New storage solutions bring open storage area networks closer to reality

Compaq in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Has announced the release of a range of innovative software solutions that enhance the ability of enterprises to efficiently manage their network storage configurations.

Besides bringing immediate benefits to customers, they take the market one step closer to the delivery of a comprehensive Open Storage Area Network (Open SAN). Moreover, they all improve the control and flexibility of SAN systems and further extend interoperability between different solutions.

Compaq`s new storage software solutions and supporting services are:

• .         Compaq SANworksTM Network View for mapping SAN topology and monitoring its availability by remote access;

• .         Compaq SANworksTM Storage Resource Manager v4.0 for automated management of storage resources across the Enterprise;

• .         Compaq SANworksTM Storage Resource Manager v4.0 Installation and Startup Service, providing customer assistance with the installation and the configuration of Storage Resource Manager v4.0; and

• .         Compaq SANworksTM Data Replication Manager (DRM) providing support for Novell Netware v5.1 and enabling remote disk mirroring that connects primary RAID systems to remote storage RAID systems.

Olaf Swantee, Director, Enterprise Storage, Compaq EMEA, said: "Compaq`s latest storage software solutions highlight Compaq`s commitment to innovation and open standards. Our new storage solutions enable customers to move ever closer to the operation of a true Open SAN. This momentum is needed to sustain the 40% growth rates Compaq`s storage business achieved in the first quarter of 2001 compared to the same period last year."

Compaq SANworksTM Network View

• .         Storage Area Network (SAN) management application provides an innovative graphical-overview of distributed SANs. The Compaq SANworksTM Network View software allows users to see and manage their Storage Area Network (SAN) configurations with the aid of automatic notification, leaving them to review their network`s status from their office, home, or while on the road.

• .         Compaq SANworksTM Network View delivers a viewing platform and device manager for people controlling SAN system availability and ongoing operations. Because it is an asynchronous solution, it allows server CPU cycles to be preserved for other mission-critical applications because it does not hog bandwidth.

• .         This innovation extends the boundaries of SAN management in terms of technology and price. For instance, it is available for between $10 000 and $50 000 depending on the size and complexity of the SAN. This cost-effective solution is part of a growing family of SAN Management applications that come together to form the Compaq SANworks Open SAN Manager solutions.

Compaq SANworksTM Storage Resource Manager v4.0 Enterprise Edition and Installation and Start-up Edition

• .         The new addition of Compaq SANworksTM Storage Resource Manager v4.0 Enterprise Edition enhances the availability of existing storage solutions. It is a Web-based software product designed to improve the efficiency of automated monitoring of networked storage configurations. It also provides improved tools for the analysis of events and for determining the status of storage capacity on a Storage Area Network (SAN). This new version works with Compaq RAID and Compaq SAN switches, or with Brocade SAN switches.

Open standards are important to Compaq and this upgrade is further proof of Compaq`s commitment to open standards. It supports agents for Windows NT, Windows 2000, Compaq Tru64 Unix, Novell NetWare, Compaq OpenVMS, Sun Solaris, HP-UX, IBM AIX, and Red Hat Linux environments.

SANworks Storage Resource Manager also includes Web-based monitoring, reporting and alerting tools for capacity management, planning and for managing the consumption of enterprise-wide storage resources. It allows for customised scans and is organised according to partition and computer groups which are easily scheduled to minimise network traffic congestion.

An installation and start-up service for the SANworks Open SAN Manager is also available. This service will dramatically reduce implementation risks, resulting in enhanced IT systems availability and predictability. It also provides customers with assistance with the installation and configuration of SANworks. It protects the customer`s investment while giving him an immediate competitive advantage.

Compaq SANworksTM Data Replication Manager (DRM) support for Novell Netware v5.1 Compaq SANworksTM Data Replication Manager (DRM) provides remote disk mirroring by connecting primary RAID systems to remote storage RAID systems.

With this system, data is replicated either synchronously or asynchronously every time a transaction occurs. In the event of a disaster at a primary site, data is safely stored on the remote storage system and is available for immediate connection to an alternate host.

This improved solution based on open standards brings Compaq one-step closer to delivering an Open SAN solution. With its support for Novell Netware v5.1, DRM is a SAN-based disaster tolerant solution that helps businesses reduce the high cost of network downtime. This innovative enhancement introduces greater product enrichment to already highly available storage systems.