NetApp, which has been relatively quiet on the new-products front while undergoing a recent big change in its top-level administration, announced June 23 that it is bringing high-end flash capabilities into storage systems aimed at medium-size and smaller IT systems.
The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based storage and data protection provider, which recently named Executive Vice President George Kurian as its new CEO to replace Tom Georgens, launched a series of four all-flash AFF8000 series arrays that can move data from flash to disk to cloud on demand. The system ships with NetApp Data ONTAP FlashEssentials, designed specifically to increase flash performance and efficiency.
The solid-state arrays are primarily designed for high-transactional workloads but can be used for most enterprise data storage requirements.
Key features that one would normally find only in high-end systems include:
—Built-in data protection, multiprotocol support, scale-out performance and fast data movement from flash to disk to cloud.
—Quality of service, multi-tenancy and NetApp’s best-in-class application integration for simplified configuration and management of SQL and Oracle databases, virtualized servers and VDI workloads.
—FlashEssentials: The all-flash FAS incorporates software optimizations derived from NetApp’s advanced technology development lab. These innovations include a flash-optimized read data path, inline compression and zero-based inline deduplication. FlashEssentials is included in clustered Data ONTAP, the foundation for Data Fabric.
—NetApp OnCommand Performance Manager 2.0: This new release gives users a comprehensive dashboard to automatically evaluate performance and troubleshoot issues to maintain optimal system operation.
—Workload Wizard: This provides automated setup for Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server installations to simplify storage settings and host server connection setup.
NetApp also announced new installation and extended support offers for the AFF8000 series. Customers can acquire the new systems starting at $25,000. The company is providing risk-free options for customers to evaluate how the all-flash packages work with individual systems and apps; these are available through NetApp and partners.
The four AFF8000 models became available June 23 and can be ordered as stand-alone systems and in FlexPod converged infrastructure solutions with Cisco Systems networking. Professional services, delivered by NetApp or its partners, help users identify those workloads that are best served by all-flash systems.