Introduction
As we are all aware, when Microsoft slashed Drive Extender from Windows Home Server, the interest (which I am sure was always there) in alternate technologies increased. Yes, we have always had RAID, but traditional RAID has always been a hamstrung technology for business use only. Terms like “matched drives”, “rebuild times”, “matched controller” do not inspire confidence as any kind of data protection solution for the consumer market. For a business, RAID is only one component of a multi-tiered data protection system.
Along came Drive Extender and the ease of use of adding “any” sized disk. The ease of removing a disk. And so on…
Then we have non-traditional RAID technologies. Almost always associated with Linux, in general, and with Linux NAS devices, in particular.
One such company that produces a mix-n-match RAID product, called X-RAID2, is Netgear. Late last year, Terry introduced We Got Served to the World of Netgear’s ReadyNAS line and X-RAID2 in an interview with Netgear’s Tiffany Pham.
I have finally been able to get my hands on one to check out.
What’s In The Box?
The Netgear ReadyNAS Ultra 6 Plus is a NAS product that is at the top end of the Consumer Storage product line.
As such, the packaging has what I call a consumer flavor with typical consumer-style packaging.
By the time you take a tour around the outside, you a fairly decent idea of what you will find inside.
As can be seen above, this particular packaging appears to have been well-traveled. Digging down to just inside this box, you will find the ReadyNAS well protected from the adventures of shipping companies.
Upon removal, you will find the typical contents of a NAS product, the
- computer
- power cable
- Installation Guide
- Ethernet cable
- Installation CD
A few close-ups of the device from the
front
which contains the power button, a USB port, an associated “backup” button, and an LCD screen along the top. You will also notice an exhaust fan along one side.
Also from the front, we have the drive bays, six bays to be exact.
From the backside, you will find two more fans, power input and PSU I/O button, two Ethernet ports, and two more USB ports.
From the front side, the ReadyNAS has the look of understated quality, while from the backside, the ReadyNAS has a bit more of an industrial look to it than some of the offerings from other NAS units I have looked at.
As implied above, the “6” represents the number of HD bays one finds in this unit. Which means that this particular device is not something that you will fit easily into the palm of your hand. Or one that you want to hold in one hand for very long. Perhaps even two hands. This is a beast!
That is enough of what you will find upon initial inspection.
