With all that hardware goodness and bus bandwidth, you might think the unit ran away with testing. Almost, but not quite. In CIFS testing, the 775N did well on the linear write tests, but fell down on the linear read tests. However, it did win the NWC CIFS Generalized Custom Test and only lost the CIFS IOps test to the HP unit by a thin margin. On the NFS side, the PowerVault performed predictably poorly, as Windows-based systems often falter on NFS testing.
Managing the PowerVault 775N is a breeze. You can use the prefabricated menus to configure the system, or control the machine directly via terminal services--very nice. If you can administer a standard Windows 2000 Server, you'll have no trouble managing the PowerVault 775N--it's visually indistinguishable from a Windows 2000 Server installation. If you prefer a NAS appliance's look and feel, the configuration menus available from the Web browser interface are easy to use. You also can manage multiple appliances from one interface; the 775N will discover other Dell NAS devices via an agent on all Dell NAS machines. Administrators in Dell shops will especially appreciate being able to manage the 775N with Dell's OpenManage server management software.
Dell offers standard snapshots called ActiveArchives, NDMP and any standard Windows Server 2000 agent for backup software, which is a huge advantage for Windows-powered NAS devices. The 775N also offers seamless integration with Windows directory and authentication services, including ADS, another advantage. Of course, you can use local authentication to secure the machine. Dell offers a number of software options, including virus scanning, for an additional fee.
The Dell PowerVault 775N comes with a three-year, on-site, next business day parts and labor warranty.
Dell PowerVault 775N, Dell, (512) 338-4400, (800) 999-3355. www.dell.com
We were impressed with the NetStor MVD. The least expensive unit of the bunch, this NAS device has fine configuration and management features. However, the system's biggest drawback is its lack of integration with ADS, and its excellent performance numbers came with a minor caveat.
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