Exanet becomes the first clustered NAS vendor to offer an enterprise-class search engine.Clustered network application support storage software maker Exanet has announced the launch of what it calls the first enterprise-class search engine built expressly for clustered storage systems.
According to the June 26 announcement, ExaSearch is an enhanced search engine built atop open-source software, capable of searching multiple sources—including file servers, e-mail systems, groupware, databases and employee directories—across varying operating systems.
It can also process unstructured data and queries, and allow immediate access to newly generated content through real-time indexing, ensuring that users receive the most relevant and current results, Exanet CEO Rami Schwartz told eWEEK from his office in Raanana, Israel.
The product is designed to integrate with Exanets flagship ExaStore software, Schwartz said.
Read more here about Exanets clustered NAS manager.
"Exanet currently manages close to three petabytes of data globally," Schwartz told eWEEK. "For our customers, locating files with required information among the billions of files within their storage pool presents a real challenge. Its like looking for a needle in a haystack.
"Most search applications lack the capabilities of simple integration with storage systems and do not deliver results over multiple applications and multiple protocols in a fast and accurate manner," he added.
The name of the game is accessing the information you need quickly and precisely, said analyst Tony Asaro.
"Otherwise, you can easily be drowned by a sea of content. Or, conversely, you may not find the essential information that you need," Asaro said. "Federated search enables leaps in efficiency, since it creates commonality where none otherwise exists. It enables you to leverage all of your content independent of the various applications. The value of accessing information quickly and precisely should be self-evident."
Asaro said that, in the case of compliance, this kind of enterprise search capability could save users from hefty fines, if they cannot come up with the desired information in time for regulators.
Click here to read about IBMs partnership with Yahoo on enterprise search.
"It could provide evidence to support your case during litigation proceedings," Asaro said. "During a project, it could save you hours, days and perhaps weeks by providing you with the information you require. And search can also be used proactively to help you to research new product or service ideas and create businesses."
ExaSearch is available now. Pricing is based on the storage capacity purchased. For more information, see the Exanet Web site.
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