Network Storage Tips

Netgear ReadyNAS 3100 Review

ReadyNAS Rackmount Storage For The Enterprise

Page Highlights:  
Product Snapshot Review Video
Product Application, Pros & Cons Feature List
Bottom Line Where To Buy
Review Detail Related Products

Product Snapshot

Netgear
ReadyNAS 3100 

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netgear readynas 3100 rnrp4410
1tb hard drive1tb hard drive1tb hard drive1tb hard drive
Buy A RNRP4410 Now
netgear readynas 3100 rnrp4420
2tb hard drive2tb hard drive2tb hard drive2tb hard driveBuy A RNRP4420 Now
Model RNRP4410 RNRP4420
Installed Disks
Max: 4
4 x 1TB
enterprise class
4 x 2TB
enterprise class
Capacity *
GB = Gigabyte
TB = Terabyte
(Usable)

RAID0: ~3.7TB
RAID5: ~2.8TB
(Usable)

RAID0: ~7.5TB
RAID5: ~5.6TB
Expandable USB Only USB Only

Ideal Application:

- Small Business to Medium Business, Enterprise

Pros:

  • Netgear ReadyNAS – Solid, reliable, feature rich, easy to use
  • Intel multi-core CPU
  • 2 GB ECC Memory
  • Compact 1U, 4 Bay form factor; energy efficient
  • 2 – High speed gigabit ethernet (10/100/1000) ports with load balancing, failover
  • Hot swap, redundant drives (if configured RAID1, RAID5, X-RAID2)
  • External USB support
  • Supports Windows, Mac & Linux computers
  • iSCSI target with expansion support
  • Native SATA II support
  • Enterprise class hard drives
  • 3 – USB 2.0 Ports
  • Handles media sharing, streaming well
  • Snapshot with scheduling
  • Windows AD integration support
  • VLAN support
  • Hot Swappable, Redundant Power Supplies
  • 5 year warranty
  • Active online support forum

Cons:

  • 1U, 4 Disk Limitation

Bottom Line:

The Netgear ReadyNAS 3100 is an exceptional 1U rackmount network storage device that is perfectly adequate to base an entire small business network around. Versatile, the ReadyNAS 3100 can simultaneously perform standard NAS functionality and provide a cost effective SAN solution for server virtualization needs.

This new offering from Netgear has the same full suite of functionality you have come to expect from a ReadyNAS device, only faster. Now, not just your hard drives are hot swappable and redundant. The 3100 has hot swap redundant power supplies as well. Use independent power feeds for the ultimate in reliable power.

The ReadyNAS 3100 is certified VMware ready for both NFS and iSCSI.

Review Detail:

The Netgear ReadyNAS 3100 utilizes some of the most advanced network storage technologies available. Intel multi-core CPU, a healthy 2GB of ECC RAM, 2 gigabit network connections and iSCSI capability tell you that this NAS is ready for business up to the enterprise level and performs specific tasks up to 90% faster than the 2100.

Naturally there is native support for SATA I & II hard drives, and the included disks are enterprise quality giving you typically longer life and reliability. With the 3100 you now benefit from the newer X-RAID2 technology, the next generation of X-RAID that allows you to expand your data volume without taking your users offline. This includes the ability to swap out disks for larger disks one at a time, all while the NAS device continues online.

X-RAID2 is so capable, you can even turn the power off during volume expansion and you won’t lose your data (although I wouldn’t try it!); unlike the competition that claims they have online RAID expansion too.

Since you might very well need access to your network storage remotely, the 3100 supports FTP/S, HTTP/S and WebDAV with the included ReadyNAS Remote. Use Windows explorer or Mac Finder oer CIFS/SMB and AFP with drag and drop capability from anywhere.

Uses:

The ReadyNAS 3100 is designed for the business environment in an equipment rack. Granted you can get wall mount racks if you like.

The real strengths here are the reliability of the redundant power and the peformance from the multi-core CPU and 2GB RAM with “teaming” gigabit network cards. A business wanting a mission critical SAN without spending $20,000 can find a really good fit with the Netgear ReadyNAS 3100.

Even if you do not need an iSCSI target but just want reliable, high performance file sharing with all the trimmings this is a fantastic NAS to go with. Many businesses are deciding to migrate away from the security and update patching headaches of Microsoft Windows Servers and going to lean, efficient yet full featured NAS servers instead.

Backup Options:

The Netgear ReadyNAS 3100 really shines, as all model in the ReadyNAS family do, when it comes to data backup. Remember, RAID1/RAID5/X-RAID2 is NOT data backup! It is data reliability and availability.

The ReadyNAS 3100 comes with a 3-user license of Memeo Backup Premium, a continuous data protection (CDP) agent that continuously backs up your data as soon as files are created or modified on your PC or Mac. The beauty of CDP is that revisions of files are backed up automatically to the ReadyNAS, and restoration of any past version is as easy as right-clicking on a file and selecting a version from the Back In Time calendar.

Backup with any ReadyNAS network attached storage device can be done using any combination of the following methods:

  • Local backup to an attached USB hard drive, even push button ease of use
  • Backup to another ReadyNAS unit, local or in a remote location
  • Online backup (in the cloud backup) using the built in support for ReadyNAS vault online backup service based on ElephantDrive technology
  • Use any backup software that will allow you to map a drive or enter a UNC share
  • Supports Apple Time Machine at a faster speed than Time Capsule

Businesses find the ability to synchronize with another ReadyNAS at a remote site extremely valuable for disaster recovery planning.

Review Video:

Features:

Hardware:

  • Intel multi-core CPU
  • 2 GB ECC Memory
  • 4 Hot-swappable locking disk trays
  • 2 – 10/100/1000 Ethernet port w/ load balancing & failover
  • 3 – USB 2.0 ports
  • SATA I & II drives supported natively

RAID:

  • Auto-expandable X-RAID2
  • RAID levels 0/1/5 (Flex-RAID configuration)
  • Multiple volume support (Flex-RAID)
  • Hot-swap, hot spare support
  • Background sync and Smart Sync resume
  • Life Support mode

Volumes:

  • Single volume auto expansion (X-RAID2)
  • Journaled file system
  • User and group level quotas

Network File Services:

  • Windows, Mac & Linux client support
  • CIFS/SMB for Windows & Mac OS X
  • AFP 3.1 for Mac 9 and OS X
  • NFS v2/v3 for Linux/UNIX
  • HTTP and HTTPS for web browsers
  • FTP and FTPS
  • Rsync
  • WebDAV
  • ReadyNAS Remote
  • Print Sharing
  • IPv6

Media Streaming:

  • ReadyDLNA
  • SqueezeCenter
  • Network DVD player compatible
  • Apple iTunes server
  • Sony PlayStation® 3
  • Microsoft® Xbox 360, MCE
  • Sonos Digital Music System
  • Netgear EVA Digital Entertainer HD

Network Security:

  • Selectable security mode
  • Windows ADS/Domain security support
  • Windows ACL
  • Encrypted network logins
  • Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)

Network Options:

  • DHCP or static IP
  • NTP
  • WINS Server
  • DHCP Server

System Management:

  • RAIDar™ discovery and monitoring agent
  • Frontview™ Setup Wizard and Advanced Control
  • Configurable performance options
  • Device health status
  • Comprehensive enclosure and disk monitoring
  • Email alerts and event logs
  • Network UPS monitoring

Backup:

  • Integrated Frontview™ Backup Manager
  • Backup over CIFS/NFS/FTP/HTTP & Rsync
  • Backup to/from USB Disks
  • Built-in support for Time Machine
  • Syncing between multiple ReadyNAS devices
  • Full and incremental backups
  • Built-in support for ReadyNAS Vault™

Software Included:

  • 3 User license of Memeo Backup Premium (Windows / Mac)
  • ReadyNAS Photos
  • Embedded BitTorrent client

USB Device Support:

  • Hard disks and flash drives
  • Support for FAT32, Ext2, Ext3, and NTFS
  • Cameras
  • Printers
  • UPS

Power:

  • Approximate 150 Watt usage
  • 2 x 450 watt redundant, hot swap, internal power supplies
  • Disk spin down option
  • Power on scheduling
  • Automatic shutdown initiated by UPS low battery

Warranty & Support:

  • 5 Year coverage
  • 24×7 ProSupport Service Packs available
  • Exceptional online support forum

Where To Buy:

Netgear ReadyNAS 3100 RNRP4410 4TB (4 x 1TB) Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Buy.com

Netgear ReadyNAS 3100 RNRP4420 8TB (4 x 2TB) Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Buy.com

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