F irewireDirect has released a new version of its HSB series of FireWire RAID storage systems. The HSB Series II systems offer 2, 4 and 8 bays (up to 2 Terabytes with 8 250 GB drives), with the update including the 4th generation of the Oxford 911 bridge. According to FirewireDirect, this newest iteration of the Oxford 911 bridge offers support for all of the high-capacity hard drives currently on the market. The systems offer RAID 0 and RAID 1 support.
[Correction: We should also note that the press release below refers to FireWire 800 cables, which are backwards compatible with FireWire ports. While the HSB Series II supports those cables, the system itself is not a FireWire 800 system, as we originally (and erroneously) reported. - Editor]
From FirewireDirect:
FirewireDirect.com, Inc., has announced upsized 2, 4 and 8-bay hot swappable mutli-drive FireWire storage and authoring solutions. The HSB Series II Professional External FireWire Storage/RAID Cluster System includes RAID support, new highest in the industry capacities, latest high performance FireWire components, powerful dual use combo solutions with removable media drives, and a nearly endless series of possible sizes, configurations and possibilities for those desiring custom solutions.
The HSB Series II is FirewireDirectis popular and powerful largest available FireWire storage system, now re-released with support for the newest, highest capacity hard drives and fastest new FireWire Oxford 911 bridge boards, giving them a total capacity as high as two Terabtyes of high performance FireWire connected storage with RAID support. It breaks capacity barriers by including two, four or up to eight 250GB hard drives, the latest, largest and highest performing hard drives available today.
These massive storage systems connect with a single Firewire/1394 6-pin connection, and are compatible with the newest FireWire 800 or 1394b FireWire computers, adapters and cables.
The HSB Series II is available also in unique and powerful combination solutions that feature RAID ready FireWire storage combined with this generationis most high performance DVD and CD authoring drives. A popular configuration includes the 4-Bay 750GB HDD Combo with DVD-R/RW, featuring the Pioneer 105 4X DVD burning drive along with 750GB of hard drive storage. Users will manage 750 GB of hard disc storage and burn video, audio and other digital files directly to DVD or CD within the same unit.
For Apple Macintosh 9.x and OSX users, and Windows 2000 computers, these FireWire mass storage solutions will supply RAID 0 and 1 level support with the inclusion of easy to use RAID software.
You can get more information on the HSB Series II product line at FirewireDirectis Web site. Pricing starts at US$299 for a 2-bay enclosure, US$499 for a 4-bay enclosure, and US$899 for an 8-bay enclosure.