One element that helps to make the device unique is the integrated SAN support. Unlike NAS devices, which act much like a file server. The TeraStation Pro II iSCSI provides access directly to storage via an iSCSI connection, using SCSI commands transmitted over the network. Devices that access the unit will need to be integrated using the iSCSI protocol, or will have to connect to the storage provided by an intermediary device, such as a FileServer or SAN management appliance. The SAN concept offers many advantages over NAS. First off, SAN is more tightly integrated into a server-based network, taking advantage of all of the storage management capabilities offered by a modern Server OS and benefiting from the integrated security schemas offered by that OS. What’s more, SAN communicates data in blocks, which is much more efficient than a NAS system that forces client systems to access data files, instead of elemental storage blocks.

Initial purchasers have some choice on what configuration to go with; those looking for maximum value can choose a 1 Terabyte unit that retails for around $1,000, while others seeking the maximum amount of storage can go for broke with the 4 Terabyte unit which retails for around $2,400. Of course, the 1 terabyte unit can be expanded by installing larger disks, while the 4 terabyte unit is pretty much as large as the unit is going to get with current drive technology. The unit is also available as a 1U rack mount device, making it a good fit for a data center.

A major advantage offered by the SAN capabilities of the TeraStation Pro II iSCSI device comes in the form of additional expansion. To increase storage available to the network, new devices can be added and then incorporated into a single storage array. That allows administrators to increase capacity by simply adding additional units and incorporating those units into an existing SAN storage array.

For solution providers, the TeraStation Pro II iSCSI storage solution proves to be the quickest and easiest path to introduce SAN into a small network without incurring any price penalties and capacity dead ends. What’s more, SAN helps to create a whole world of storage opportunities for the savvy solution provider, ranging from enhanced business continuity to storage virtualization technologies and, better yet, helps the solution provider to move away from commodity NAS products into a realm where add-on services and expansion opportunities abound.