Sun Microsystems` recently announced Intelligent Storage Network will allow enterprises to reach new levels of productivity with data warehouses and multi-platform storage environments by revolutionising multi-platform storage environments, The Intelligent Storage Network concept follows naturally from Sun`s existing expertise in network computing. Network managers will be able to build storage networks using interchangeable building-block components, offering end users ubiquitous access to multi-platform information via Java-based web interfaces. Data warehouses will load in a fraction of the current required time. In addition, substantial costs savings will be possible with the consolidation of storage systems into a single, universally manageable, entity. Sun has already delivered the first products to facilitate the creation of Intelligent Storage Networks. The new StorEdge A7000 Intelligent Storage Server system is the industry`s first data centre-class storage device with the built-in intelligence to run applications traditionally supported on the compute server. In keeping with Sun`s commitment to open systems, the A7000 is supported on heterogeneous platforms including the Solaris operating environment, S/390 mainframes, and other Unix and NT servers. Unlike competing products that rely on traditional fixed-function controllers, the Sun StorEdge A7000 Intelligent Storage Server system houses two quad-processor Unix computers, which enable customers to implement storage applications -- such as information sharing, remote data copy, and backup -- at the storage level. This minimise the load on the host computer and provides users with a high level of mission-critical reliability, availability and serviceability through a mix of RAID levels 1, 0+1, and 5. The StorEdge A7000 offers mirrored NVRAM cache, which ensures customers will always have access to cached data, even in the event that one copy is lost or corrupted. The Sun StorEdge A7000 product also provides open mainframe backup and restore capabilities. This feature enables users with any existing mainframe-based backup/restore utilities and tape subsystems to perform volume-level backups on open systems, leveraging robust mainframe-class backup infrastructures throughout their enterprise. The A7000 currently supports up to 32 SCSI, Block Mux and/or ESCON host connections, with Fibre Channel connectivity slated for future versions. The system has a 2.9 terabyte capacity with up to four gigabytes mirrored, non-volatile cache, and provides exceptional mainframe-class reliability and availability. Extending the functionality of the A7000, Sun`s new StorEdge DataShare software enables true information sharing among mainframes, Solaris, other UNIX servers and NT systems simultaneously-unlike traditional methods which first require data to be copied and transferred-saving data centre managers time and money. In addition, direct information sharing reduces processing cycles, easing the load on both mainframes and open systems, simplifying infrastructure management, and reducing operational costs. Sun, already the number one storage vendor in the Unix industry and a leader in high-end storage solutions, intends to assume a leadership role in the heterogeneous storage market as well. This market, current valued at $28 billion, is expected to grow to more than $35 billion by 2001. The A7000 and DataShare are the cornerstones in the implementation of Sun`s Intelligent Storage Network architecture. In addition, Sun is offering consulting and integration services to assist companies in deploying Intelligent Storage Networks to provide the maximum possible return from their storage investment.
Share
