Last month, we took a detailed look at LaCie’s debut Windows Home Server solution for small businesses and professionals. We found the 5big Backup Server to be a great backup and file sharing device, especially for businesses with PCs and Macs, although it was let down somewhat by a relatively meagre hardware specification for the asking price. Launched simultaneously with that model was LaCie’s 5big Storage Server, a “big brother” to the Backup Server designed for larger businesses and branch offices. Unlike the Backup Server which is designed predominately for workgroup environments, the 5big Storage Server is most definitely focused on domain environments with Active Directory, and is powered by Microsoft’s Windows Storage Server 2008.
With a number of feature enhancements over the Windows Home Server based model, LaCie have beefed up the specification of the 5big Storage Server, although there are similarities in hardware. The chassis remains the same, monolithic Neil Poulton designed slab of silver aluminium with that Cyclops-blue central eye watching over proceedings. Storage configurations are also the same, with LaCie only shipping the Storage Server fully populated with 5 X 1TB or 2TB drives on board. That’s where the similarities end, however. Rear Connectors include 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports, and a USB port is dropped in favour of a VGA port, leaving three in total.
Inside, LaCie have selected slightly more powerful components to handle the Storage Server’s backup and file sharing responsibilities, with a dual-core Intel Atom D510 running at 1.6GHz and 2GB of DDR2 RAM. Whilst that may not seem like a noticeable difference, the Storage Server’s dual cores and twin Ethernet ports offer speed and stability advantages in larger workplace environments with significantly more users accessing the server simultaneously.
Full specifications as follows:
| Processor: | Dual-core Intel AtomTM processor D510 (1.6GHz) |
| RAM: | 2GB DDR2-667 |
| Networking: | 2x Intel 82574L Gigabit Ethernet Controller |
| USB 2.0: | 3 Ports (Rear) |
| eSATA: | 1 Port (Rear) |
| RAID Model: | RAID 0, RAID 1/5/5+Spare |
| Backup: | Advanced backup and restore of server running Windows Server 2008 Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) and block-level backup technology Support of optical media and removable media |
| Features: | Distributed File System (DFS-N, DFS-R) Time Machine compatible SharePoint services BitLocker drive encryption Enhanced search indexing Hyper-V™ compatible BITS server extension Offline Files Native iSCSI target Single Instance Storage |
| Administration: | Native integration with Windows domains (Active Directory) Remote desktop administration Public/Private Shares with Quota management Unlimited number of users |
| Network Services: | File Server: SMB, FTP, HTTP, AFP, NFS DHCP, DNS, SMTP, Web, Print, Fax, Application server, Spotlight® Supports Telnet, IPv6, iSCSI, IPP, iSNS, SNMP Remote Network |
| Transfer Application: | Server to Server synchronization (DFS-R) Background Intelligent Transfer Service Remote Desktop Services |
| Dimensions (WxHxD): | 173 x 196 x 220 mm 6.8 x 7.7 x 8.6 in. |
Our 5TB review unit shipped with five identical 1TB Samsung EcoGreen F2 hard drives, which aren’t the fastest disks around (or the newest) but offer good solid performance with seek times of 8.9ms.
What’s in the Box?
The 5big Storage Server ships in similar packaging to the 5big Backup Server, including the protective cloth bag to protect from scratches during transit. In box, you’ll find:
- LaCie 5big Storage Server
- Ethernet Cable
- Power supply
- Manual CD
- Server Recovery DVD
- Quick Install Guide
- Drive lock tool
