LaCie 5big Network NAS

The LaCie 5big Network is a very smart looking NAS that could be given pride of place on any executive desktop.

LaCie 5big Network
Type: Desktop NAS
OS: Windows/Mac/Linux Interface:
LAN: Gigabit/100/10BASE-TX, RJ-45
Storage range: 2.5, 5, 7.5 TB
Disks: 5(4) SATA hot swap
RAID: 0, 5, 5+Spare, 6, 10
Price range (ex VAT): £580 (2.5 TB) to £1250(7.5 TB)
Expansion: Yes via 1xUSB 2.0 or 3 eSATA
Print server: No
File Systems: CIFS, AFP, FTP, HTTP
Media Server: No
Security: Workgroup/user and Domain
Dimensions: 178 x 220 x 196 mm
Weight: 7.6 kg
Power Supply: External 40W (10W standby)

The LaCie 5big Network is a desktop NAS that is designed to look impressive. It has a minimalist feel and its shiny silver case has a large blue ball illuminated by an LED to indicate activity. If you press the button then the device takes a snapshot of any external storage device connected to it – an odd facility that might have some uses in special data collection applications. Round the back of the case you can see additional LEDs and connectors and the bays. It comes with a single Gigabyte network connection, 1 USB connector and 3 eSATA connections.

The system works in a range of RAID modes – RAID 0, 5, 5+spare, RAID 6+Spare and RAID 10+Spare. Rebuild times can be 20 to 30 hours for a full RAID 5 with 5TBytes of storage but you can use the storage while it is rebuilding. If you do use a mode with spare then the failure of a single disk causes the spare to be automatically used to rebuild the system. When you replace the failed drive it becomes the spare.

Removing a disk is a matter of turning a locking screw, which is large enough for you to use a coin if you have lost the tool provided, and then pulling a lever. You can hot swap drives. LaCie insist that you use drives provided by them rather than reuse the disk carriers.

Working with the drive can be achieved either using a web interface or the LaCie Network Assistant. The user interface is also minimalist and this makes configuration, and use in general, seem simpler. The admin home page gives you a quick overview of the status of the device – fan and RAID status. An email alert facility is provided by a built-in SMTP server.

Users can be entered locally and groups created. Only one user can be an administrator. Shares can then be created and you have the option of allowing default access or customised on a per-user or per-group basis. You can also select which protocols can be used to access a share – SMB (Windows), Apple, FTP or HTTP. It also supports Torrent P2P network downloads and uploads.

The basic method of access control is adequate for small numbers of users. Alternatively you can join the device to a domain. In this case you can assign access rights based on the domain users and groups. This seems to work correctly with even Vista managing to log on to a share using a domain user name and password.

You can connect USB or eSATA hard disks for backup or to extend the storage. Timed backups of shares to external or to other disks on the network can be created and copies of Genie and Intego backup software are also included.

The device can be power cycled or just shut down from the browser but only if the power switch is set to Auto. There is also a Wake-on-Lan facility but this only works via the LaCie Network Assistant.

Despite there being a USB socket, there is no support for a backup UPS including auto-shutdown and no support for auto-starting after a power outage. Also there is no provision for using the device for printer sharing.

The LaCie 5big Network is a very smart looking device that could be given pride of place on any executive desktop. It can be integrated into a domain and managed remotely but its lack of UPS or auto-power on after fail makes it less suitable for remote use. 

Lacie UK
Lacie 5big page







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