I just found a new way to handle backups - the HP MediaSmart Server. This is a cute looking box by HP, and running Microsoft’s Windows Home Server (based on the Windows 2003 Server product).

This is the product I was looking for earlier this year - some form of network attached disk drive that would allow an installation in a separate location from my development computer and provide an increased level of security from disasters such as small fires which might destroy USB attached drives stores in the same room as the computers. If two drives are installed, then the system provides the same redundancy benefits as a two drive RAID, but not handled by software mirroring.

It provide a whole bunch of other features, such as photo sharing, iPod libray sharing and remote access. The first two are cute but nothing I would pay for. Remote access would appears to be very useful, possibly allowing access to my home system when at a a client site and not having to worry about cloning needed files to my laptop.

For a nice review and coverage - see HP MediaSmart Server Review