Broadberry CyberStore 424DSS review
This unified network storage product combines NAS, IP SAN and FC SAN operations and has great expansion potential. Dave Mitchell finds out if the affordable platform is the perfect all-rounder.
Broadberry’s hardware platform and the Open-E DSS software are a versatile combination which supports NAS, IP SAN and FC SAN operations straight from the box. It’s good value as licensing is only based on capacity and there’s room to grow with demand.
SMBs faced with a choice of network storage technologies typically opt for IP SANs as they're more flexible than NAS appliances and cost less than FC SANs. Broadberry's CyberStore 424DSS now gives them the best of all three worlds as it combines NAS, IP SAN and FC SAN operations in the same appliance.
The driving force is provided by Open-E's Data Storage Server (DSS) software. This offers all three storage options as standard so you can pick whichever suits your needs. Best of all, you only pay for capacity.
Broadberry charges 299 for each extra 3TB SAS 2 drive
The price for the review system includes a 16TB capacity license. This can be augmented in 4TB steps each costing 125 ex VAT. Once you reach 48TB, the license opens up to an unlimited capacity which is just as well as the CyberStore has a massive expansion potential.
The base unit has 24 hot-swap LFF drive bays all managed by an LSI SAS 9280-4i4e RAID controller with 512MB of battery protected cache. Its external SAS port supports up to five of Broadberry's 16-bay or 24-bay DAS arrays. Additional LSI RAID cards can be fitted and with each one supporting five more DAS arrays, Petabytes are a distinct possibility.
During virtual volume creation you choose whether you want it for NAS, IP SAN or FC SAN operations
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Dave is an IT consultant and freelance journalist specialising in hands-on reviews of computer networking products covering all market sectors from small businesses to enterprises. Founder of Binary Testing Ltd – the UK’s premier independent network testing laboratory - Dave has over 45 years of experience in the IT industry.
Dave has produced many thousands of in-depth business networking product reviews from his lab which have been reproduced globally. Writing for ITPro and its sister title, PC Pro, he covers all areas of business IT infrastructure, including servers, storage, network security, data protection, cloud, infrastructure and services.
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