SoftRAID LLC on Thursday announced the release of SoftRAID 3.1.3, its RAID software for Mac OS X. The new version of SoftRAID is available as a free update for v3.1.2 users, who will be receiving updates via e-mail. Version 3.1.3 squashes bugs and brings “the product closer to full Tiger compatibility.” Tiger is Apple’s code name for the upcoming Mac OS X v10.4, expected out in the first half of 2005.
SoftRAID enables users to mirror or stripe multiple hard disk drives in order to achieve better performance or reliability than what’s available with a single drive alone. Apple’s own Disk Utility software includes RAID capabilities, but SoftRAID has some features that aren’t found in Apple’s software, such as the ability to combine volume types and change volume configurations. It also has error checking and reporting features that can’t be found in Apple’s software, according to the developer. A comparison list can be viewed at SoftRAID’s Web site.
SoftRAID costs US$129 for an electronic download version and $149 for a CD version. System requirements call for Mac OS X v10.2 or higher.