Rather than run with a standard RAID configuration, the ValuNAS 6000 implements its own patented RAIDn technology as a loadable module in the Linux kernel. This setup has a couple of key benefits over implementations such as RAID 5 and RAID 1--most notably, the ability to vary your RAID level and gain extra space over standard RAID systems. The RAIDn algorithms can withstand multiple drive failures without excessive lost disk space in the operation. With two drives, RAIDn can provide the same functionality as RAID 1. Compared with a 10-drive RAID 5+1 array, RAIDn offers 30 percent more capacity and allows the same three-drive failure redundancy, which represents significant capacity and cost savings. (See www.inostor.com/products/products_RAIDn_index.htm for white papers and full technical details of RAIDn.)
Unfortunately, whiz-bang technology comes at the expense of simplicity. Our initial setup was marred when we tried to use the frustrating front-panel LCD and button interface to set IP addresses. The directional buttons, for example, are clearly labeled, but if you push the wrong one, you end up in text fields where you can't do anything but try to navigate back out. We have never seen such a poorly designed LCD control. The good new is, you can hook a keyboard and monitor to the ValuNAS 6000 and configure your Ethernet interfaces from there.
The Web interface for InoStor's iceNAS software was clunky and unpolished, though compared with the front-panel LCD, it was a dream. The best we can say is that the interface is functional, and most tasks such as adding users, shares and playing with the base storage subsystems are easy to execute. You also can connect with an Active Directory server.
The ValuNAS 6000's Ethernet configuration has a lot to do with its performance figures. Our testing used both ports, and in comparison with the all-Gigabit Ethernet Snap Server 4500, the ValuNAS 6000 doesn't look good, until you consider that one of its two ports is only 100 Mb. The ValuNAS did well in the CIFS read and write tests. The NFS read and write tests were much worse, but on the NWC NFS Custom Test, it came in second. Overall, the performance of this unit is good for the low-end NAS category.
The ValuNAS 6000 comes with a three-year limited warranty, including tech support and advance shipping replacement. Warranty upgrades to 24/7/365 support are available. InoStor is a wholly owned subsidiary of the venerable tape company Tandberg Data. InoStor was created by the March 2002 merger of some of Tandberg's operations with Land-5, an early NAS competitor.
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