What is the CDH?

CDH is a dual-function NAS server that performs both CD/DVD and file-storage server applications. It means that the CDH can be considered as a CD/DVD-ROM server and/or a file-storage server. CDH takes all the advantages of applications, which are now available among CD/DVD-ROM, file storage NAS, and traditional file server.

What are the major differences between CDH and CDM?

The CDM is specifically designated as a CD server as well as for data archiving applications. For the CDH, the CDH supports most of the features existing on both optical media and file server applications. Almost all of the features supported by the CDM have been included in the CDH. Hereunder a summary of the most outstanding features, which are only available on the CDH:

A new designed H/W platform with a much more powerful CPU.

More built-in memory (32MB) and support of up to 256MB SDRAM.

Four (4) independent EIDE UDMA mode 4 (ATA-66) channels.

A built-in temperature-monitoring unit with alarm feature.

An ease of use LCD panel with 3 buttons for status monitoring and configuration.

File volumes for users to read and write.

Support CD-R, CD-R/W drive to burn CD (DAO)

Support of Macintosh client (AFP).

Support FTP for data download and upload

More volumes (1.000) and shares (255) can be handled by a single server.

Support DVD-9, DVD-18 title and image

Availability of a local security database for local authentication.

Power management: safe shutdown, scheduled power on and off.

Configurable built-in RAID function

Support EIDE tape drive for backup

And more than you expect

What are key applications for the CDH?
We can distinguish the applications available for the CDH into two categories:

Optical NAS (CD/DVD-ROM server) application

File storage server application

For the CD/DVD-ROM server applications, the CDH can be used to manage all CD/DVD resources concentrically like CD library, documentation center, training center, school, data archiving and so on.

For the file-storage server application, file sharing is the most popular usage for a NAS product as the CDH. It can be:

An extension of the personal storage area

A personal home directory of client-server network architecture

A common storage area for a workgroup or a project team

A storage area for people to backup their data from their desktop or laptop computers

What kind of CD/DVD-ROM drives can be connected to the CDH?
Most of the CD/DVD-ROM drives with an EIDE interface and compliant with the ATAPI command sets can be connected onto the CDH. Hereunder the list of tested CD/DVD-ROM drives by Allion (this list will be updated on a regular basis):

DVD-ROM drives: