Akasa Integral LAN
The Integral LAN comes in a box similar to that of that of the Integral eSATA. On the outside, the basic design is kept simple and only the model and feature imprints change. Inside the box you will find an external power supply, a USB cable, a LAN UTP cable, proper HDD mounting screws, a plastic transparent base for placing the enclosure vertically, a CD with drivers and a thick, detailed manual. Although the bundle is good, we had only but one complaint; the CD does not include Vista drivers and software, although you can download them for free from Akasa’s website.
The Integral LAN is identical to the Integral eSATA on the outside. The only difference is the color of the unit we received, since it is silver. It is exactly the same weight and size, symmetric and perfectly stackable as well. The same nickel framed black front and rear are used, as well as the blue LED logo at the front of the enclosure.
At the rear of the Integral LAN you will find three ports (USB, LAN and a power plug) and a simple on/off rocker switch. The Integral LAN opens up by removing two screws from the rear of the enclosure. You can install only 3.5” IDE drives in the Integral LAN, although you don’t have a LAN/USB switch, both connections will not work simultaneously. Connecting the USB cable will disable the LAN capability of the enclosure, but removing it will automatically restore the LAN as well. So if you have the Integral LAN connected to your router and connect the USB cable to a PC (for a large data transfer for example, as the USB connection is many times faster) the Integral LAN enclosure will switch to USB and the LAN connection will be disabled, but once you remove the cable it will instantly be enabled again and all of the PCs will automatically mount the drive.
