Review: HP StorageWorks X310 Data Vault

Though the name might lead you to think otherwise, Windows Home Server is also well suited for the small business and home office environment. The client PC backup software is one of the most compelling features for home users and small businesses alike, and I’ve previously talked about how we use Windows Home Server at my own place of employment to back up all of our development workstations. The StorageWorks group at HP has recognized this value and introduced their first Windows Home Server offering last October with the X510 Data Vault, which leveraged the proven MediaSmart Server platform while offering an extended 3 year warranty and new sales channels.

The just announced HP StorageWorks X310 Data Vault is the latest Windows Home Server offering from HP, and is designed to provide small business data protection and file sharing at a lower cost than the more feature-rich X510 Data Vault. While the remote media streaming and video converting features of the high performance X510 are desirable for many home users, they often go unused in small businesses and add cost to the product. HP wanted to produce an entry level server that meets the needs of businesses that want the backup and storage capabilities without the extra media features, and they have accomplished this with the new X310 Data Vault.

New Hardware
In addition to the reduced feature set of the included software, HP also made changes to the X310 hardware to further bring down the cost. The underlying chassis and form factor is the same as the X510 Data Vault, but the components and outer coverings have all been changed. The fancy light pipes, glossy black side panels, and metal mesh door of the X510 have been replaced with matte black plastic all around. The hard drive indicators now reside along the bottom front of the server next to the power, network and health LEDs, and the X310 stands on thick rubber feet instead of the tapered gray platform of the X510. All these changes combine to provide more of an industrial feel, and while this is not necessarily unpleasant it is certainly not as refined as the X510.

The X310 Data Vault comes in a single configuration that is powered by a dual-core Intel Atom 1.6Ghz processor, 2GB of RAM, gigabit ethernet and a single 1TB hard drive. It has 3 empty internal SATA hard drive bays, 4 USB ports, and a single eSATA port that is port-multiplier aware and so will work with multi-drive external eSATA enclosures. All this adds up to a large amount of available storage expansion that leaves plenty of room for a businesses storage needs to grow.

The familiar tool-less hard drive trays are included for use with the internal drive bays which makes adding additional storage a quick and easy operation. I was also pleased to see that the X310 utilizes the newer power supply model with the rear-mounted fan that has proven to be more quiet than the earlier MediaSmart Server models.

The Atom processor is definitely not as powerful as the dual-core Intel E5200 processor found in the X510, however the reduced features of the X310 don’t require as much horsepower and these changes allow the price to be significantly less.

Data Vault Family Comparison
Here is a look at how the X310 compares to the X510.

	X510	X310
Video Converter	Yes	No
Remote Media Streaming	Yes	No
iStream (iPhone)	Yes	No
Media Collector	Yes	No
Processor	Intel Pentium Dual Core 2.5Ghz	Intel Atom Dual Core 1.6Ghz
Memory	2GB	2GB
Initial Capacity	1TB, 2TB, 3TB	1TB
Pricing	$699 – $999	$549
Warranty	3 years	1 year

The combination of reduced software features, lower performance hardware, and a shorter warranty all lower the list price of the X310 by $150 over the base model X510.

Software Features
The HP StorageWorks X310 Data Vault is built on Windows Home Server, which is a platform that provides many valuable features right out of the box. I’ve already mentioned the ability to perform automatic image based backups of 10 client PCs which is likely to be one of the most appreciated features for a small business. Windows Home Server also provides Remote Access features that allow you to connect to your Home Server from anywhere outside the home, so that you can access files and even control your PCs that support Remote Desktop.

Businesses that also use Apple Macs will be pleased to hear that the Data Vault includes Mac Client software that allows the server to be used as a Time Machine backup location, so you can back up your Mac to your Home Server and then restore it easily in the event of a hard drive failure.

HP is including a modified version (3.1) of the Data Vault software, and one of the biggest changes is the removal of the Twonky media streaming software which means that the Remote Media Streaming features of the X510 are not available in the X310 and that the iStream app for the iPhone and iPod Touch also will not work. The iTunes server is included on the X310 for streaming your music to iTunes within the home or office. The Media Collector feature also does not appear to be included on the X310.

Windows Home Server comes with Windows Media Connect 2.0 for media streaming in the home, and many network media players can also access the server resources via Samba or NFS. The Video Converter is another feature that was removed from the X310, but given the relatively low horsepower of the Atom processor I don’t think this feature would be very useful.

The PhotoViewer and PhotoPublisher are both included in the X310 Data Vault. The PhotoViewer is a web page on the server that allows you to share photos with directly from your Home Server, while the PhotoPublisher allows you to easily publish your photos to many popular photo sharing sites such as Facebook, Picasa, flickr, and snapfish. For a more detailed look at these features, you can read my review of the HP 3.0 software as delivered on the X510 Data Vault and EX495 MediaSmart Server.

Finally, the X310 Data Vault includes the same trial version of the McAfee antivirus Add-In for Windows Home Server that has been included in all the HP Home Servers.

Installation and Setup
If you are familiar with Windows Home Server, then the setup will be a straightforward process. First you connect the server to its power cord, and use the included ethernet cable to connect the server to your router or a switch on your network. The Data Vault is powered on with the press of a button on the rear of the server, and when it is booted prior to setup the LEDs will “breath” with a slow fade/brighten pattern. Insert the Software Installation Disk into your client PC, and a setup wizard will guide you through the installation process.

After the client software has finished installing, the next step is to walk through the Server Setup wizard, where you will choose a name for your server, setup an administrative password, and download the latest Windows updates.

The server will reboot after downloading updates, and you can now use your Administrator password that you created during setup to log into the Server Console and continue setting up your user accounts, Remote Access, and other settings.

The Server Status tab is a useful overview of the status of your Home Server as well as visuals of the CPU, RAM, and Network utilization. The dual-core Atom shows up as 4 processors due to the Hyperthreading feature of that CPU.

The Mac tab describes the Time Machine backup feature, while the Add Software tab provides a shortcut to the HP Data Vault page where you can learn about the latest Add-Ins available for download that extend the functionality of your Data Vault.

The Settings Tab of the Server Console provides access to the LED controls, Notification settings, temperatures and fan speeds, Software Update settings, as well as Support links for more information.

The client Control Center application resides on the client PCs and provides shortcuts to the server features, and it appears to have remained unchanged from the previous 3.0 release.

Impressions and Summary
I have only had the HP StorageWorks X310 Data Vault for a few days and so have not fully tested the new server, however from my experiences so far I can say that I find the performance and features of the X310 to be acceptable for its intended duties. The performance is definitely not up to the same level as the X510 Data Vault, but the responsibilities of the server are also lower. The Server Console is usable though not as responsive as the X510, and it does take longer to load. You will want to be aware of the Add-Ins that you install, as performance could be impacted if they have high system requirements.

When I first saw the changes to the outer hardware of the X310 Data Vault I have to admit I was less than thrilled, however my impressions have changed now that I’ve got my hands on a unit. The chassis is very sturdy, the plastic door does not feel flimsy at all, and as someone who always turned the LEDs down to the minimum brightness I actually like the reduced light output of the new hard drive indicators. There is obviously a cost savings in the changes made to the appearance of the server, but the changes were made in a quality way and the server does not feel cheap.

I believe that the reduced feature set and lower cost of the X310 Data Vault will appeal to small business owners that recognize the value of Windows Home Server but were put off by the consumer feel of the additional functionality of the MediaSmart Server or X510 Data Vault and the higher price that those features commanded. With some sale prices and incentives that we’re used to seeing from HP occasionally, the X310 should be available below $500 before too long which will likely fit into more budgets.

I’ll be spending more time with the X310 Data Vault, including my customary tear down of the server, close examination of its components, and power consumption measurements. Post in the comments if there are any specific questions you have that you’d like to see answered in a later article.

Lastly, I want to thank HP for providing me with the X310 Data Vault review unit.

Tagged as: Data Vault, Hardware, HP, Reviews, Small Business, WHS, Windows Home Server