"Combined with our existing ReadyNAS Pro and ReadyNAS NVX, the addition of a rack-mount solution broadens the SMB portion of our award-winning ReadyNAS storage line," said Mark Song, product line manager for NETGEAR's Network Storage Business Unit.

"We're dedicated to providing a complete range of solutions for the SMB, and we're extremely proud that our ReadyNAS unified architecture solves numerous data management problems with a single system, making capacity management, access, backup, restore and disaster recovery worries obsolete. With ReadyNAS, SMB network managers can eliminate common data concerns and revolutionize their storage environment without needing to become an expert," he added.

Ideal for small businesses and workgroups, the ReadyNAS 2100 provides all of the features and benefits of the recently launched ReadyNAS NVX 4-bay desktop model for sharing, storing and protecting SMB data, but in a convenient rack-mountable 1U form factor. Its innovative modular design -- the "X-CHANGE" rapid system board module, with the system board, power supply and cooling fans packaged into a discrete module -- and remarkable 12-inch depth make it ideal for easy servicing, and facilitate back-to-back physical arrangements.

Users of the ReadyNAS 2100 also benefit from energy efficiency; the device has an Intel advanced embedded processor as well as smart power management options, such as sequential drive spin-up and idle drive spin-down, which reduce overall power consumption to less than 80 watts.