model, which is targeted at a variety of applications. The best feature of the 1100/40 is the overall size of the unit: it is tiny, measuring 5.0 inches wide x 9.0 inches deep x 3.0 inches high, and weighing only 3.5 lbs! The physical appearance of the 1100/40 unit isn’t too memorable – it is plain, matte black and rather boring looking. But form gives way to function here. With its small size and light weight, the 1100/40 is very portable, which provides great flexibility in the ability to move the unit from place to place with ease. This is certainly not the case with other servers of this caliber. Quantum does offer a variety of other options, and we hope to have a chance to look at a more advanced, rack-mounted model at a later time.
A closer look at the 1100/40 Snap Server from Quantum.
The Snap Server 1100/40 is based on an Intel Pentium 166MHz MMX processor, has 64MB of RAM, and runs on the highly modified version Unix FreeBSD, which comprises what Quantum calls the ‘Snap Server OS.’ The Snap Server OS is highly optimized and requires less than 10MB runtime. This OS can be upgraded via the Quantum Web site, and as far as we could tell, these upgrades are free of charge.
A look at the inside of the 1100/40 didn’t reveal a lot. Beyond the metal shielding hides a hard drive and a single board that houses the brains of the 1100/40 Snap Server.
The 1100/40 Snap Server uses a standard ATA 100 40GB 5400 RPM IDE hard drive from Seagate. We were impressed with the metal interior housing that encases the Snap Server. This housing makes the device quite sturdy and substantial, which is good if you plan to move the server frequently. Some may question the wisdom of using a 5400-RPM hard drive, rather than a 7200-RPM hard drive, but the compact size of the unit, as well as the level of 1100/40 performance, played important roles in this decision. Quantum also paid a great deal of attention to providing adequate ventilation of the unit. The metal housing design that holds the Snap Server in place is ventilated so that heat can escape, thus preventing overheating. In our testing, we did not notice any performance lags due to the choice of hard drive, so Quantum’s selection of a 5400-RPM drive for the 1100/40 seems to be appropriate.
Okay, Quantum, Bring it on, Continued
Expansion is not really a concern, because you can double the storage by moving up to the 1100/80 model, which offers an 80GB hard drive, rather than the 40GB model which was included in our unit. We asked Quantum if it was possible for the user to upgrade the hard drive within the 1100 series by using a disk imaging tool and a larger hard drive, and they advised that this probably would not work, due to the firmware within the Snap Server. (The folks at Quantum told us that while it might, in fact, be feasible to do this, they had never heard of anyone having success at this with their newer units, although they believe that it was possible with some of their previous models.)
Another look at the 1100/40 from the inside. Here, you can see the Seagate 40GB hard drive that is used for the Snap Server. No surprises here, the 1100/40 uses a standard IDE hard drive to provide its 40GB of storage. The choice of an IDE hard drive helps keep costs down and capacity high. Quantum also offers an 80GB version in the 1100 product line.
The Snap Server 1100/40 supports a variety of network transport protocols, such as TCP/IP, IPX, NetBEUI, and AppleTalk, which gives it the flexibility to be integrated into any environment. On the back of the 1100/40, you will find a 10/100 Ethernet connection, as well as the AC adapter and power switch. The choice of a standard 10/100 connection comes as no surprise, since one normally has to move to more high-end products before options such as Gigabit Ethernet and redundant Ethernet connections appear. Of course, these options are available from Quantum, but not within the 1100 Snap Server product line, due to the target audience.
The back of the Snap Server 1100/40 offers one 10/100 Ethernet connection, a power switch, and the AC power input. There isn’t a lot to see on the back of the unit, so it doesn’t take a lot to get it connected. This is a good thing, freeing the Snap Server from the mess of cables and connections that is found on most modern computers.
The outside of the 1100/40 is made of a rugged plastic, which we found to be durable and would expect to withstand all but the most extreme abuse. The shape of the unit is rounded and the appearance is rather pleasant, in fact, you could easily mistake the 1100/40 for some sort of kitchen appliance. The front of the unit offers four indicator lights, which are System, Link, Net, and Disk. These four status lights provide all of the visual feedback that you’ll get from the 1100/40.
The four status lights on the front of the 1100/40 provide you with feedback as to what is going on with your Snap Server.
Now that we have given you a basic ‘tour’ of what makes up the 1100/40 Snap Server, let’s hook it up and put Quantum’s claim to the test.
The Stop Watch is Ready, Let’s See How We Do…
We first removed the Snap Server from the box and unwrapped all of the cables and cords to provide a more accurate start-to-finish count. We started our timing from the moment that we plugged the unit into the 10/100 switch on our network. For the installation of the Snap Server, Quantum includes a four-page fold out ‘Quick Start Guide’ that also offers a CD-ROM. According to what we read in the Quick Start Guide, we would not need the CD unless we wanted to explore the Snap Server further, or take a more extensive look at the complete user manual, which is provided in electronic format on the CD. (We did look at the manual later, and found it to be very complete and easy to read.)
We connected the Snap Server by plugging it into both, the wall and the network. Since our network is configured for DHCP, the Snap Server should get an IP address right away. We turned the Snap Server on using the on/ off switch on the back of the unit.
Once the power was applied to the 1100/40 unit, it took several seconds to initialize. Once this was complete, we saw indications of activity from the four status lights on the front of the unit.
Now that the Snap Server was installed on the network, it should appear as a server with shared folders, and it should be possible to use these folders just as you would with a normal hard disk. No security restrictions were placed on the Snap Server by default, but these can be configured using the Snap Server interface, which we will cover in a moment. The default name of the Snap Server will be ‘SNAPnnnnnnn,’ where nnnnnnn is the server number on your unit. (For Netware users, the default name would be SNAPnnnnnnnNW.)
Once we were convinced that the 1100/40 had booted up, we attempted to access the unit from the network neighborhood, just as any user would. Guess what? There it was, our 1100/40 Snap Server, sitting on IP address 192.168.1.15. We then attempted to access the Snap Server, and we were able to start using it right away.
This was impressive, to say the least. Our total time to get the Snap Server up and running was an incredible three minutes, twelve seconds! Our hats are off to Quantum! They surely did deliver an excellent out-of-the box experience, just as they said they would.
Yes, Quantum was able to deliver right out of the box. In 3 minutes, 12 seconds, we were able to connect, install, and access our Snap Server! An excellent out-of-the-box experience for the user!
Now That the 1100/40 is Installed and Up, Let’s Configure it
Once the Snap Server was installed on our network, the next thing to do was to configure, or administer, it. We opened our Web browser and pointed it to 192.168.1.15, which was the IP address of our Snap Server, and we were greeted with the following screen.
First, you need to select the language that you want to use with your Snap Server.
Quantum markets its products worldwide, so the language choices are not surprising. Multiple languages are obviously important in making the product usable in a number of countries.
snap3.gif alt=Now it is time to log in to the Snap Server and get started.
Once the language selection has been made, this choice will stay selected on the Snap Server, so you will not see that prompt again. Next, you have to log in to begin to administer the Snap Server.
The Snap Server Main Menu.
Once you are logged in to the Snap Server, you will be presented with the Main Menu. From here, you can control all functions of the Snap Server.
Let’s Configure it, Continued
The first option that you will see in the Main Menu is the ‘Quick Configure’ option. After selecting this option, Quantum walks you through steps to configure your Snap Server, one at a time. This configuration process was very simple to use and covers all of the major configuration options that are required to get the server up and running, as well as setting some of the more specific details that are required. We ran through this configuration process, and found it both simple and easy to use, but because each of these options required a separate screen shot, we didn’t feel it was necessary to take the space to show the process. This process was very simple; you don’t have to be an MCSE to figure it out. In most cases, a user with a little computer knowledge could handle this process, as it was clean and to the point, very well presented and logical.
The Server Settings menu on the Snap Server.
The Server Settings menu allows you to modify the settings of your Snap Server. This menu gives you control over a variety of options that might help modify or better customize the Snap Server for use in your environment. We found the level of options to be good, and the control to be excellent. We could not find anything that was missing or unavailable to control.
A look at the Network Settings options menu.
The Network Settings menu allows you to modify the specific network properties of the Snap Server. Once again, Quantum has done an excellent job in providing an adequate level of options for you to customize. Customizing the Snap Server to better suit your particular network environment is important, and gives you added flexibility in the integration of your Snap Server into your existing network environment.
It is important to note that the Snap Server cannot act as a DHCP server. We asked Quantum about the wisdom of omitting, or not including, this option, and Quantum told us that most users are now using some other device, such as a hardware gateway/ router/ firewall or another DHCP server, to provide such services, so they don’t regard this to be an omission, per se.
One other possible application for the Snap Server would be to image/ clone new systems for use in an enterprise environment. It would be nice if Quantum had offered this option, but the company is correct that most users do have another device to handle these chores. In a stand-alone situation (e.g., for use in a trade show booth), this might be a nice option, worth considering for a future release. Of course, you can still achieve the same result by using static IP addressing, but this does require additional configuration on the user’s part. The lack of DHCP server support can be best described as a small omission, which seems very minor when compared to the other configuration possibilities that the Snap Server does provide.
The Security Settings Menu on the Snap Server.
Security continues to be an area that is difficult for users to configure. Quantum has devoted extra attention to this, and has attempted to provide a simple structure from which to configure the security options on the Snap Server. The included online help provides additional details about the configuration of your security on the Snap Server. Quantum has done an outstanding job in making the Snap Server security settings easy to understand and administer. You don’t need to be a network administrator to configure security on your Snap Server, and this further reinforces the notion that the Snap Server is easy to use and configure.
Let’s Configure it, Continued
When talking about security support, it is important to note that the 1100/40 has the ability to integrate with Microsoft Active Directory (ADS), Microsoft NT Domain, and Novell Netware (Bindery). In addition, the Snap Server offers Local Snap Server user list security, User/ Share and File Level Security, and SSL 3 (secure socket layer Version 3). This provides an exceptional amount of security possibilities to fit just about any environment.
The Disk Utilities Menu on the Snap Server.
The ability to control the disks within the Snap Server is important, and Quantum offers this ability via the Disk Utilities menu. These disk utilities include the ability to check and repair the disk drive within the Snap Server, should there happen to be a problem. Also, Quantum allows the user to erase the disk drive within the Snap Server, should you later decide to recycle the Snap Server for use elsewhere.
The Snap Server offers good visuals to describe the condition of the disks on it. You will find that many of the menus are very visual and offer good information on the condition or configuration of the Snap Server.
With a device like the Snap Server, we cannot stress the importance of the quality of the user interface. Unlike a typical server OS, you are required to use a Web-based system to control the use of the Snap Server. It is important that the administrator menus provide a full set of features and are easy to use and administer. Quantum has done a good job here, providing an interface that is both, functional and full-featured.
A look at the quick server settings of our test Snap Server.
In our testing of the Snap Server 1100/40, we liked the user interface(UI). The UI provides adequate control for the casual user, as well as control sufficient to make the system administrators happy, too. We found the security options to be full-featured and quite useful. The level of detail and thought that has gone into designing the Snap Server unit is apparent.
What Else Does the 1100/40 Offer?
We have talked a lot about the file and storage aspects of the 1100/40 Snap Server, but many people don’t know that the 1100/40 offers Java technology and that it is possible to develop applications using this technology. The 1100/40 offers the Jeode application environment, based upon Insignia Solutions’ Jeode Virtual Machine technology.
The Snap Server carries Java-Powered branding, which means the Snap Server was able to pass the rigorous Java Technology Compatibility Kit (TCK) developed by Sun Microsystems. Nearly any Java application can be modified to run on a Snap Server, for example, an SQL application that has been developed to run on a stand-alone Snap Server.
While Quantum doesn’t claim to have a large effort under way to push people into the development of applications for the Snap Server, Quantum does offer a development kit and support to help you get your applications running on a Snap Server. One day, perhaps writing applications for the Snap Server will be more commonplace, but, for now at least, this is reserved for the few who are willing to give it a try.
Management of Snap Servers is another area that deserves a lot of attention. Quantum offers the ability to manage multiple Snap Servers using any SNMP monitor, such as HP Open View, CA Unicenter, or Tivoli NetView. The administrator of the Snap Server can do the following: enable or disable SNMP; configure the public and private community names; set the server name, location, and contact person; and include host resource information from the MIB with systems statistics and information. In addition, the Snap Server also offers MIB-II support.
The Snap Server 1100/40 also offers the ability to provide email notification of any errors that occur. The Snap Server can be configured to send these notifications to up to two users. The first email address must be a local user in the same domain as the specified Snap Server.
What Kind of Support Does the Snap Server Offer for Back-ups?
Back-up of user data is probably the best application that the Snap Server supports, and this fact isn’t lost on Quantum. Quantum, in a partnership with PowerQuest, offers DataKeeper, which is a real time back-up solution that can be configured to automatically save laptop or desktop data files, maintaining copies on the Snap Server. DataKeeper is included with the purchase of the Snap Server and is licensed to its owner, with unlimited user access from all Windows PCs that save data to Snap Servers.
Our 1100/40 series Snap Server did not offer any level of RAID protection, like most of the other products in the Snap Server family. It is possible to integrate the Snap Server into normal enterprise-level back-up processes with a program like Backup Exec. If this does not appeal to you, you can use the Server-to-Server (S2S) Synchronization, an application based upon Java technology that enables one or more Quantum Network Attached Solutions to automatically synchronize files with one or more other Quantum Network Attached Solutions. The S2S Synchronization software can be used as part of an overall backup strategy to provide quick access to important data. The cost for the S2S option is $299 US per server.
Quantum offers some other software options as well, such as the Snap Server EmailXtender Archive (EX/A), an email archive and management software solution that migrates emails and attachments from mission critical MS Exchange servers to Snap Servers. A Snap Server EmailXtender(tm) Archive (EX/A) is available for Notes/ Domino servers, as well. This is a unique add-on not often found in other NAS products.
In the event that you want some sort of RAID with your Snap Server, Quantum offers a variety of options. From the 1100 series, the logical upgrade to add a RAID mirror would be to the 2200 series, which offers this option. Of course, adding RAID options does increase the price of the Snap Server, which is to be expected.
What Kind of Warranty Do I Get with a Snap Server?
Quantum backs the Snap Server with a warranty program to insure against defects. The Snap Server 1100/40 includes a two-year warranty for parts and labor, which covers the repair or replacement of any product failure, caused by manufacturing defects.
In addition, Quantum provides both Web and telephone support, should you need it. Software downloads and upgrades are available via Quantum’s Web site.
Quantum also offers a warranty extension on the 1100 series Snap Server for one additional year (a third year), at no cost.
Naturally, for the higher-end Snap Servers, Quantum offers additional support options, such as on-site support and installation, as well. These options are not offered for the 1100 series that we are looking at in this article.
Conclusion – Excellent Offering, and Then Some!
The Snap Server provides a robust solution for the storage requirements of the typical user. With an easy-to-use interface, and the ability to be up and running quickly, the Snap Server boldly goes where few products dare to tread.
The uses for the Snap Server will be as diverse as the imaginations of its owners. One application that we tested the 1100/40 with was its use as a media server, with our Turtle Beach AudioTron. We reviewed the AudioTron in our article titled Music Across Your Home Network? – AudioTron. We found that this was an excellent application for the Snap Server, and it worked well with the AudioTron. In our opinion, this means that media servers could perhaps be right around the corner.
We put a load on the server with three systems writing data to the 1100/40, and two systems reading data from the 1100/40, and at the same time used our AudioTron to play music from the 1100/40. The Snap Server 1100/40 was able to handle this load with no problem. We have to attribute this to its highly optimized OS that doesn’t require much power to get the job done. From what our testing shows, the only significant limiting factor in the Snap Server’s performance will be the network bandwidth that you have available.
As with anything that seems to be too good to be true, there has to be a catch, or so the theory goes. In the case of the Snap Server 1100/40, we had a difficult time finding anything to complain about. Perhaps the one thing that we could put on our wish list is for a lower retail price. The 1100/40 retails for $549 US, which might seem a bit steep to some. However, for the level of performance and the power that the Snap Server 1100/40 offers, it’s a great deal, as it does more than servers that cost three times that amount. Above all, the ease of use of the provided interface sets the Snap Server 1100/40 apart from other products in the same category.
We recommend the Quantum Snap Server 1100/40 for purchase, and award it a suggested “best buy.” We found the Snap Server to be ahead of the curve by offering an exceptionally easy installation, and an excellent level of features with a polished user interface. The 1100/40 is easy to administer and offers everything that NAS devices need to offer at this level.