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Hitachi Data Systems on Sept. 25 launched a new unified network storage software package for small and midrange businesses that aims to provide enterprise-quality virtualization for all data types.
The Hitachi Unified Storage VM storage software package — which not only works with all HDS hardware but also with storage arrays from other manufacturers — encompasses external virtualized capacity of up to 64PB and consolidates block, file and object data natively onto a single platform for secure data services.
Bringing Virtual Storage Into a ‘Net New Product’
“What we’re doing is bringing the system software from our virtual storage platform into a net new product targeted at small and medium-size enterprises,” Mike Nalls, a senior product marketing manager at HDS, told eWEEK. “The needs of a small to medium-size business are similar to a large global multinational, only their capacity requirements may be more modest.”
A longtime frustration for storage administrators at SMBs has been a lack of scalable, agile storage systems without capital costs that go through the roof. IT managers with multiple duties have always struggled with the same demands as large enterprises, only with even tighter budgets, Nalls said.
Smaller enterprises need storage systems that consolidate and simplify data management yet have good performance and reliability and improved serviceability. Until now, Nalls said, small and medium enterprises have been forced to accept trade-offs, such as compromising reliability and more effective virtualization of their data in lieu of limited budgets.
HDS is offering volume capacity with this new system. The HUS VN can hold up to 1,152 drives in one frame; as a comparison, IBM’s XIV system holds 180 drives, Nalls said.
Key features of the HUS VM include the following, according to HDS:
- Consolidates block, file and object data natively onto a single platform for fast delivery of secure data services;
- Unified platform allows users in different departments to share resources for various applications to lower capital investment and lower operation cost;
- Hitachi Command Suite unified management reduces the time required to administer storage for multiple applications;
- Supports solid-state drive options now and will extend the recently announced HDS flash strategy with integrated flash devices based on the new Hitachi flash memory controller unveiled in August;
- Enables up to 40 percent lower environmental cost, due to power efficiency and space-saving design.
Built From the Ground Up for Midrange Market
“One of the key advantages of HUS VM — beyond being unified — is its virtualization capabilities,” said 451 Research Senior Storage Analyst Henry Baltazar. “HDS built this product from the ground up to address specific customer requirements around virtualization and scale, consolidating the storage infrastructure under a single management framework at a lower price point.
“With this move, HDS is enabling users to start reducing their licensing fees on older storage systems. Therefore, as an aggressive move against NetApp and EMC, this new product makes perfect sense for HDS.”
HDS also is extending its 100 percent data availability guarantee for the new system, something that no other competitor has yet offered to midrange-size businesses, Nalls said. The new HUS VM system is available now. Go here to see a data sheet of more information, including pricing.