Storage acts as the foundation for all other technologies in a network, yet traditionally it has presented the largest challenge to expansion. Network Attached Storage (NAS) offers an ideal solution to growing pains. Most typical NAS units comprise a few hard drives enclosed in a thin client case with a customized operating system. That is, until now.
IOGEAR, headquartered in Irvine, Calif., a connectivity and peripheral manufacturer, recently launched the BOSS (broadband office storage server), a network server appliance that integrates NAS, a cable/DSL router, an Ethernet switch, a dedicated firewall, and also comes with built-in Virtual Private Networking (VPN) and File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server capabilities.
BOSS features cross-platform support for Microsoft Windows 98/98SE/ME/2000/XP and Mac OS X and above. The BOSS is ideal for small and home offices because it is a simple and cost-effective hardware tool used to maintain and manage a small network. The device is capable of hosting a Web site, an objective that many small businesses cannot afford.
Savvy solution providers can use a device such as this to enter the home-integration market, which is a sector of the market that has been extremely fruitful during the past year. A hybrid device such as this would be a perfect fit for SMBs looking to share a DSL or cable modem connection; an SMB looking to provide extra storage space on their network for backup or for creating a personal file server. The device offers a plethora of options.
Initial configuration and installation was straightforward. The quick-start guide enables the device to go online in a matter of minutes. The browser-based management console provided adequate access for setup tasks. Installers will appreciate the information provided by the console's status screen.