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CRU-DataPort's ToughTech Duo QR: RAID for the road
I recently reviewed the WiebeTech RTX220-QR RAID array, which I found to be a fast and rock-solid array that would be great for office use. After returning the drive to WiebeTech, I was contacted by the company about a new array that could provide the same speedy RAID features in a much more portable format. That array, from WiebeTech's parent company CRU-DataPort, is called the ToughTech Duo QR, and it uses two 2.5" notebook hard drives in a solid aluminum shell in either a RAID 0 (striped) or RAID 1 (mirrored) configuration. Like its big brother the RTX220-QR, the ToughTech Duo QR is built to take a beating. The array isn't exactly lightweight at 1 lb., 12 oz., but it is tiny enough to fit in a briefcase or backpack for travel. How tiny? The array is 3.5" deep by 6.26" wide by 1.34" high. Inside the box are two 2.5" notebook drives (in this case, two 750 GB 7200 RPM drives) that are in easily removable trays. There's a small metal plastic stand included for holding the array vertically next to a computer. No tools are required to remove the drives, and the company provides succinct instructions on the packaging about how to use this feature to create an offsite backup disk using RAID 1. You just power down the drive, pop open the drive tray, take one drive out and replace it with another identical drive, then close the tray, power back up, and rebuild the RAID array. Stash the removed drive in a safe place, and you still have a mirrored 750 GB drive that you can carry with you. %Gallery-119467%
