Task Smart N2400 Upgrade Options

[William Rankin]

What are the upgrade options available for the TaskSmart N2400?

Currently running Windows 2000 SP3, soon to be four array units and 4TB raw.

Would like a Windows 2003 Server option.

Thanks - Bill Rankin

[Kevin Harlan]

Unfortunately, there is no software upgrade option for the N2400. The platforms have changed significantly between each revision (except between the v2 and the WSS products -- which is why we were able to offer an upgrade path).

These platform changes were significant enough that the images from the newer products *WILL NOT RUN* on the older platforms. And given the limited amount of engineering and other resources, plus the short schedules to meet time-to-market objectives, no effort was spent "back-porting" the newer images to the older platforms.

The only option you have is a "fork-lift upgrade". You will have to replace your hardware with the v2 hardware, in order to have a WSS NAS product. You might be able to get your reseller or sales person to allow you a trade-in on your old hardware, but I cannot tell you whether such programs exist of if your reseller/salesperson can or will do this.

[William Rankin]

Could the CPQ STORAGEWORKS 4314R arrays be used with any of the other NAS products? We have 4. Three arrays are filled with 36.4GB drives and one filled with 146.8GB drives, all 10K rpm.

[Jon Paul]

Hi Bill,

The product most like your N2400 of the currently shipping products is the 2000s external. It consists of a server and JBOD. The controller is a 6404. As long as the controller supports the 4314r you should be fine migrating the JBODs. As always, you should have a known good backup of all data prior to making a change of this magnitude.
6400 Family controller QuickSpecs
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/11587_na/11587_na.pdf