The LaCie 8big Rack Thunderbolt 2 uses Thunderbolt 2 technology, the fastest, most versatile connection for your computer. While first generation Thunderbolt technology transfer rates are 10Gb/s bi-directional, Thunderbolt 2 technology provides 20Gb/s bi-directional. Additionally, Thunderbolt 2 technology gives priority to the video stream, apportioning the required bandwidth for playback. This is a critical advantage when working with high-end video and 3D graphics.

For example, a film editor is working with two streams, 4K video at 12Gb/s and data at 4Gb/s. Whereas first generation Thunderbolt technology may experience difficulty with the video signal, Thunderbolt 2 technology allows it to pass without a problem, dividing the bandwidth as needed for playback.

Featuring hardware RAID and redundant components, the LaCie 8big is a rarity in the world of high-end DAS. While most DAS must choose between high transfer rates or data protection, the LaCie 8big offers both extraordinary performance and built-in protection. Its powerful RAID engine saves your computer from expending critical processing resources on storage management, which is crucial for video and graphics applications that place heavy demands on computer CPUs. Further, hardware RAID solutions offer advanced RAID configurations to suit the needs of your working environment (see RAID).

The LaCie 8big Rack Thunderbolt 2 features:

• 1U Rackmount form factor
• Aluminum front and all-metal enclosure
• A RAID-on-Chip (RoC) processor to manage the RAID
• Hardware RAIDs 0, 1, 10, 5, 6, and JBOD
• Eight SATA channels, up to 6Gb/s per channel
• Two Thunderbolt 2 technology ports, up to 20Gb/s bi-directional per port
• Hot-swappable hard drives, fans, and power supplies to reduce downtime
• Redundant power supply bays
• A warning system with physical and email alerts
• Intelligent RAID rebuild with a spare hard drive