MICRONET SMASHES eSATA DISK ARRAY CAPACITY BARRIER WITH NEW 5 TERABYTE
PLATINUM RAID PRO
Performance-Tuned Array Delivers Industry’s Highest Capacity eSATA Solution
for the Mac User
TORRANCE, CA – June 5, 2007 – MicroNet Technology, an innovator in storage
solutions for small and medium businesses (SMBs), today introduced the
Platinum RAID Pro, a multi-terabyte eSATA RAID solution that transcends the
capacity limitations of SATA disk arrays and the performance bottlenecks of
USB and FireWire storage with a compact transportable unit that provides
simplicity and ease-of-use, allowing SMB users to focus on their business
and not on data storage.
MicroNet’s new 5 terabyte Platinum RAID Pro combines the highest capacity
of any eSATA disk array on the market with a new performance-focused design
built around a 64-bit Intel XScale processor to accelerate I/O throughput,
and eSATA connectivity that provides more data bandwidth and eliminates the
performance penalties of USB and FireWire bridging. Designed for small and
medium businesses who need high-capacity and high-performance storage but
not high-complexity storage, the Platinum RAID Pro delivers extraordinary
ease-of-use. It is completely operating system independent and requires no
drivers to be installed. The unit is factory-configured for RAID 5 so users
can simply plug it in and immediately enjoy the benefits of huge capacity
expansion and parity RAID data protection.
The capacity breakthrough achieved by MicroNet is the result of design
innovations in the eSATA host bus adapter and RAID controller to eliminate
the 2 terabyte volume size limitation that restricts the available capacity
of alternative eSATA-based disk arrays, allowing customers to access the
full 5 TB capacity potential of the Platinum RAID Pro. To take advantage of
this unprecedented capacity, host computers must be running a modern
operating system, including Windows Server 2003 and above, Windows Vista,
recent Linux releases and Mac OS X, that is not burdened with older ATA
address limitations.
“Because of the growing storage demands present in the SMB space, more
customers are seeking greater capacity at affordable price points,” said
Behzad Eshghieh, CEO of MicroNet. “Specifically, organizations with
storage-intensive digital media applications with a need for ready-to-use
solutions to protect, transport and secure their irreplaceable files. The
Platinum RAID Pro was created to meet the mammoth capacity and performance
demands of these customers while maintaining MicroNet’s reputation for
storage products that are simple to install, manage and scale.”
At the heart of the Platinum RAID Pro is the 64-bit Intel processor matched
with 128 MB of error-correcting cache, providing the robust performance to
easily handle the most intensive SMB RAID applications, including digital
video, HD audio, digital imaging and streaming backup. Five 3 Gbps SATA-2
drives can be configured for RAID 0, 1, 3, 5, 0+1 and JBOD operation. eSATA
connectivity ensures that users can quickly address the mammoth available
capacity, providing more than a 200 percent raw data rate improvement
compared to FireWire- and USB-based external storage solutions. Performance
is further improved with the pure SATA environment that bypasses the
throughput hits imposed by having to convert SATA drive protocols to
FireWire and USB signals.
The Platinum RAID Pro enclosure is a durable yet lightweight aluminum and
Plexiglas design that includes a built-in handle to enhance portability. In
addition to standard primary storage applications for SMBs, the convenient
enclosure design makes the unit ideal for a variety of applications,
including backup of multiple departmental systems and distribution of
high-capacity digital content across multiple locations.
Price and Availability
MicroNet’s Platinum RAID Pro is currently available with pricing starting
at $2349 for a 2.5 terabyte array, $2999 for a 3.75 TB configuration and
$4499 for the high-end 5TB model. Customers can configure the array with
appropriate eSATA HBA based on their host system requirements, either a
two-port PCI-E HBA or a four-port PCI-X adapter.
About MicroNet Technology
Based in Torrance, California, MicroNet Technology develops an
award-winning line of data storage solutions for creative professionals and
IT managers. From the affordable Platinum Series of desktop products
through enterprise-wide Storage Area Networks, MicroNet Technology
continues to lead the industry in quality, performance and value.
MicroNet’s award-winning storage solutions include SANcube FireWire Storage
Area Networks, Omega Enterprise storage and SAN solutions, miniMate and the
Platinum family of personal storage. For product and reseller information,
contact MicroNet Technology, at phone: 310-320-7272, fax: 310-328-0202, or
on the World Wide Web at www.micronet.com
