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500 GB Ethernet Disk

Manufacturer: LaCie Ltd. Part number: 300626

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

$598.20 at 1 online store

CNET Editor rating:
3.0 stars Good
Average user rating: 1.0 stars out of 1 review

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Product series; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: The Ethernet Disk is a suitable means of adding storage to a small-business network, but it lacks the power and the expansion options of a full-fledged server.
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eBay	See store profile	In stock	Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price	$598.20 Shop now as of 12/08/2009

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*Total price for the 500 GB Ethernet Disk are estimated and may vary slightly based on exact tax, shipping, manufacturer rebate or any sale/promotion on the merchant site.

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CNET editors' review

500 GB Ethernet Disk

price range: $598.20

Reviewed by: Xiao Ming Wu
Edited by: Allen Fear
Reviewed on: 02/25/2005
Released on: 12/01/2004

The good: Easy to use; runs embedded Windows XP OS; interoperable with Windows, Linux, Unix, and Mac operating systems; reasonably priced.

The bad: Lacks Gigabit Ethernet adapter; offers limited expandability options; does not support RAID; comes with weak support package.

The bottom line: The Ethernet Disk is a suitable means of adding storage to a small-business network, but it lacks the power and the expansion options of a full-fledged server.

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One of the more acute growing pains that comes with owning a successful small business is the need for increased IT resources. Adding a server to your business, for example, has traditionally meant paying for the know-how to install and maintain it. But now, low-cost, uncomplicated server alternatives, such as the LaCie Ethernet Disk, are giving small-business owners do-it-yourself options for expanding their networks. The Ethernet Disk is a beefed-up network-attached storage unit that that runs embedded Windows XP and comes in six different configurations, adding anywhere from 80GB to a full terabyte of disk space to your network. We think the Ethernet Disk's mix of features makes it a good fit for many small businesses looking for a file server to share files and folders among their workforce, but given the unit's lack of RAID support and weak expansion options, it's worth considering the soon-to-be released Buffalo TeraStation as an alternative.

LaCie's Ethernet Disk is designed as a rack-mountable unit, but you can also place it on top of a table or a desk. The Ethernet Disk's case is designed to support up to 55 pounds, which makes it sturdy enough to act as a base for an LCD monitor, too. A printed installation guide walks you through the setup process, which you perform via the unit's browser-based Administration tool. The tool lets you set up and customize shared folders, add and modify users and groups, and assign user permissions, and it's very easy to use. We had the unit connected to our network and configured to share files in less than 30 minutes.

The most notable feature of the Ethernet Disk is its embedded Windows XP operating system, which bestows upon the unit most of the powers of a full-fledged Windows PC and gives it a convenient and familiar interface for entrenched Windows users. You can even access the Ethernet Disk from a remote Windows PC using XP's built-in remote desktop connection utility, which lets you control the unit as you would any other computer running Windows XP, setting file and folder permissions and adding and deleting users and user groups.

The Ethernet Disk's hardware features include one 10/100 Ethernet port for attaching the unit to your network, two USB 1.1 ports that let you connect external USB hard drives, one FireWire port for connecting an external FireWire drive, ports for the mouse and the keyboard; and one VGA connector for attaching a display directly to the unit.

LaCie advertises the Ethernet Disk's interoperability with Windows, Mac, Linux, and Unix systems, but this cross-platform compatibility has its limits. Linux/Unix support is available only with SMB/Samba message format, not via the lighter and faster NFS, and interoperability with Mac OS X restricts filenames to 31 or fewer characters.

LaCie claims its Ethernet Disk is capable of supporting as many as 25 simultaneous users. Given the unit's single 7,200rpm drive, lack of RAID support, lack of a Gigabit Ethernet adapter, and modest 2MB buffer (8MB on units larger than 160GB), we see 10 simultaneous users as a more realistic number. To make matters worse, expanding the unit's storage via its poky USB 1.1 ports will slow transfers to a crawl whenever these drives are connected. Why LaCie chose to outfit the Ethernet Disk with USB 1.1 and not USB 2.0 ports is a mystery to us.

LaCie offers a meager one-year warranty on its Ethernet Disk, although oddly, customers in Europe get a more attractive two-year warranty. Phone support is included as part of the service package, but it's via a toll call and the lines are staffed only Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. through 5 p.m. PT. LaCie hosts a few useful technical resources for the Ethernet Disk on its Web site, including a downloadable product manual, a white paper on the technologies that make up the Ethernet Disk, a product data sheet, and a series of free downloadable patches for the unit's embedded XP OS. Unfortunately, the site currently lacks a FAQ for the Ethernet Disk and makes no provisions for user group support. For a product marketed as mission critical equipment for small businesses, the Ethernet Disk's short warranty, limited phone support, and paltry technical-resource offering on LaCie's Web site are disappointing.

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Specifications

Manufacturer: LaCie Ltd.
Part number: 300626
Description: Featuring advanced file-sharing technology, the LaCie Ethernet Disk frees PC file servers by providing independent, stand-alone storage accessible to anyone in the network. Ideal for small- and medium-sized business environments, it will store, back up and share files among as many as 25 users at the same time. The LaCie Ethernet Disk can easily be incorporated into a variety of environments. Its sturdy aluminum design allows it to be used as a stand-alone device that, when positioned on the desktop, can support a monitor weighing as much as 40 lbs. This drive can also be stacked with other LaCie d2 devices, or easily integrated into 19-inch racks. Offering simple installation, the Ethernet Disk can be easily administered and controlled via any Web browser, with a variety of user-friendly tools and wizards. Moreover, this versatile storage device offers universal connectivity with all existing operating systems. When the native capacity of the Ethernet Disk is reached, additional storage space can easily be added by daisy-chaining additional LaCie hard drives via the USB or FireWire port.

General
Device Type NAS server
Host Connectivity Ethernet 10/100
Width 19.4 in
Depth 12 in
Height 2.1 in
Processor / Memory
RAM Installed 128 MB
Flash Memory Installed None
Hard Drive
Type Standard
Capacity 500 GB
Spindle speed 7200 rpm
Buffer size 8 MB
Optical Storage
Type None
Optical Storage (2nd)
Type None
Storage Removable
Type None
Hard Drive (2nd)
Type None

Networking
Type Network adapter
Data link protocol Ethernet, Fast Ethernet
Transport protocol TCP/IP, AppleTalk
Expansion / Connectivity
Interfaces 2 x USB - 4 pin USB Type A, 1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire), 1 x Parallel (IEEE 1284) - 25 pin D-Sub (DB-25), 1 x Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45, 1 x VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)
Miscellaneous
Cables Included 1 x Network cable
Power
Power Device Power supply - Internal
Software / System Requirements
Software type Drivers & Utilities
Min Operating system UNIX, Linux, Apple MacOS X, Apple MacOS 8.x, Apple MacOS 9.x, Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000
Peripheral / Interface devices CD-ROM
Video
Video Output Graphics adapter

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