LaCie has released the ultimate FireWire RAID solution, the Flexible150GB RAID setup. The new RAID array allows the drives to function with no special housing, and offers potential expandability to a whopping 700GB. According to LaCie:
Available with two or more LaCie 75GB FireWire hard drives, the package includes version 6.3 of LaCie's award-wining Silverlining Pro software with RAID 0 striping capabilities. Combined, the products provide a complete, turnkey solution for creating simple, high-volume RAID arrays with up to 30 MB/sec sustained throughput with Apple G4 desktop systems.
LaCie's FireWire RAID solution is unique in that it provides users with the added security of being able to immediately plug the compact HDDs into another FireWire-equipped computer and continue working with the same files in the event of a computer crash.
Each 3.5" 7200-rpm desktop hard drive has a capacity of 75GB that can be quickly and easily connected to the native FireWire ports that are standard with Macintosh" G3 and G4 computers, as well as the new iMac DV and PowerBookÆ systems.
Adding Silverlining Pro's RAID 0 striping (spreading out blocks of each file across multiple disks) to LaCie's FireWire hard drives gives users the increased performance they need when working with large FinalCutPro, Premier, or iMovie files.
The FireWire controller built into the LaCie 75GB HDD is a 400 Mbps IEEE-1394 interface that is based on a 1394 to IDE/ATAPI bridge chipset. With FireWire support, the drive can be removed for sharing or swapped without having to reboot the computer. The drives mount automatically as soon as they are connected. There is no need for terminators, device IDs or elaborate setup.
The new FireWire RAID Solution configured with two 75GB drives is available for US$1998. You can find more information at the LaCie web site.
