Not All Server Appliances Are Created Equal

The least expensive box, EmergeCore's IT in a Box, is a complete hub, firewall and NAS server rolled into one. It has the least amount of disk space (20 GB) but comes with a Wi-Fi 802.11b access point built in, along with simplified versions of e-mail SMTP and Web servers. The firewall is the weakest link, with just a few settings from strong to weak protection. Unlike some other firewall/router/hub products, also called residential gateways, you can't adjust the firewall to open or close individual ports or IP addresses.

Moving up in price, but not necessarily in features, is the Procom Taurus, an oddly shaped box that is akin to a small form-factor PC. Like the EmergeCore box, it can be configured as a Wi-Fi Access point, though that is a premium option. It comes with more disk storage and RAM, and a faster processor, along with a more capable and customizable firewall. The only problem is the firewall settings are not intuitive.

The true Papa Bear of the trio is the Snap Server 4500. It has the 1U rack-mounted look of an NAS appliance. What distinguishes this unit is its support for various RAID levels. Naturally, the choice of RAID level will decide how much usable storage is available. With the RAID 5 option, the least expensive model has 357 GB of storage.

The choice of RAID, along with other features, is easily configurable from the unit's Web-based interface. Like other Snap Servers, it supports a wide variety of file-sharing protocols, including Web, FTP, NFS, AppleShare and Windows clients. In our tests, the 4500 automatically began rebuilding a drive that had been temporarily removed and then replaced. The downside is that the rebuild took longer than an hour.

So what recommendations should VARs make?

The EmergeCore is a good low-end unit for businesses that don't require a great deal of network firewall protection. Think of it as a step up from a Linksys or Netgear gateway/firewall/router. It has four switched Ethernet ports to assemble a quick network from scratch. However, a business could outgrow this unit quickly if it were used as the sole file server. We liked its wireless support, and it was the easiest of the three to set up.

The Procom Taurus has more storage but isn't designed to be a single server either. You'll need to include a switched hub if you are assembling a network for customers.

The Snap Server is a true NAS box with plenty of storage and firepower for keeping files intact with its various RAID options. We have been big fans of the Snap Web interface, which is easy to navigate and has all the functions clearly organized. This box continues that tradition. But if you need an e-mail server and firewall features, you'll need to assemble another box as well.