Adaptec to offer Nas training

Vendor hopes channel can help penetrate mobile backup arena with 1TB storage array

Adaptec is hoping the channel will help it penetrate further into the mobile backup arena following the vendor's launch of its latest network-attached storage (Nas) array.

The Adaptec File Server ESA1500 is a Nas Raid appliance that provides real-time backup of PC and laptop data and allows users to restore their own files.

Russ Johnson, Adaptec's EMEA vice president, told CRN: "An average of 60 per cent of all client data is held on desktop and laptop PCs, and most of this isn't backed up. It is becoming a real headache for IT departments."

The 1TB storage array can scale up to 4TB of storage capacity by adding more appliances.

Johnson said the channel is an essential route to market because it can deploy technology much faster, especially in the SME sector. However, he said the disadvantage of using the channel was a lack of education in some areas.

"Resellers need to invest a little time in learning about this young, growing market. We'll be running high-level seminars to tackle this," he said.

Stewart Truman, pre-sales manager for VAR Compusys, said the product "could save a lot of time, money and heartache".

He added: "Obviously, we're just seeing a preliminary model, but if it performs as promised it will be quite a nice solution. Companies with a large number of mobile users build up a huge data store on laptops.

"And if they have a problem - which unfortunately is not uncommon - then they lose all of that data, with all the inherent costs involved."

Truman said one improvement would be to offer a small tower version as well as the rack-mounted one, because many smaller firms do not have racks.