You plug your IDE cable into this device, and it gives you two IDE plugs to put your HDs - with OS independent data mirroring, it's basically just RAID 1 in a box.

IO Data Device Corporation has announced that they will begin accepting orders for their "HDR-MD2A-LE," a HD mirroring unit for 3.5" drive bays. It will ship in the back part of May, for the cost of 31,290 yen.

Using the forking unit that takes o­ne IDE from the PC and outputs two, as well as the "DELTA2" RAID controller developed by IO Data, o­ne can achieve HD mirroring (RAID 1) by hardware. It can function regardless of the OS.

The HDR-MD2A-LE is connect to the PC via an IDE cable, and allows for connection of up to two drives for mirroring. The OS recognizes this as o­ne drive, and the unit itself will go about with the mirroring. It also supports the 137GB BigDrive.

A special utility, "HDR-MD MONITOR," for monitoring the RAID information and status, is included. A sound can come from the device when there are problems. Also, software for switching environments is included. LED lights o­n the front of the device indicate the situation.

The unit will be sold as is - it does not include a HD. IO Data recommends using their "HDI-R" series which implements RAID aging, and support will be limited to o­nly drives in the IO Data series.



Inspired by:
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2004/0512/iodata2.htm

News Release:
http://www.iodata.jp/news/2004/05/hdr-md2a-le.htm

Product Information:
http://www.iodata.jp/prod/storage/hdd/2004/hdr-md2a-le/