Features - Storage Innovations:

LINKSYS NETWORK STORAGE LINK TURNS USB DRIVES INTO NAS

Linksys, a division of Cisco Systems Inc, announced the Linksys Network Storage Link (NSLU2), which enables users to affordably add gigabytes of storage space to home or office networks.

The Linksys Network Storage Link is a fast, simple, flexible and economical way to add storage to your network. The Storage Link has two USB ports for connecting USB 1.1 or 2.0 external hard drives. One USB port can also be used for connecting today's popular USB memory sticks. When the Storage Link is attached to a router or switch through the built-in 10/100 Ethernet RJ-45 port, everyone on the network can share the drives. For example, a Maxtor OneTouch USB 2.0 external hard drive connected to the Storage Link provides shared network attached storage at prices from 109,90 GBP (80GB) to 199,90 GBP (250GB). Users may also set up the Storage Link so that the USB drives can be accessible from the Internet -- files can be easily downloaded via a web browser. Files can be public, or password-protected for authorised users.

"Small offices and home users are always looking for ways to add more gigabytes of storage capacity to their networks," said Robert Auci, director of Sales in EMEA for Linksys. "With the Storage Link, not only can users add additional storage quickly and affordably, but now everyone on the network can have access to the external hard drive. For the first time laptop users can easily expand the storage capacity of their mobile PC by accessing the external hard drive connected to the Storage Link. Families or office networks can share documents, content, photos and more."

The NSLU2 features built-in disk utilities accessible through a web browser. Users can format new disk drives and scan drives for errors. The built-in backup programme allows users to schedule full, incremental, or synchronised backups of the network drives to the Network Storage Link, or vice versa. Email messages can be sent when a hard drive gets nearly full, completely full, or has an error.