We Got Served

Britain’s Tranquil PC had the distinction of releasing the world’s first Windows Home Server, the T7-HSA, back in September 2007. We received one of the first units off the production line and gave it a glowing review- we loved its small size, silent running and fanless, passive cooling system. Tranquil created a system that may have been small, but packed a mighty punch.

There was a compromise to be made however - such a small chassis meant that it was impossible to install additional internal storage to the system, which was a big weakness in comparison to multi-drive systems from HP and others. Without it, the T7-HSA was unable to take advantage of Windows Home Server’s Folder Duplication technology, which provides a “software RAID” style backup for your shared folders, without utilising additional external storage. To compete, Tranquil PC have now released a partner storage device for the T7-HSA - known as the T7-HDx.

The T7-HDx is basically a storage enclosure, which can be connected to the T7-HSA (or indeed any Home Server for that matter) by USB or eSATA. Two specifications have been released, each utlilising Western Digital’s excellent GreenPower Drives in a 1Tb (2 x 500Gb) or 2Tb (2 x 1Tb) configuration.

What’s in the Box?

Tranquil PC sent us through a 1Tb T7-HDx with our old friend, the T7-HSA. Let’s take a look at a few unboxing shots.

Here’s what you get with the T7-HDx:

• T7-HDx Storage Device
• Bridging Connectors (to attach the unit to the T7-HSA)
• USB Cable
• Instruction Leaflet

First Looks

The T7-HDx utilises exactly the same chassis as the T7-HSA, which gives great aesthetic consistency when you utilise the HDx alongside the HSA.

As with the T7-HSA, the HDx is passively cooled with a copper heat pipe transferring any heat generated by the hard drives directly to the metal chassis.

Around the Back

The rear of the unit is a pretty spartan affair, with a desk lock, eSATA and USB connectors plus a 12v power connector. It’s worth mentioning at this point that the HDx is powered directly from the T7-HSA, so there’s no need for extra power cables and of course, you have the benefit of the HDx not taking up an extra power socket.

Under the Hood

Cracking open the HDx (achievable by removing three screws on the back plate) reveals the inner workings of the HDx, including your two Western Digital GreenPower Drives. The GreenPower drives require much less power than other drives in their class, and run almost silently which means they’re ideahe World’s first l for those who are unable to tuck their home server away in a cupboard.

One point to bear in mind with the T7-HDx is that all of its connectors are glued (see SATA connection at top of picture below) - so whilst this means you’ll rarely have any cables come loose, the implication is that it will be a tricky job if you wanted to upgrade the hard drives in the future. It’s a shame, (and the same is trues of the T7-HSA) but you need to consider the T7-HDx as a “sealed” appliance when it comes to upgrading.

So, same chassis, different guts - I thought it would be interesting to crack open the T7-HSA Home Server too, so you can see the differences inside:

Connecting the T7-HDx to the T7-HSA

Enclosed with the T7-HDx are a series of “bridge” connectors (two types of metal rod) which enable you to very neatly attach the HDx to the HSA to create an integral unit. Doing this simply involves removing the back plates of both units and sliding the rods in to connect them together. The result looks great!

Once you’ve attached the units together, simply connect up the power and data cables and you’re good to go.

Using the T7-HDx

Installing the T7-HSA with the T7-HDx on board means that Windows Home Server will immediately treat the drives in the HDx as part of your existing drive pool - no other configuration is required. If you already have the T7-HSA installed, and add the HDx, you’ll need to configure Windows Home Server to add the drives to your drive pool - this is very easy to do.

As with all of Tranquil PC’s systems, power consumption and noise output is incredibly low. In terms of power, when the unit is ideal, power consumptions is around the 11 watts mark, rising to 18 watts at maximum power. Noise output is a hushed 21db.

The T7-HDx can be run in a variety of modes, including RAID configurations using a switch on the rear of the unit. Tranquil PC advise that the unit is run in a non-RAID configuration to maximise available space. Uup to four T7-HDx devices can be attached to the T7-HSA  Home Server, providing up to 9TB of storage. A high speed port multiplier in the T7-HDx unit manages data access.

The Verdict

If you’re a T7-HSA owner looking to extend your storage, the T7-HDx is a must-have accessory, ensuring you retain the fantastic aesthetic value and low power consumption of the home server. If you’re thinking of purchasing a new home server, the combination of the T7-HSA with the T7-HDx now positions the Tranquil unit as a viable (if expensive) multi-drive home server with great looks, low power consumption an unobtrusive, silent position in your home.

More Info: Tranquil PC | Tranquil PC Forums (WGS)