The 6TB (2x3TB) StorCenter ix2-200 Network Storage, Cloud Edition from Iomega is a powerful and versatile network storage device with a plethora of enhanced online connectivity features. The spacious hard drive connects to your home network via a Gigabit Ethernet connector and works to bridge the gap between local and online storage -- which is also known as cloud storage.
The ix2-200 is a dual-drive system, and can be configured as a RAID 1 or JBOD. The RAID 1 configuration mirrors data to both physical disks. This halves the available storage capacity, but ensures that no data will be lost if either disk fails. If you need the full 6TB of storage that this drive is capable of, you should configure it as a JBOD. In this mode, your computer will see each physical disk as a separate volume.
You can configure the drive to automatically upload files stored within specified folders to Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr. Its remote data access feature allows you to access your data when you are away from home -- all you need is an Internet connection. You can also invite friends and family to view specific files or folders stored on the drive -- a great way for you to share family snapshots and vacation photos with relatives who think that Twitter is a little yellow cartoon bird who is constantly harassed by "puddy tats."
When you are at home, you'll be happy to know that the drive can stream multimedia files to UPnP/DLNA devices. This includes game consoles like the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Apple TV owners will be happy to know that the device has a built-in iTunes server. The Home Media drive also has a built-in BitTorrent downloader, which can grab files from the Internet -- even when your computer is off.
If you are in need of a network backup solution, it should comes as no surprise that this Swiss Army knife of a drive does that too. It can backup all of the computers in your network, and is also compatible with online backup services like Mozy Pro and Amazon S3. Mac users will be able to perform network backups to the drive via Time Machine.
Photographers will be able to download photos from a digital camera to the drive via USB. You can also set the drive to downsize and watermark your photos, perfect for those who wish to share their work online -- but don't want to see it stolen and reproduced without permission. The USB port can also be used to connect an external hard drive -- giving you more room to store files -- or to connect a printer -- making it easy to print from any computer in your network. Users who use Axis IP security cameras will be happy to know that the StorCenter ix2 can act as a server for up to five of them.
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 6TB (2x3TB) |
| Drive Types Supported | 2x 3.5" SATA II |
| Drive Speed | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Buffer | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Processor | 1GHz Marvell 6281 |
| Memory | 256MB |
| Average Seek Time | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Sustained Transfer Rate | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Input/Output Connectors | |
|---|---|
| Interface | 1x 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45) |
| Ports | 3x USB 2.0 (A) |
| System Requirements |
Computer: Windows XP, Vista, 7; Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5, 10.6; Linux (Redhat 9, Enterprise 4/5, Gentoo, Mandrake 10, Devian 4, FedoraCore 6/5, OpenSUSE 10.3) Hardware: Optical drive; Ethernet network Software: IE7, Firefox 3.x, or Safari 3 or newer web browser Internet connection required for online features; UPnP compatible router or admin rights to enable port forwarding required for media streaming; 2.5Mbps/500Kbps Internet connection recommended Supported Languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Arabic, Hebrew, Swedish, Polish |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Mounting Orientation | Desktop |
| Power Requirements |
AC: 100-240VAC Consumption: 19W (Max), 5W (Min) |
| Environmental Requirements | Noise: 28dBa maximum |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 8 x 3.7 x 5.6" (20.3 x 9.4 x 14.1cm) |
| Weight | 5 lb (2.3kg) |