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Enterprise Storage Snapshots offers a weekly wrap-up of what’s going on in the storage industry.Here are our storage news highlights for the second week of March: MaXXan Systems debuts a pair of virtual tape systems, iQstor targets SMBs with its new iQ1200 SATA Storage System, LeftHand Networks launches a Windows Storage Server 2003-powered SAN Filer, Iron Mountain introduces a comprehensive e-mail management and compliance solution, and Kashya’s KBX4000 hits the reseller circuit.
MaXXan Debuts New Virtual Tape Systems
MaXXan Systems has unveiled a pair of virtual tape systems designed to increase the speed and reliability of existing third-party backup applications by using disks to emulate industry-standard tape libraries.
Built on the company’s Storage Application Network Engine (SANe) architecture, the SVT100 and SVT200 virtual tape systems can be deployed as disk-to-disk-to-tape (D2D2T) backup solutions that minimize the cost of enterprise storage by utilizing existing backup servers and software.
SVT100 Virtual Tape System
“MaXXan is offering a solution that is squarely at the intersection of two trends: movement of intelligence to the fabric and disk-to-disk backup and
restore,” says Arun Taneja, founder and consulting analyst of the Taneja Group. “There is no question in my mind that these trends are not passing fantasies or fads, but represent true value for the customer.”
MaXXan SVT200 Application Card
with MXV320 Switch
The SVT100 serves as a standalone system for mid-range environments or remote sites that lack the need for a complete switch solution, while the SVT200 application card integrates into MaXXan’s MXV320 Intelligent Application Switch for data center implementation. The MXV320 switch combines a scalable director-class switch with multiple storage applications – such as virtual tape – within the same platform, according to MaXXan.
Both the SVT100 and SVT200 are powered by FalconStor’s IPStor Virtual Tape Library software and integrate into the MaXXan Operating System (MOS) software.
The virtual tape appliances support a wide range of backup software applications, including CA Brightstor, Legato Networker, HP Data Protector, VERITAS BackupExec and NetBackup, Syncsort Backup Express, and Tivoli Storage Manager, and can be configured to emulate LTO, SDLT, and StorageTek 9840 tape drives, as well as libraries from ADIC, HP, IBM, and StorageTek.
The MaXXan SVT100 and SVT200 virtual tape systems are currently available through MaXXan-authorized resellers in the United States, Canada, Europe,
Taiwan, China, and South Korea, with MSRPs starting at $39,000 for the SVT100 and $34,000 for the SVT200. Optional software services can also be added to provide active/active clustering support and data replication support for high availability and disaster recovery solutions.
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- MaXXan Does Storage on Demand
- MaXXan Cruises into SAN Management Space
- FalconStor’s IPStor Embraces Windows Server 2003
iQstor Targets SMBs with Intelligent, Inexpensive SATA Storage System
With claims of being first to market in two distinct areas, iQstor is hoping its new iQ1200 storage solution will appeal to the budgetary and technology needs of small and mid-size business (SMB) customers.
The first broken barrier involves cost, with the iQ1200 being the first 1TB storage solution on the market for under $10,000, according to the Newbury Park, Calif.-based firm. iQstor also claims its new storage solution is the first SATA product to feature embedded data services and SATA storage in a single 3U chassis.
iQ1200 Storage System
The iQ1200 solution is a self-contained storage system that combines enterprise-level features with SATA drives to “deliver efficient storage growth, scalability, data protection, storage automation, and simplicity — at a price point that’s dramatically less than comparable Fibre Channel solutions,” according to iQstor.
Each iQ1200 supports up to fifteen Serial ATA disk drives, providing a maximum total storage capacity of 3.75TB. The appliance features four front-end FC ports and up to 4GB of cache memory per storage system, and supports RAID levels 0, 1, 3, 5, and 1+0 for data protection.
The storage system includes iQstor’s SAN Manager, a centralized policy-based tool that allows administrators to dynamically configure and manage a SAN, and an array of embedded data services software for addressing specific business requirements.
The iQ1200’s data management services include: Storage Virtualization Services (SVS), for consolidating storage resources and provisioning storage on demand; Managed Snapshot Services (MSS), for quick and easy virtual duplication of critical data with non-disruptive snapshots; Volume Copy Services (VCS), for providing a comprehensive replication solution; Intelligent Capacity Management Services (ICM), for continuous monitoring of storage consumption and intelligent policy-based management; and Remote Replication Services (RRS), for delivering disaster recovery capabilities to SMBs.
iQstor’s iQ1200 storage system is now available through the company’s network of domestic and international business partners, with estimated end user pricing starting at $9,995 for an entry level 1.2TB configuration with virtualization software. A near-line storage solution with 3.75TB and virtualization software is priced at $16,576, while a configuration with 3.75TB, SAN Manager, and data services software suite is available from iQstor for $33,572.
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Additional Briefs for 3/12/04 on Page 2:
LeftHand Launches Windows Storage Server 2003-Powered SAN Filer
Iron Mountain Introduces Comprehensive E-Mail Management and Compliance Solution
Kashya’s KBX4000 Hits the Reseller Circuit
Additional Briefs for 3/12/04 on Page 1:
MaXXan Debuts New Virtual Tape SystemsiQstor Targets SMBs with Intelligent, Inexpensive SATA Storage System
LeftHand Launches Windows Storage Server 2003-Powered SAN Filer
LeftHand Networks’ new SAN Filer 100 is designed to seamlessly integrate file services into the LeftHand SAN solution, simplifying storage management and lowering the total cost of ownership for customers, according to the Boulder, Colo.-based company.
LeftHand SAN Filer 100
Built on Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003, which LeftHand licenses from Microsoft, the SAN Filer 100 offers file and print services support for Microsoft Windows (SMB/CIFS), Unix/Linux (NFS), Apple (AppleTalk), HTTP, and Novell (NetWare) environments.
“Customers need the ability to support both the block-level requirements of many databases and applications, as well as file services, with the same storage solution,” says Tom Major, vice president of marketing at LeftHand. “By purchasing the SAN Filer along with the LeftHand SAN, customers can
simplify their environment and take advantage of the high availability, scalability, and manageability of the LeftHand SAN for both their block and
file data.”
The SAN Filer is available immediately, with pricing starting at $7,900. Pricing for the LeftHand SAN, which consists of SAN/iQ software and Network Storage Module (NSM) hardware, starts under $20,000. Additional information is available from the LeftHand Networks website.
Iron Mountain Introduces Comprehensive E-Mail Management and Compliance Solution
Iron Mountain used this week’s AIIM 2004 Conference and Expo as a forum for launching its new Enterprise E-Mail Management service for managing e-mail and addressing compliance requirements. The new solution supports Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes/Domino — as well as Instant Messaging — and augments the Boston, Mass.-based firm’s existing E-mail Archiving service to help reduce customers’ overall e-mail management and storage costs.
The service utilizes Legato’s EmailXtender technology to analyze, capture, and forward specific mail server content to Iron Mountain’s Web-based Digital Archive service, where it is indexed and securely stored. While records are stored off site in Iron Mountain’s secure data center, end users can use their local Outlook or Notes Mail Client applications to immediately recall specific items.
“Courts and regulatory agencies agree that electronic records are accorded the same legal rights as paper records and are subject to the same retention
requirements, and they are equally discoverable in cases of litigation and equally subject to government audit,” says Pete Delle Donne, President of Iron Mountain Enterprise Solutions and Services division.
“At the end of the day,” Donne continues, “Iron Mountain’s Enterprise E-Mail Management service helps businesses meet these retention requirements, mitigate litigation discovery risks and expense, and reduce the cost of managing ever-increasing volumes of e-mail.”
Additional information is available from the Iron Mountain website.
Kashya’s KBX4000 Hits the Reseller Circuit
Kashya’s KBX4000, initially released last October, is now
shipping in volume to the company’s K-Partner VAR (value-added reseller) channel.
Kashya also announced this week that five new members have joined the K-Partner program: Source Enterprise Consulting, Cornerstone Systems, VeriStor
Systems, Consilant, and Computer Resolutions. Additional K-Partner companies include Computacenter, SANZ, and RedBridge Solutions, Inc.
“Customers now have access to the advanced replication functionality of the KBX4000 through the industry’s premier VARs, resulting in a powerful combination of best-of-breed technology and worldwide access to unparalleled expertise and resources,” says Ken Epstein, VP of Sales at Kashya.
“The KBX4000 is one of the most exciting storage technologies we have seen in some time,” says Steve Bishop, VP of Technology at storage integrator
VeriStor Systems. “This solution makes enterprise-class replication a reality for organizations that have found previously available offerings too intrusive, complicated, or expensive. It fills a huge need and the response from our customers has been fantastic.”
Pricing for the KBX4000 starts at about $25,000 per site, while Kashya reports a competitive system from EMC would cost about $200,000 for a 0.5 terabyte system — SRDF/TimeFinder software for about $65,000, and another $120,000 – $150,000 for the necessary hardware. Kashya also claims its appliance doesn’t require additional hardware until about 10-12 terabytes, at which point the KBX4000 costs about $185,000, compared to $445,000 for an EMC system.
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