ReadyNAS 2U Rackmount Storage For The Enterprise
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| Product Snapshot | Where To Buy |
| Product Application, Pros & Cons | Review Video |
| Feature List | Bottom Line |
| Review Detail | Related Products |
Product Snapshot
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Netgear ReadyNAS 4200 Click Image For Larger View |
 12 x  Buy A RN12T1210 Now |
12 x  Buy A RN12T1220 Now |
12 x Buy A RN12G1220 Now |
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| Model | RN12T1210 | RN12T1220 | RN12G1220 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Installed Disks Max: 12 |
12 x 1TB enterprise class |
12 x 2TB enterprise class |
12 x 2TB enterprise class |
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| Capacity * GB = Gigabyte TB = Terabyte |
(Usable)
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(Usable)
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(Usable)
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| Ethernet | 2 – 10/100/1000 10Gbe Optional |
2 – 10/100/1000 10Gbe Optional |
2 – 10/100/1000 10Gbe CX-4 Included | ||||||||||||||||||
| Expandable | USB Only | USB Only | USB Only |
Ideal Application:
- Medium Sized Business and Enterprises
Pros:
- Netgear ReadyNAS – Solid, reliable, feature rich, easy to use
- Intel Xeon multi-core CPU
- 8 GB ECC Memory
- Compact, energy efficient
- 2 – High speed gigabit ethernet (10/100/1000) ports, load balancing & failover
- 10 Gb Ethernet (optional)
- Hot swap, redundant drives (if configured RAID1, RAID5, RAID6, X-RAID2)
- RAID Life Support mode
- Redundant Power Supplies (Internal)
- External USB support
- Supports Windows, Mac & Linux computers
- iSCSI target with expansion support
- Native SATA II support
- Enterprise class hard drives
- Attach a USB printer to share
- Handles media sharing, streaming well
- Snapshot with scheduling
- Windows AD integration support
- VLAN support
- 5 year warranty
- Active online support forum
Cons:
- None
Bottom Line:
The Netgear ReadyNAS 4200 is an ideal network storage device for server virtualization or any demanding enterprise network storage need. This unit encompasses the latest in ReadyNAS technology and includes support for 10 gigabit ethernet.
High performance is this NAS’ specialty; Intel Xeon multi-core CPU, 8GB memory. Include the optional 10 Gb ethernet to deliver even higher performance for the most demanding applications. The hard drives you get in the 4200 are enterprise class drives, which should go without saying in this type of unit. Redundant power supplies is a key feature for a network storage device that is more likely to be mission critical.
If a UPS goes bad or needs servicing it does not need to impact you data availability with the ReadyNAS 4200. This NAS is a solid, versatile and reliable performer. With more businesses moving to a virtual server environment, the iSCSI capability makes the 4200 and ideal network storage device for virtual machines.
With 12 drive, 24TB capacity, this unit will handle an incredible amount of data.
Review Detail:
The Netgear ReadyNAS 4200 utilizes some of the most advanced network storage technologies available. Intel Xeon CPU, an outstanding 8GB of ECC RAM, 2 gigabit network connections standard with the 10 gigabit option, and iSCSI capability tell you that this NAS is a true enterprise level unit.
It supports SATA I & SATA II hard drives, with native support for SATA II. This network storage device performs well. You can attach external USB hard drives and create shares on those drives as well. Keep in mind that performance will not be as high as the internal drives, nor will there be benefit of RAID technology on those external drives.
In a business environment, I would only use those external drives for on-site backup or for offloading seldom used data that is backed up somewhere else but you want to have ready access to. Obviously this can be less than ideal in a rack environment, but at least you have the option. One of the benefits of buying any ReadyNAS product is the auto-expandable X-RAID technology. The 4200 has the newer X-RAID2.
While you can configure the drives as a larger, non-redundant data store (RAID0), doing so means that if a hard drive fails you lose data. This is not acceptable to me, but you can decide for yourself.
I highly recommend letting the X-RAID2 give you the optimum storage size while maintaining disk redundancy. This is actually the easiest option for you as well. Probably the most exciting feature of the ReadyNAS 4200 is the ability to simultaneously operate with standard volumes and iSCSI support.
Uses:
The ReadyNAS 4200 is designed for the enterprise business environment, but can easily fit in the SMB space as well since server virtualization is appropriate there as well. And a dedicated IT support staff is not required for management of the 4200.
If you are familiar with any of the ReadyNAS family then you already know how to configure this high level unit. Server virtualization, high end database applications and very high capacity storage are what the 4200 is designed for.
Even remote access is a breeze with ReadyNAS Remote, a feature built in to this flexible nas device.
Backup Options:
The Netgear ReadyNAS 4200 really shines, as all model in the ReadyNAS family do, when it comes to data backup. Remember, RAID1/RAID5/X-RAID is NOT data backup! It is data reliability and availability. RAID1 (otherwise known as mirroring) means that hopefully you never have to restore a backup due to media (drive) failure. It does not protect you against data corruption (virus, power loss) or accidental deletion by the user.
Let’s face it, network attached storage is all about your data. So to make it available and reliable, we use redundant disk technology X-RAID2 in the 4200). To make sure we do not lose it to fire, theft, natural disaster or even our own error, we back it up. 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
- 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
Medium sized business and enterprises find the ability to synchronize with another ReadyNAS at a remote site extremely valuable for disaster recovery planning.
Where To Buy:
| Netgear ReadyNAS 4200 RN12T1210 12TB (12 x 1TB) |
Buy at Amazon.com Buy at Buy.com |
|---|---|
| Netgear ReadyNAS 4200 RN12T1220 24TB (12 x 2TB) |
Buy at Amazon.com Buy at Buy.com |
| Netgear ReadyNAS 4200 RN12G0620 12TB (6 x 2TB) + 10Gbe CX-4 |
Buy at Amazon.com Buy at Buy.com |
| Netgear ReadyNAS 4200 RN12G1220 24TB (12 x 2TB) + 10Gbe CX-4 |
Buy at Amazon.com Buy at Buy.com |
Review Video:
Features:
Hardware:
- Intel Xeon multi-core CPU
- 8 GB ECC Memory
- 12 Hot-swappable drive bays
- 2 – 10/100/1000 Ethernet port
- Optional 10 GBE
- 2 – USB 2.0 ports
- SATA I & II drives supported natively
RAID:
- Auto-expandable X-RAID2
- RAID levels 0/1/5/6 (Flex-RAID configuration)
- Multiple volume support (Flex-RAID)
- Hot-swap 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 Protocols
- CIFS/SMB for Windows
- AFP 3.1 for Mac OS 9/X
- NFS v2/v3 for Linux and UNIX
- HTTP/S for Web browsers
- FTP/S
- IPv6
- Rsync and secure rsync
- WebDAV
- iSCSI target support for Windows, Mac and UNIX/Linux initiators
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:
- Client backup target using CIFS, NFS, FTP or HTTPS
- Integrated Backup Manager for full and incremental ReadyNAS backups
- Snapshot support for point-in-time backups of the ReadyNAS system
- Backup to/from USB disks
- Remote backup to CIFS, NFS, FTP and HTTPS targets
- Remote backup to another ReadyNAS via rsync and secure rsync
- System configuration backup and restore
- Multi-system cloning
- Support of Symantec® Backup Exec RALUS
- CDP (continuous data protection) software for Windows and Macintosh clients
- Replication to another ReadyNAS system
- ReadyNAS Vault™ online backup with subscription option
Software Included:
- NTI Shadow for ReadyNAS (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 220 Watt usage
- Redundant, Internal Power supplies
- Disk spin down option
- Power on scheduling
- Automatic shutdown initiated by UPS low battery
Warranty & Support:
- 5 Year coverage
- Exceptional online support forum
- ProSupport Service Packs Available
- XPressHW, Category 4
- PRR0334-10000S (non-North America)
- PRR0334E-100NAS (North America)
- OnCall 24×7, Category 4
- PMB0334
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