Johannesburg, 21 Aug 2012
With storage capacity requirements increasing at exponential rates, Flash memory continues to gain popularity as a powerful complement to traditional hard disk storage. Its ability to dramatically break through the input/output latency barrier - a key inhibitor to fast and scalable applications - makes an efficient and flexible Flash strategy a critical part of an agile data infrastructure. From their server to their back-end storage, cost- and performance-conscious system architects must balance how Flash is used within their organisations to maximise application performance, minimise rising IT costs, preserve high availability, protect data and simplify management.
Today, NetApp (NetApp: NTAP) extended its Virtual Storage Tiering (VST) strategy by introducing NetApp Flash Accel, expanded its Technology Alliance Program to include server caching hardware and software partners, and unveiled a reseller relationship with Fusion-io. This comprehensive strategy update to VST enables end-to-end storage management for customers with physical and virtualised environments, from the user-accessible Flash memory on the server to the cost-effective hard disk storage on the back end. Flash Accel will be on display at the NetApp booth, #1402, at VMworld San Francisco, from 26 to 30 August.
VST also creates new opportunities for partners to work with NetApp to develop innovative technologies that integrate closely with the capabilities of Data ONTAP software, NetApp's leading storage management operating system. Through Data ONTAP and other VST innovations, such as NetApp Flash Cache and NetApp Flash Pool, IT administrators can now manage server-level, controller-level and disk-level Flash memory and back-end hard disk storage usage within a single data management infrastructure. This lets them meet service levels and gain greater storage efficiencies by enabling the right storage media to be used at the right time for the right data.
NetApp Flash Accel can accelerate application performance by up to 90% by turning server Flash into "hot" data storage
NetApp Flash Accel can speed application performance by turning server-side Flash into a cache for storing "hot", frequently accessed data. NetApp testing shows that by storing up to 2TB of hot data in server Flash memory, application and server latency can be reduced by up to 90%[1] and IOPS are increased by 80%. And, by off-loading "hot" IOPS at the server, Flash Accel helps reduce demand on back-end FAS storage.
As part of a comprehensive Virtual Storage Tiering strategy, server caching delivers:
* Application and server performance acceleration: Accelerates enterprise applications and server performance by as much as 90% by deploying server cache on virtual machines.
* Highest levels of data integrity and reliability: Co-ordinates with Data ONTAP back-end platforms so that a persistent copy of all data is always stored on the back-end Data ONTAP platform, benefiting from the high availability and data protection of Data ONTAP; relies on the high availability and data protection of Data ONTAP.
* Coherency and integration with Data ONTAP: End-to-end data coherency issues are identified and resolved, enabling deployment of high-confidence solutions.
* Broad use case coverage: Customers can deploy solutions over a wide range of applications and operating environments using NetApp validated partner solutions.
* Maximum flexibility: NetApp validated solutions provide maximum flexibility, allowing customers to deploy any server caching solutions (software and hardware) that have been validated by NetApp.
In addition to the above, Flash Accel has these key features:
* Flexibility at the server level: Provides the freedom to choose any server PCI-e flash card or SSD flash device.
* End-to-end intelligent data coherency: Addresses data coherency issues that can cause data corruption using automated and efficient data coherency detection and correction software technology.
* Cache persistency and durability: Preserves cache content consistently with applications in the event of server and VM reboot and crashes so that cache restarts in a warm state; enables consistently high performance.
NetApp expands alliance partner ecosystem to include server-caching partners
Reinforcing its commitment to enabling an open partner ecosystem for intelligent caching, NetApp is expanding its Alliance Partner Program to embrace hardware and software server-caching partners looking to develop solutions with NetApp. Partners can submit and qualify server-caching solutions as "NetApp validated" in accordance with established criteria for coherence and integration with Data ONTAP and Flash Accel. Among the first partners to submit server-caching solutions for qualification are Fusion-io, LSI, Micron, SanDisk Enterprise Storage Solutions, STEC and Virident.
NetApp, together with its partners, will provide the widest coverage for its customers' infrastructures as they deploy server-side caching to deliver increased ROI. This will include the broadest support for different hypervisors and operating systems. NetApp-validated solutions will enable quick deployment of partner-specific innovations in the rapidly evolving server Flash and caching market.
NetApp signs technology reseller agreement with Fusion-io
As part of its commitment to providing customers with a single source for Virtual Storage Tier technologies, NetApp has entered into a resale agreement with Fusion-io (NYSE: FIO), a leader in Flash memory solutions. NetApp will resell Fusion-io ioMemory platform products and two server caching software products: ioTurbine for virtualised environments and Direct Cache for non-virtualised environments.
Revlon looks to NetApp Flash Accel to run applications at peak performance
In recent years, global cosmetics company Revlon has undergone a remarkable IT transformation: a move to a completely virtualised environment that enables Revlon IT to deliver more services faster, better and cheaper. It now has more than 530 applications running on its private cloud, which supports more than 15 000 automated application moves a month and 14 000 transactions a second. To keep its applications running at peak performance, Revlon requires rapid access to data across the storage area network. In collaboration with NetApp, Revlon has been testing Flash Accel to reduce latency, improve server and storage performance, and simplify storage management.
"Revlon and NetApp share the vision that storage is a critical foundation for a virtualised agile data infrastructure," said David Giambruno, senior vice-president and chief information officer, Revlon. "Currently, Revlon has more than 530 and counting business-critical applications, including SAP, multiple enterprise databases, multiple ERP and MRP systems, financials, warehouse management, Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft SharePoint, and virtual desktops, running on VMware virtual machines. To ensure that these applications run at peak performance requires an approach to storage that minimises the latency between operations. We've been testing Flash Accel from NetApp and have already seen considerable efficiency and performance gains from our applications that for our business means our scientists and marketers have greater access to the data that drives the creation and sales of our glamorous products."
Availability:
Flash Accel will be available in December 2012. Fusion-io products being resold by NetApp are available now.
Additional resources:
* Watch a video on the benefits of NetApp Flash Accel:
http://www.netapp.com/us/library/videos.html?videoId=1788244667001
* Follow NetApp on Twitter: www.twitter.com/NetApp
* Get the latest on NetApp culture: www.facebook.com/NetAppCulture
* Join NetApp on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NetApp
* View NetApp videos on YouTube: www.youtube.com/NetAppTV
* Connect with NetApp on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=111681
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