MPC Launches 2U SAN Device

MPC Computers is adding a 2U iSCSI SAN device to its lineup of DataFrame storage offerings.

MPC on April 4 rolled out the DataFrame 240 iSCSI storage area network, a 2U rack system that supports 12 hot-swappable 250GB Serial ATA II hard drives and offers up to 6TB of storage per enclosure.

Officials with MPC, of Nampa, Idaho, said the new system complements the current 1U DataFrame 140 and 3U DataFrame 440 storage devices the company already sells, and gives users a wider range of options.

MPC—a subsidiary of Greenwood, Colo.-based Hyperspace Communications—also has built a number of high-reliability features into the 240, including hot-swappable and redundant hard drives and 500-watt power supplies, and redundant disk on module.

Users also can choose between iSCSI and Fibre Channel network connections, officials said.

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In addition, like with the other DataFrame systems, the 240 is modular in design, allowing users to scale functionality and capacity by adding more modules, they said.

Additional features include an interface, through LetHand Networks SAN/iQ management software, and for provisioning, and Storage Over-Subscription, which alerts the user when the DataFrame 240 becomes tight on physical disk space and allows the user to add more capacity to the SAN without interruption.

Scalability software allows for automated clustering and virtualization among 240 machines, Automated Snapshot for instant backup, and a data protection capability that lets users back up data to another 240 that are set apart from the network.

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