14 DAY TRIAL // Nexsan has just released a new version of their successful and big storage box, called the SATABeast. The disk array has been especially designed for Apple XServe and Mac Pro systems, and now it comes with plenty of improvements to match its functionality with aesthetics.
The SATABeast Xi can provide up to 42TB of storage in a 4U form-factor. The manufacturer kept its basic features, but also performed some design tweaks. The improved version now features a web management interface as well as plenty of software wizards.
The refurbished version of the storage unit comes with 4Gb/s Fibre Channel interface ports and features support for iSCSI. Since the unit is highly likely to be found in a datacenter rather than connected to a garage computer, the manufacturer has implemented the AutoMAID function that takes care of slowing the spin of idle hard drives.
This improvement not only increases the energy efficiency of the storage array, but it also spares the hard drives from prematurely wearing out. Another worth-mentioning feature is the dual-redundant controller that allow for RAID configurations.
According to Nexsan, most XServe or Mac Pro customers that need this type of hardware appliance are working in, or related with the film, video and music industry. It is in their very nature to pick the fancy Mac-based applications over the average computing solutions.
The SATABeast Xi works best with the brand new XServe and Mac Pro models recently unveiled during the Consumer Electronics Show, but it can also be connected to any XServe and Mac Pro computer. Those willing to get 42 TB of storage for their torrent downloads will have to pay some $1,200 per TB.