This post was written by Kim Windmiller
Virtual Iron Software has launched a new training vignette to round out an already robust series of best practice videos. “Management Server Deployment Best Practices” is the latest in a series of free and easy videos that demonstrate the basics of preparing and installing a Virtual Iron environment; creating and configuring virtual data centers and virtual servers; and testing Virtual Iron’s advanced feature set. The vignettes, emphasizing step-by-step procedures while providing underlying concepts, offer instruction on iSCSI basics, VLANs, PlateSpin P2V conversion, deployment strategies for high availability, along with other complex topics.
NEC has added server virtualization and iSCSI capabilities to its high-availability storage protection software. The company’s ExpressCluster family of high-availability clustering software comes in three versions: ExpressCluster SAN for shared data networks, ExpressCluster LAN for stand-alone mission-critical servers not attached to a SAN, and ExpressCluster WAN with synchronous data mirroring for between remote sites for disaster recovery. ExpressCluster SAN now supports SANs built using servers virtualized with the three leading hypervisor-based virtualization applications, ESX from VMware, XenServer from Citrix Systems and Hyper-V from Microsoft Inc.
Arista Networks announced interoperability with host adapters from leading vendors: Chelsio Communications, Intel, Mellanox Technologies, Myricom, Neterion, NetXen, and ServerEngines. Arista will be showcasing an end-to-end 10GbE ecosystem at booth # 2009. The combination of the Arista 7100 Series switches and Network Interface Cards (NICs) from these vendors enables scalable, low-latency interconnects between computational machines at uncompromised ten gigabit performance. The ServerEngines’ Validation Lab uses the Arista 7124S 24 port 10 Gigabit Ethernet switch. During months of continuous 10 GbE full line-rate testing with network and iSCSI storage traffic, the Arista switch has proven to be extremely reliable.
ThinkCP(TM) Technologies has launched Think ViPoR Storage 10G-Extreme SAN Solutions, providing customers with the latest in storage technologies, evolutionary architecture, easy manageability, an outstanding cost-to-performance ratio and low total cost of ownership (TCO). The fully integrated and tested core platforms provide between 1 to 4 AMD Opteron Quad-Core Processors, 12 to 48 Terabytes of SAS or SATA II iSCSI SAN or NAS storage and an optional 10Gig-E NPU multi-path NIC. The new series is designed for all customers ranging from small businesses with rigorous I.T. requirements through departmental and large enterprise customers.
RELDATA has announced the launch of a high performance 9240 with simplified management capabilities. The 9240 has up to 12TB of integrated storage in a single compact 2U appliance, expandable to 120TB per RAID controller. The 10GbE 9240 system provides higher performance and scalability, greatly increasing the number of servers and virtual machines supported. A RELDATA 10GbE iSCSI SAN with SAS disks is a more powerful and economical than 4GB/8GB Fibre Channel SAN.
Open-E Inc., a leading developer of storage management software, announced recently that its flagship Data Storage Server (DSS) IP-Storage operating software has now been certified to work with VMware ESX Server 3.5. Open-E’s DSS is an all-in-one, fourth generation operating system software solution for centralized IP-storage management, combining full NAS and iSCSI SAN functionality. Seamless integration of Open-E with the VMware ESX Server delivers significant ease of use, provides for consolidation of storage resources and enables organizations to automate and simplify their data management environment across both physical and virtual environments.
Dell Inc. has gained share in iSCSI-based SANs to take the number one position with more than twice the revenue of the next leading vendor. This growth demonstrates strong momentum in all segments of Dell’s worldwide storage business. Darren Thomas, vice president and general manager of Dell Enterprise Storage said
US-based Fusionstor has launched its Cosmic iSCSI system in India. In Cosmic iSCSI, the iSCSI Target Modules (ITMs) can be managed as local hard drives by the administrator. Amit Pipada, CEO, Fustionstor, has stated that the software lowers the total cost of ownership (TCO) as well as the risk for customers as they expand their storage capacity. It will provide rapid and efficient transfer of block-level I/O data.