ReadyNAS Pro Models De-Mystified
Search on Netgear ReadyNAS Pro if you really want to be confused about one of the top small business network storage devices on the market. Under the same root model name we have a consumer device that I do not recommend, a small business NAS device that I highly recommend, and 3 newcomers that have some odd distinctions between them.
In fact, despite promised to ship imminently, Netgear’s site shows nothing but the older Business Edition model in the product drop down. So hop over to the ReadyNAS.com and you will find two product drop downs to choose from, “ReadyNAS Pro” and “ReadyNAS Pro Series”.
Confused yet? Keep going and hopefully it really will be crystal clear by the time you get to the bottom of the page.
Current Netgear ReadyNAS Pro Models Offered
ReadyNAS Pro Pioneer Edition
– Lowest level, consumer grade, NAS that unlike all other ReadyNAS Pro’s only comes with a 3 year warranty, not the 5 year, nor does it have the ability to join an Active Directory domain. Frankly I wish Netgear would not confuse us by offering a consumer NAS with business NAS name.
ReadyNAS Pro Business Edition
– This is probably the unit that comes to mind when talking about ReadyNAS Pro because it is the stalwart performer that has been around a while and gained lots of accolades and recognition. This 6 hot swap hard drive by has become the standard by which others are measured; so why is it being replaced?
The newer ReadyNAS Pro lineup doesn’t really offer anything that the Pro Business Edition doesn’t except for a faster processor; which, you probably would not even notice.
I think ReadyNAS just wanted to freshen the lineup and offer what others have been clamoring for: the Pro quality in a 2 drive bay and 4 drive bay configuration to save a little space and some money.
Some workgroups really want the business features of the Pro lineup but not have a big honking 6 drive bay unit on the desktop when 2 will do. The ReadyNAS Duo which might otherwise have been chosen for the task simply does not measure up for many small business needs.
When it comes to 4 drive bay small business performance, the NVX has been filling this space quite nicely, and all the ReadyNAS Pro 4 offers over it is a little power savings and a faster processor.
ReadyNAS Pro 2
– The baby of the new lineup, the Pro 2 has some interesting features the others don’t have!
Due to it being the last of the model family to be released, it sports a faster processor than the Pro 4 and has a USB 3.0 port on the front of the unit that no other ReadyNAS device currently has.
The Pro 2 is a great upgrade if someone has or has been considering a ReadyNAS Duo. Unlike the Duo, there is essentially nothing the Pro 2 cannot do, other than RAID5, RAID6 or X-RAID2 dual redundancy – and that is due, obviously, to an insufficient number of hard drives.
Note: The Pro 2 has an external power supply (brick) and consumer grade hard drives on prepopulated systems. The Pro 4 and Pro 6 have internal server grade power supplies and enterprise class hard drives.
ReadyNAS Pro 4
– As stated above the Pro 4 has a faster processor than the very similar NVX, but slower than the Pro 2 (and no USB 3.0). Having 4 drive bays, if populated with 3 drives or more will do RAID5 or the X-RAID2 equivalent thereof.
ReadyNAS Pro 6
– Small upgrade to the ReadyNAS Pro Business Edition, so small it carries almost the exact same model number. Both use the RNDP prefix, the Business Edition uses the -100 suffix and the new Pro uses the -200 suffix. Don’t be confused.
Get all the details on the new Netgear ReadyNAS Pro Series here.
One Big Difference
The biggest difference currently between the older ReadyNAS Pro and the new family lineup is availability.
Despite being promised to ship in November 2010, November is about gone (all but the Turkey & leftovers) and still no sign at the major online retailers like Amazon.com and Buy.com.
