The 16TB ActiveRAID Hard Drive Array from Active Storage is a RAID storage system that is compatible with Mac OS X computer systems. It features a Fibre-Channel interface and a hardware RAID controller. Thanks to its use of enterprise-class hard disks, the array is capable of an impressive 920MB/sec write speed. Windows-based client systems are supported, but all of the management tools that ship with the RAID are built for OS X.

The array can be deployed in complex Xsan environments as easily as it can in a direct-attached storage configuration. It uses the Apple Bonjour protocol for easy network discovery. The array features redundant RAID controllers, cooling, power, and Fibre-Channel ports for a fault-tolerant design. Monitoring applications for the iPhone and iPad are available, allowing you to check the status of your array with ease.

ActiveRAID Hardware and RAID Kernel Design
The ActiveRAID is not your average low-cost RAID system. It was designed with ease-of-use and deployment in Apple infrastructures in mind. Despite its low price, the ActiveRAID is based on a modern design with sophisticated features found on systems costing significantly more, and a number features not found anywhere else.

Active Storage started with a proven storage processor design and enterprise hardened RAID stack. The dual redundant active/active RAID controllers utilize the latest storage processor technology and run a Linux based operating system to provide ultra-fast data transfer and maximum reliability.

Light-Weight RAID Kernel
The Linux operating system provides a stable environment for the RAID kernel and allows Active Storage to finely tune the system's performance while taking advantage of a world-class TCP/IP networking stack and 128-bit SSL security. The light-weight RAID kernel maintains a small memory footprint for fast execution, and is enhanced with hardware accelerated X-OR calculation. This hardware/software combination gives the ActiveRAID excellent storage performance in all parity RAID levels.

Its RAID kernel has been specifically tuned to deliver maximum RAID 5 and RAID 6 performance. When combined with large synchronized cache streams, the system delivers excellent performance while guarding against any data loss. Dual 4Gb Fibre-Channel ports on each RAID controller deliver unprecedented performance and provide balanced throughput and instantaneous fail-over to improve the system's fault tolerance.

Advanced RAID Management
The Apple Xserve RAID set the high-water mark for storage management on Mac OS X. Other RAID systems with clunky Windows Explorer-like browser based interfaces, difficult to use command line interfaces and even cryptic LCD displays just seemed antiquated and out of place, and more importantly not particularly Apple-friendly. Active Storage knew they could do better.

They asked a number of Apple users what would be the best storage management approach for them; the answer was unanimous: "a Cocoa management application." They got the message loud and clear and began developing a native application suite for Mac OS X, and they are happy to say it's here now. Setup, management, and monitoring. A perfect complement to the performance, redundancy, and features of the ActiveRAID. They feel it's absolutely the best way to manage external storage on Mac OS X.