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DataCore Software, aiming to join the hot “converged infrastructure” data center trend, has updated its SANsymphony-V network-attached storage platform to satisfy an enterprise’s evolving NAS requirements in addition to meeting its SAN needs.
The storage virtualization software maker made the announcement March 21 on the first day of the Microsoft Management Summit 2011 in Las Vegas.
DataCore’s new SANsymphony-V storage virtualization software now employs standard Windows servers using off-the-shelf disks to provide a high level of shared file services at a lower price point, DataCore vice president of product management John Bocskor said.
Moreover, these systems can now scale to performance levels once achieved only by “enterprise” NAS hardware, Bocskor said.
“Enterprise NAS hardware (High Performance, Highly Available, Highly Scalable) systems such as NetApp filers and EMC Isilon have been successful in larger data centers, but due to their very expensive price points are not able to meet the needs of small and mid-size businesses,” Bocskor said.
“Unlike other attempts at converged SAN/NAS, the DataCore approach optimizes each layer for what it does best, yet both are managed from the familiar Windows Server administration console via a user-friendly interface with self-guided wizards,” Bocskor said.
Key Features in New Package
Key features in the updated SANsymphony-V version include:
- It overcomes common shared-storage shortcomings and makes it feasible to employ widely used NAS services already built into the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 platform.
- Feature set can be easily configured to enhance Windows Server services. The combination speeds up performance and adds a new level of fault tolerance to clustered NFS and common Internet file system (CIFS) sharing.
- The new solution is suited for IT organizations that prefer to store their VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V and Citrix XenDesktop virtual machine images under NFS or CIFS. Many users are eager to eliminate bottlenecks and disruptions in their underlying storage systems but not willing to spend a lot of money doing it.
“SANsymphony-V can be easily configured to significantly accelerate performance and add a new level of data protection to Microsoft’s Clustered File Shares,” said Jeff Boles, senior analyst and director of validation services at the Taneja Group.
“This resulting combination of SANsymphony-V and Microsoft is additive; it is simple to set up, requires no additional purchases, and best of all it allows organizations to meet both their NAS and SAN requirements from one virtual infrastructure.”