Mac Mini RAID Desktop and Rackmount Workstations by JMR

JMR Electronics, Inc. announced the availability of its latest Thunderbolt certified desktop and rackmount workstation for the Apple Mac mini.

Lightning model LTNG-XD-8-MMDT front and rear

The Lightning model LTNG-XD-8-MMDT is a desktop/DI cart complete workstation. The Mac mini installs via an slide-in sled from the rear, and the Lightning desktop provides front-panel USB-3, audio I-O and media card reader, while the rear panel provides all other Mac connections. An internal Thunderbolt controller and two-slot PCIe (x8 full-height slots) expander with an internal 6Gb SAS RAID controller are standard, as well as eight 3.5″ hot-swappable disk drive bays to provide up to 64TB of native disk storage capacity (RAID-0/1/4/5/6/40/50/60).

The desktop/cart unit will have an optional 9″ LCD flip-up monitor (available in late November) which connects to the Mac mini and may be added or removed in the field without tools. For ingest and dailies, the Lightning desktop is portable and quiet in operation, cooled by a whisper quiet, low-speed centrifugal blower in a removable module. The unit also has an locking, ventilated and hinged front door to prevent accidental disk drive removal or theft, and a Kensington lock slot.

Measuring 7″Hx11″Wx16″D, it is portable. MSRP for the unit starts at $3,499, including internal ExpressSAS RAID controller.

Lightning model LTNG-XD-8-MM2U front and rear

The Lightning model LTNG-XD-8-MM2U is a 2U rack mount workstation suited for DI carts or machine room operations. The Mac mini installs after removing the slide-off top cover, and the Lightning rackmount provides front-panel I-O connections for USB-3, audio, GbE and HDMI, as well as a media card reader, while the rear panel provides all other Mac mini connections. The Mac mini’s on-off power switch is remotely operated from the front panel. An internal Thunderbolt controller and two-slot PCIe (x8 full-height slots) expander with an internal 6Gb SAS RAID controller are standard, as well as eight 2.5″ hot-swappable disk drive bays to provide up to 32TB of native SSD disk storage capacity (RAID-0/1/4/5/6/10/40/50/60). Five internal cooling fans keep everything cool, at very low noise levels; only 19″ deep to fit any mobile or stationary rack providing 20″ mounting depth. MSRP for the unit starts at $3,299, including internal ExpressSAS RAID controller.

Both of these products are Thunderbolt Certified after testing by the Intel-Apple Thunderbolt engineering group.

These products are available from the company’s webstore and authorized national resellers.

“Our newly released Lightning Desktop and Rackmount units for the Mac mini adds enhanced durability, RAID storage and I-O flexibility expansion for workflow applications ranging from DI carts to studio operations,” said Josef Rabinovitz, president and CEO, JMR. “Digital imaging technicians, cinematographers, and studio personnel are now able to have a completely self-contained desktop or rackmount workstation to utilize the full power of the Mac mini from on-site shoots to studio workflows, saving significant cost and time.“