DakotaRAID-LE2 is a scalable Linux-Based NAS Appliance that delivers high performance file sharing, solid reliability and simple-to-manage storage resources for heterogeneous network environments. Just attach it to your existing network and within minutes your Windows, UNIX, Linux and Macintosh clients can share RAID protected storage resources. The optional iSCSI target module enables you to provide both file and block level storage from the same appliance.

Performance
The DakotaRAID-LE2 is built on a powerful server-class Dual-Core Xeon platform with single or dual processors and up to 4 GB of memory. Dedicated SATA RAID controllers provide enterprise-level storage performance.  Dual Gigabit Ethernet connections with teaming capability provide for efficient transfer of data across networks.  Additional PCI slots are available on most models for NIC expansion.

Reliability and Data Availability
DakotaRAID-LE2 is integrated with best-of-breed components and the Linux-Based NAS operating system is embedded on a Flash Module for high reliability and maximum uptime.  Support for multiple RAID levels protects your data against disk failure while features such as hot swappable disks, hot spares, automatic drive failure detection, automatic data rebuild and redundant hot swappable power supplies provide for high data availability. RAID level 6 support on the SATA models improves fault tolerance by implementing two parity drives.  A journaling file system enables easy, dependable file system recovery in the event of unscheduled downtime.

Multi-Protocol Connectivity
DakotaRAID-LE2 delivers data using industry standard file sharing protocols (SMB/CIFS, NFS, AFP, & FTP) over industry standard network protocols. Therefore, clients can share storage resources, regardless of their operating environment. Cross platform connectivity provides common storage resources and increased user productivity.

Manageability & Security
DakotaRAID-LE2 features an easy-to-use Web browser interface, which simplifies configuration and management tasks and enables administrators to manage multiple units from a remote machine.  Microsoft® Active Directory Services™ support enables DakotaRAID-LE2 to integrate into a Windows enterprise network.  Other authentication features include NT Domain Authentication (PDC), Unix Network Information Services (NIS) and Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP).  LDAP is an information directory in which users and groups can be defined and shared across multiple machines and multiple applications.  DakotaRAID-LE2 employs native LDAP and can be integrated into other systems using LDAP.  Using LDAP, multiple DakotaRAID-LE2 appliances can be configured as the “Dakota NAS Enterprise Server Farm” and be managed centrally.  The User/Group Quota feature enables administrators to constrain Users or groups either by assigning them a dedicated share or by restricting usage.  Secured Administration Access (using SSL) provides industry-standard security and you can assign multiple administrators with different rights.  DakotaRAID-LE2 supports the SNMP protocol to monitor e.g. the data throughput, CPU, RAM usage of the NAS storage system.  Other management features include:

DHCP Server Support
The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a communications protocol allowing network administrators to centrally manage and automate the process of assigning IP addresses in a network.

Superuser Function
The “Superuser” account has unrestricted access to all the files and volumes.

Multiple Management Levels
Administrators can be assigned different access levels: Full Access, Maintenance and Administration.

Console Tools
DakotaRAID-LE2 can also be managed by using the console tools. For security reasons some advanced and critical administrator tasks like, removing and restoring volumes, checking and repairing the file system, can only be managed from the console. From the console tools, the NAS server can monitor the status of the network, installed drivers and hardware, and memory usage.

Email Notification
Administrators will be automatically alerted by Email, in the event of a technical failure of the NAS server.

Update via web
With one click the server can check for new updates. New updates can be downloaded and installed remotely on servers at different locations.

Log Function
For technical support and troubleshooting purposes, the DakotaRAID-LE2 log file is an efficient instrument in analyzing and solving technical issues.

Configuration and Scalability
DakotaRAID-LE2 features high performance Serial ATA disk drives in multiple RAID configurations, providing the flexibility you need to fit your price, performance and data protection requirements.  DakotaRAID-LE2 supports multi-terabyte configurations and is available in tower and rack models.  A flexible design, featuring external SCSI ports and PCI expansion slots enables you to expand capacity with external storage.  The embedded iSCSI initiator provides simple capacity expansion to iSCSI storage systems or SANs.

iSCSI Initiator

DakotaRAID-LE2 supports iSCSI HBAs and includes a software iSCSI Initiator for easy capacity expansion. New units and logical volumes can be added by connecting an iSCSI storage system or connecting to an iSCSI SAN.

iSCSI Target Option
The optional iSCSI Target module enables you to provide both file and block level storage from the same appliance.
Multiple Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocols (CHAP) per Target
CHAP users can be assigned to a specific iSCSI target. CHAP is an authentication schema, managed by user name and password, to validate the identity of users to manage the access rights of users to targets.
MPIO Support
The iSCSI target option allows set multiple connections to one target increasing performance and reliability.
Volume Replication
DakotaRAID-LE2 iSCSI Target option provides an extra layer of fault tolerance as you mirror two iSCSI target volumes, similar to disk mirroring (RAID1). By allocating one iSCSI target as the primary data storage device and the second as a destination iSCSI target, data will synchronously be written to both iSCSI targets using a dedicated network connection. The primary iSCSI target will be replicated in real time, so that the data will be available if the primary storage system becomes unavailable.

Advanced Storage Features

Span & Stripe Option
As part of its Disk Preparation function, DakotaRAID-LE2 offers a Span & Stripe option.  Disks can be spanned or striped, depending on the capacity and performance desired.  The Span option offers flexible scalability of the storage capacity by simply adding a new disk array.  The Stripe option offers a better performance by striping 2 or more disk arrays.

Multiple Logical Volume Groups
Logical volume groups allow storage administrators to create logical storage pools that span multiple physical disk volumes.

RAID Capacity Expansion
This RAID controller feature enables you to increase the size of existing RAID groups without removing your data.
Online Logical Volume Expansion
Online logical volume expansion allows administrators to change the size of storage volumes as needed without having to restart the application, recreate the volume, and back up and restore the data to the volume.

Support for over 2TB physical and logical volumes
DakotaRAID-LE2 supports logical volumes and physical volumes (e.g. RAID units) greater than 2TB.

Multi-Snapshot with the Scheduling Function
The snapshot function enables an immediate point-in-time image of the share volume. The snapshot image is used for consistent backup, while users still have uninterrupted and complete access to the shares. Multi-Snapshot with a scheduling function allows users to take a snapshot at a specified time (e.g., automatically every hour). If a user accidentally deletes or incorrectly modifies a file, data can be recovered from a previous snapshot image.

Data Backup

Backup Client Support
DakotaRAID-LE2’s backup client agents help administrators to back up data with backup software from Veritas, Dantz, and CA BrightStor ARCserve.  Using the client agents, you can administer complete data protection for all client machines.  This improves data transfer and provides network security, task monitoring, real-time directory browsing, and cross-platform backup support.

Local Backup on Dynamic Units
A local HDD or a USB drive can be defined as a Dynamic Unit, on which you can backup the storage volumes and store the backup on a shelf of offsite. The Dynamic Unit can be removed without shutting down the appliance.

Cross Data Synchronization
DakotaRAID-LE2 can synchronize files and directories from one unit to another. The data transfer is block-based in order to minimize network traffic. Synchronization can be used for disaster recovery or Disk-to-Disk backup purposes. DakotaRAID-LE2 can synchronize data in both directions: the NAS server can be the source and destination of files at the same time, allowing for cross-backup data on several servers.

DHCP Server Support
The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a communications protocol allowing network administrators to centrally manage and automate the process of assigning IP addresses in a network.

Anti-Virus Support
DakotaRAID-LE2 has an integrated antivirus software tool for scanning shares for viruses at predefined points in time. The Virus Definition Database can be updated and is stored in firmware.  Online scanning of files transferred via the SMB and FTP protocols is supported.

UPS Support
A UPS can be attached to DakotaRAID-LE2 through a standard serial or USB port, and it provides safe shutdown in case of power failure. DakotaRAID-LE2 is capable of using the SNMP interface for communication with other SNMP-enabled servers for a smooth server shutdown in case of power failure.  The server with UPS sends (or receives in case of slave mode) the power failure signal through the network to (or from) other servers and will shut down all servers in the network.

Total Cost of Ownership
DakotaRAID-LE enables you to reduce your total cost of ownership by ensuring fast deployment, seamless network interoperability, high uptime, low administration and no client license costs.