2011/2/4 Keld Jørn Simonsen [off-list ref]:

I wonder why this is so. (I cannot dispute what you are saying, as I have
not got any experience with any small SAN/NAS devices).

Anyway, Linux NAS/SAN devices should run a kernel that should be able to
run MD raid10 and RAID 1+0 - as this has been in the Linux kernel
for more than 5 years.

95% of such devices sold have only one drive, a few models have 2
bays, with external connections (usually USB, some e-sata now) only
available for in-bound data copying. These are cheap enough that a
decent hacker community has sprung up creating replacement opensource
firmware, but the hardware limitations are severe enough that IMO the
main attraction is a very low power bill for 24/7 convenience.

There are some that offer 4 or 5 bays, but IMO anyone knowledgeable
enough to make use of higher-end options like md raid10 would take one
look at the price tag and bolt for a whitebox+free/opensource solution
instead.

Even whitebox+Windows Home Server (gasp!) would IMO be both cheaper
and better in most cases than getting locked into proprietary hardware
*and* software wrapped up together.

If you want to investigate further, here are the main brands, I
imagine most are running on Linux/mdadm-based firmware:

Thecus, Qnap, Synology, Dlink, Buffalo, NetGear (was Infrant)

IMO Drobo looks like a very interesting kit, not mdadm-based AFAICT
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