Aimed as a central home storage hub

Mar 1, 2010 14:00 GMT  ·  By

Network-attached storage (NAS) devices, while not exactly a point of interest for mainstream users that are content with a good desktop, are quite appealing to consumers that have multiple computers at home and need a central storage hub. For such people, Thecus has been developing the N4200, a NAS server that was initially demonstrated at CES and has now become available.

The NAS server can house up to four hard disk drives and set them up in RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10 and JBOD configurations. These storage units can use either the 3.5-inch or the 2.5-inch form factors and, thanks to their storage capacities of up to 2TB, they will enable one N4200 to integrate up to 8TB of memory.

This storage is handled by an Intel Atom D510 dual-core central processing unit, whose core frequency is of 1.66GHz. This processor is paired with 1GB of RAM. In addition, the NAS features an LCD display, which allows owners to see critical system information, as well as a 2.8-inch OLED. This screen helps owners modify settings, such as LAN, WAN, languages and Link Aggregation.

“The enormous growth of Internet-connected devices and rich media content in the home is driving demand for innovative Network Attached Storage solutions that are powerful yet easy to use,” Seth Bobroff, general manager, Data Center Group – Storage, said. “The Intel Atom processor D510 powers the Thecus N4200 NAS Server to deliver a responsive and reliable storage solution that enables consumers to enjoy and conveniently manage their digital lifestyles.”

“Some memories are simply irreplaceable, which is why many home users would greatly benefit from the data security features of our new N4200,” Florence Shih, Thecus general manager, added. “Featuring both Dual DOM and battery backup, the all-new N4200 is the perfect device for storing, sharing, and securing all of our digital memories and media.”

The NAS has six USB 2.0 ports, dual Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, two eSATA connectors and a lithium-ion battery pack that prevents data loss in case of power outages. The device also features a PCI Express x1 expansion slot.

The empty N4200 is priced at 519 Euro, whereas the models ranging from 2TB to 8TB have price tags ranging between 699 Euro and 1,089 Euro. Full details may be found on the official product page.