Need to copy a hard drive into three other hard drives at once? You now can -- and without using the resources of a separate computer.

Lockbourne, Ohio-based StarTech.com, which specializes in hard-to-find items, can do that with its newest product. It has a long name -- USB 3.0/eSATA to SATA Standalone 1:3 Hard Drive Duplicator Dock -- but those who need this type of function don't care how long the name is.

The HDD Duplicator Dock (View image) enables users to perform 1:3 sector-by-sector duplication from a single SATA hard drive onto three others simultaneously, without having to connect the dock to a host computer. Doesn't matter if they're HDDs or SSDs, either. The Duplicator Dock also includes a SATA-to-IDE adapter, which provides the option of connecting an IDE hard drive in one of the SATA slots.

So there are a few ways to do the duplication duty.

"IT professionals are always looking for ways to make their jobs more efficient, and this new multi-drive duplicator allows them to accomplish just that," StarTech.com Senior Product Manager Carey Cline said. "The ability to perform a sector-by-sector duplication on up to three drives simultaneously frees up the user's time to perform other functions while the back-ups are created in the background. The fact it acts as a standalone unit also means it doesn't use up resources on their computer system."

The dock can also be used as an external four-bay hard drive dock, connected through either USB 3.0 or eSATA, thus providing a way to add and remove bare external hard drives from an IT system.

Other features include:
--Up to 72 MBps data transfer rates between drives, when used for hard drive duplication
--Up to 5Gbps or 3Gbps data transfer rates (connected through USB 3.0 or eSATA, respectively), when utilized as an external drive docking station
--Secure Erase feature simplifies erasing/wiping drive contents for further cloning use or disposal of a hard drive
--Dual 60mm cooling fans mounted beneath the drives help to keep docked hard drives at optimal operating temperatures
--Supports 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch form-factor hard drives (HDDs) or solid-state drives (SSDs)
--Integrated LCD displays duplication progress and duplicator options menu
--Included SATA to IDE adapter enables users to dock an IDE hard drive in place of a SATA hard drive in one of the four bays, making it possible to copy the contents of an IDE hard drive onto three SATA drives where necessary, when IDE drive is used in source slot

The Duplicator Dock (SKU: SATDOCK4U3RE) is available at resellers that include CDW, Newegg.com, Amazon.com, PC Connection and Insight and will also be distributed by Ingram Micro, Tech Data, D&H and SYNNEX. It is priced at $500.