Merlin Software Technologies, a company that develops network attached storage (NAS) appliances and the Merlin SecurDVR for the security and loss prevention market, has released version 2.2 of its EssentialServer software. The new version includes native Mac client-side data backup support, which the company says is the first in the NAS industry.
Mac users can now run the EssentialServer’s PerfectCopy client side software on their computer and automatically backup their local files to the EssentialServer. The software can be set to automatically copy any changed file at user configurable intervals. What’s more, the new features and usability enhancements in version 2.2 provide improved scalability, security, and data backup protection, according to Anmar Oueja, engineering manager at Merlin.
“This release also demonstrates our commitment to the Macintosh community by providing them with the first fully-featured NAS and backup solution,” he added in announcing the update. “Now all the functionality that we provide Windows users is available to the Macintosh community. This support opens the door to selling the EssentialServer into Macintosh intensive environments such as the graphics, engineering and desktop publishing industries.”
EssentialServer 2.2 adds support for SCSI RAID 0,1,5 and IDE RAID 0,1,5 and Windows NT Primary Domain Controller (PDC) integration, as well. There are also several usability enhancements including guest access for global folders, faster rendering of administration tool, and improved reporting features for administrators. The software upgrade is free to registered EssentialServer users.