Silicon Image Processor Provides Content Security

By Janet Harris

Silicon Image Inc. has launched the SteelVine SiI5733 storage processor, which assures the security of content via automatic drive locking.

The product provides a cost-effective storage solution for manufacturers of PC motherboards, digital video recorders (DVRs) and HDTVs (high definition TVs). The SteelVine SiI5733 is scalable, reliable and secure.

In addition to automatic drive locking, the processor features drive cascading for dynamic capacity expansion, RAID 0, RAID 1 and two multi-RAID (redundant array of independent disks) modes, SAFE33 and SAFE50, without requiring any software, drivers or special user knowledge.

External hard drives are easy to steal or lose and the SiI5733 is the first storage processor to provide automatic drive locking which significantly reduces the risk of data theft from a misplaced drive by locking the drive to the host automatically. If the external drive is removed from the original host, it is inaccessible until re-connected to the same host.

There is no need to remember a password, as a unique hidden password is burned into each storage processor.

Patent-pending capacity expansion will allow more drives to be added when additional capacity is required.

The new SteelVine processors are expected to be available in March 2007 with volume pricing at less than US$5.00.