A low-cost NAS (Network Attached Storage) solution can provide adequate physical storage space for many small businesses. Supporting a NAS can be more of a challenge than some businesses expect, however. Large enterprises may be able to afford individually tailored and expensive managed-service offerings, but such luxuries are generally out of reach for small businesses. WideBand aims to change that with its fs[ix] Gold Server.

WideBand Corp., a small manufacturer of networking and storage equipment in Gallatin, Missouri, is trying to fill the small-business service void by pairing its hardware products with select personalized service offerings. For this review, I looked at the WideBand fs[ix] Gold Server ($2,495 direct), a unique 250GB NAS server with a support twist.

I could immediately tell there was something different about this piece of hardware when the Gold Server arrived at our labs. It just doesn't look like the typical boring black business NAS server. The Gold Server is wrapped in anodized blue aluminum with custom buttons.

Getting Set Up

The Gold Server consists of two identical devices, known as the server and the mirror modules. The mirror is plugged into the server via a 6-inch Ethernet cable. Once it's attached, you can plug a monitor and keyboard into the server module and fire up the units. Next, you follow simple screen instructions for assigning an administrative password and IP addresses to the Gold Server—an easy procedure.

Once that's done, you can access the administrative Web interface from any PC attached to the subnet. I was aware that the Gold Server ran a Linux OS, but I was surprised to find Webmin controlling its administrative NAS functions. Webmin is a universal Web-based configuration application that can control a multitude of applications on the Linux server OS. WideBand assured me that this is done to keep things simple. In my opinion, this results in more of an advantage for WideBand, saving the company money that could have gone toward developing a more friendly interface, than for Gold Server users, who will have to contend with Webmin.

Webmin is a capable application, but it lacks a coherent user experience, extensive built-in help, and wizards to help automate setup. Using Webmin requires solid knowledge of the NFS and SMB file systems and working knowledge of authentication procedures and rights management. This may not be a problem for experienced administrators and integrators, but it will make getting started tough for the small-business owner who also takes care of the network after hours. Once you've gone through the process of configuring network shares and users on the device, however, you'll know the drill, and subsequent changes won't be such a big deal.

One more positive setup note: The Gold Server can be mapped as either a network drive or ISCSI device. The choice is useful if you integrate this NAS device into a Microsoft Windows 2003 server environment. It took me just a couple of minutes to set up users and shares in my test environment.

Mirror Magic

When everything is running as planned, the mirror module keeps constant track of changes on the main unit. If you subscribe to the monitoring package, WideBand monitors both units 24/7; in many cases, the company can ship a new device your way (preconfigured with your data and preferences, if you also subscribe to the online backup plan) before you even know that something has gone wrong.

The Gold Server's most interesting aspect, however, is its integrated nPX interface. With nPX, you can use HTML or XHTML to access the integrated database and pass server-environment variables without the need to resort to CGI or similar programming scripts. CGI scripts written in Perl or other languages are very useful, but they do require solid programming knowledge and can also pose security risks. Small businesses that don't want to hire experienced (and costly) CGI programmers will appreciate this setup, as it lets them create dynamic interactive content for their Web pages without an enormous impact on their bottom line.

The Gold Server includes developer tools that allow you to create databases and users and to set security options. I found doing this easy and quick. You can also run database functions such as searches and updates on records. In order to manipulate the data stored in the database, the nPX interface provides a set of variables and functions that let developers modify the database content and manipulate or respond to user input. The ability to access environment variables and respond interactively to user input on the Web allows for the swift creation of dynamic Web pages. There are already predefined functions for online billing, such as PayPal. This should make it easier to create a small e-commerce application for your Web page.

At Your Service

If hardware is all you care about for your small business, you can stop reading here. But if you've ever wanted the kind of service and attention usually reserved for larger corporations, keep reading. WideBand has a dedicated support program for all of its network equipment, tailored to fit smaller businesses. The cost isn't low, but it may be well worth the investment.

The Gold support program, for example, offers 24/7 monitoring, assistance with network management and configuration to optimize your network, and the dispatch of on-site technicians should something go horribly wrong. If your network is based on WideBand switches, they'll even alert you if one of your cables goes bad.

The costs can be a bit shocking if you're comparing the Gold Server with some of the other NAS boxes we've reviewed recently, such as our current Editors' Choice, the Infrant Technologies ReadyNAS NV, which sells for about $1,000. But if you depend on your network functioning without a hitch, it's a reasonable price to pay. To get started, you need to purchase a management unit, a 2U device that will set you back $1,995—in addition to what you've paid for the mirror and server units. You also have to pay a one-time setup fee of $2,995. After that, you pay based on the amount of equipment you have. An example would be $95 a month for one network management unit, one Gold Server (250GB), and one gigabit switch. And dealing with a family-owned company whose service and support personnel are based in the U.S. is an added benefit. No more late-night support calls to offshore support staff who have to struggle to understand what you're saying, let alone what your problem is.

For the Gold Server, you can also add the offsite backup option, which will back up both your data and all user settings and preferences to a secure, underground facility with a strategic WideBand business partner. In case of a disaster, WideBand will ship you not only new replacement units, but units that contain all your data and are drop-in configured with all your personal settings. The basic plan covers 50GB of data and costs $99 a month, after a $150 one-time setup fee.

I really liked the quality of the devices and the attitude of this family-owned business, which strives to make a difference for small businesses. In addition, the nPX interface turns the Gold Server into something much more versatile than a plain NAS box.