Linksys Delivers NAS, Switches for Small Biz

Networking vendor Linksys has unveiled a series of networking and storage solutions designed for small businesses.

On Monday, the company, a division of Cisco Systems, took the wraps off its Small Business Network Storage Systems (NSS), a line of network-attached storage systems for small organizations that want high-end data storage features at a low price.Linksys also unveiled six new managed Layer 2 switches for small businesses--the Linksys Small Business Series Switches--that support Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet speeds.

The Small Business NSS come without hard drives so businesses can select the capacity they need. Linksys claims installing the chassis is a quick process. And the company doesn't use proprietary code or drivers so, Linksys says, IT managers can easily swap drives in and out of the systems.

Linksys also offers on-disk file encryption to support secure off-site backups, archiving and data migration for small firms, such as health-care facilities and law offices, that must meet strict data-protection requirements.

Linksys says its Layer 2 switches provide the affordable on-ramp small companies need to take advantage of faster network speeds. The managed switches, which start at $15 per port, also include features such as QoS (quality of service) so small businesses can deploy time-sensitive voice and video applications.

Both the Small Business NSS and Small Business Series switches are available immediately.