EtherFast 10/100 Instant GigaDrive (20GB) w/ Print Server [Mo.# EFG20]
Retail Price:
$1,100.00
Online Price:
~$578 [Buy.com]
"... the most outstanding SOHO [Small Office/Home Office] product I've seen lately. The price/feature combination is beyond comparison. You can manage this 20Gig Network Drive with NT Server like features, and it can also serve as a dedicated print server or DHCP server. It will even send you e-mails to let you know how it's doing!"
While this unit is beyond the reach of many home users, nothing can compare to it's price/feature combination and usefulness in a SOHO environment. This unit can bring a lot of features and flexibility to your network. Besides being an easy to install network drive, it can also act as a Print Server and/or DHCP server.
The GigaDrive is very small and lightweight. You can move this unit around with you very easily (all you need is a network connection wherever you go). All of it's features (Storage, Print Server, DHCP Sever), can be used to take some of the burden away from other: Servers, File Servers, and Print Servers. The GigaDrive also supports Apple, and can be used by UNIX (through SAMBA). So, it can exist and function on a very mixed network.
As you'll see later, this unit is actually a minicomputer. It uses and Intel Pentium(I) processor and runs Linux Redhat as an OS to provide the File/Print/DHCP services.
Let's start off by taking a look at the listed features and specifications.
Linksys Listed Features:
Provides 20 Instant Gigabytes of External Hard Disk Space Built-in PrintServer
Gives Your Network One Extra Location to Attach a Fully Shareable Printer
Web-based Configuration and Diagnostic Interface is Accessible from Any PC on the Network
Can Act as a Stand-Alone DHCP Server.
Divert Traffic from Your Primary Server to Increase Network Productivity
Includes Utility Program for Easy Setup
Built-in Pentium-Grade CPU
Self-tuning and Self-repairing
Fully Configurable Administration Features
Free Technical Support
Some Features Linksys forgot to mention:
Can send out status e-mails about it's condition to three e-mail addresses (even over the internet)
Switch on the rear for selecting network cable type (straight through or crossover - very handy)
Gigadrive can be access from the Internet as long as public IP is provided to it.
Redhat Linux OS is very stable and can run for years without needing a reboot
Unix machines can communicate with the Gigadrive through SAMBA
Handy status LEDs on the front of the unit that will show you how 'full' the unit is at a glance
NT Server 'like' administration of: Users, Groups, and Quotas
Makes almost no noise
Specifications:
2-Year Warranty Model Number : EFG20
Standards : IEEE 802.3, IEEE802.3u
Protocols : TCP/IP, AppleShare**, SMB
Network Port : 1 Auto-Sensing Dual Speed RJ-45 Port
Printer Port : 1 DB 25 standard parallel port
Speed : 10/100Mbps
Cabling Type : 10BaseT: CAT 3 or 5 UTP 100BaseTX: Cat 5 UTP
Topology : Star LED
Indicators : Rear: 10 and 100Mbps Mode Front: IP, HD, LAN, Status, System & HD usage (10%-100%)
Switches : Power, Reset, Uplink **The GigaDrive works with AppleShare but Linksys does not offer Technical Support for this feature.
