It's worth noting that the Windows Storage Server operating system is stored on the RAID array itself - it simply isn't lightweight enough to reside on a separate flash module, as is the case with most Linux-based solutions - and as a consequence needs to be backed-up by the user.
An NEC chip powers the two USB 3.0 ports, Intel 82574L controllers drive the Gigabit Ethernet ports and a three-pin header is used to connect the bundled system fan. The aforementioned Intel Atom processor officially supports up to 4GB of memory - suggesting that the module could be upgraded by the user - but WD has kept the hardware simple throughout.
At the heart of the system you'll find a 1.8GHz Intel Atom D525 processor that dates back to 2010 and it's accompanied by a 2GB DDR3 memory module. Sitting just above the hard-drive bays, the DX4000 has a compact PCB connected to a perpendicular SATA backplane. Hitachi GST (now a subsidiary of Western Digital) has designed the drive with an emphasis on low-power operation, hence the average speed of 5,400RPM, and while it represents a good fit for NAS environments, we suspect future Sentinel models will utilise WD's own NAS-specific drive Red.ĭrive availability continues to be patchy following the floods in Asia, but the 5K4000 model can be acquired in the form of an official WD replacement priced at around £360 per 4TB drive. Our 16TB review sample came equipped with a quartet of 4TB, 5,400RPM Hitachi GST Deskstar 5K4000 drives (model number HDS5C4040ALE630), and this is the only drive officially certified as compatible with the box. Only 3.5in drives are supported, so don't contemplate adding high-speed 2.5in SSDs, and "in order to provide the highest reliability to customers" the Sentinel DX4000 has a rather short list of compatible hard drives. The process of chopping and changing drives couldn't be easier - you'll never be left searching for the screwdriver - but there are a couple of caveats. We're often pleased by the simplest things, so it's no surprise that we're fond of the tool-free drive bays simply open the bay covers and the drives slide out on metal rails.
#Western digital wd sentinel dx4000 windows 10 software
The software will feel familiar to users of Windows machines, and of course integration of Microsoft services such as Windows Domain and Active Directory should prove to be straightforward. Unlike the vast array of Linux-powered alternatives, Western Digital's decision to opt for a Windows-based environment makes the DX4000 an obvious fit for many small-office businesses. Speaking of software, one of the DX4000's primary draws is that it runs Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials and supports up to 25 clients. Cooling, meanwhile, is provided by a 92mm fan that, while boisterous and noisy during the initial setup phase, is controlled through software and quietens down to an acceptable level during everyday use. WD includes two external power supplies as part of the 16TB bundle, giving users an out-of-the-box backup should one fail. A mesh front door is easily opened to reveal access to the unit's four spring-loaded, hot-swappable drive bays, and just above that a two-line LCD display provides at-a-glance status information that can prove helpful during setup.Īround the back, the Sentinel DX4000 carries dual Gigabit Ethernet ports with fallover support (but not link aggregation, surprisingly), two USB 3.0 ports for attaching additional storage, and a pair power connectors. This is the same DX4000 chassis that's been doing the rounds since late 2011, but that's no bad thing WD's 206mm x 224mm x 160mm enclosure remains well built and has a real quality feel about it.
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