Personal File Server For The Masses 263
prostoalex writes "California-based Inspiri is coming to the market with Mirra - a personal file-server with simple backup solutiion, remote access as well as file-sharing capabilities. The $399 device comes with 120 GB hard drive, front-mounted USB ports and Ethernet interface. There are some pictures of Mirra on the corporate Web site. The founder of Inspiri, Tim Bucher, according to the corporate documents, had an interesting career, having worked at both Apple and Microsoft, while the VP of Engineering in this company used to work as acting CEO of Apple's Newton business group."
Finally someone got the price right. (Score:5, Informative)
For over a year I've been using old P2's and debian to make large 1TB+ network storage for just around $1000. That's 8X more than what the Snap has for around the same price.
Re:Strong credentials (Score:3, Informative)
Which computers does it work with? With Macs? With Linux?
You can remotely access your photos and files from any Internet-connected PC, including Mac's. Currently only computers that run Windows 2000 or Windows XP are supported for Mirra Backup and Restore within your home network. We're considering support for Macintosh, Windows 98 and Linux. Please let us know at sales@ispiri.com if you would purchase a Mirra to use with those computers.
Microsoft, Apple, and... (Score:5, Informative)
And, even more interesting, ended up with Linux:
Because the Mirra server is built on a Linux software platform, the files stored on the appliance should be safe from worms and viruses that attack Windows-based servers
Link [pcworld.com]
Re:Does it run Linux or another UNIX workalike, (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Newton? (Score:4, Informative)
As the proud former owner of an Apple Newton MP110, I can tell you never played with one. They were revolutionary before their time, trying things that only now are catching on (Write in your own handwriting->Text; oh wait, that's Tablet PC)
A little on the large side, but this was 1995 -- yes, 8 years ago.
Re:Finally someone got the price right. (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Microsoft, Apple, and... (Score:5, Informative)
I bought one (Score:4, Informative)
Re:The service is the killer app (Score:3, Informative)
Re:a little behind, perhaps? (Score:2, Informative)
"Ximeta Netdisk Portable 160GB. NetDisk is a HDD that is connected directly to the network through the Ethernet interface."
TigerDirect.com sells them. I think I want one!
software and web servers are the unique features (Score:5, Informative)
- This is for the masses where (masses="total population" - geeks). It isn't 4 u.
- It does the backups automatically by just selecting files from interface integrated with Windows explorer.
- It keeps the last 8 versions of the files
- You can access your files from anywhere on the internet. Even from behind a corporate firewall cause it authenticates thru their server.
Can your crappy home built server do all that (without spending a few weeks writing scripts)?
I wouldn't buy one, but I think it is cool.
Re:Not needed (Score:3, Informative)
Of course if you're going for a file server, you should be going for a fast box with gigE, booting off a CD into RAM, and 8 200GB or 300GB hard drives, giving you between 1.5 and 2.5TB of readilly available storage, should cost more then $3000 even with a top of the line processer and a gig of ram.
What would really make sense instead of buying this $400 contraption, is buying a 160 gig HDD, which will run you up a little over $100 for a good one on Pricewatch [pricewatch.com] grabbing a cheap 1 gig Duron and a K7S5A mobo, a cheap vid card for a few bucks, a stick of PC133, and throw Linux or Win2k on there, and you have yourself more storage space than this network fileserver for less money.
Re:Replacement (Score:2, Informative)
The backup server / trouble ticket server at my office was built for $100:
$20 for a pentium 133 mhz bought on ebay
$80 for a 80gb hard drive
Loaded up debian, added a few applications and services and voila - works like a champ.
Re:a physical box per service (Score:2, Informative)
you could, but your mum probably couldn't (Score:3, Informative)