News

Networking hardware

May 06, 2007 06 May'07
Intransa launches 10 GigE IP SAN

Intransa is now shipping a standalone 10 GigE system, but it may take a while for applications and operating systems to be ready for the big pipe.
April 24, 2007 24 Apr'07
Scaling storage networks demands careful consideration

In the Fibre Channel world, scaling often means adding more and faster switch ports to extend the fabric's bandwidth and connectivity. But IP storage (mainly iSCSI) is a growing area of SAN expansion, using ubiquitous Ethernet network technology to ...
April 23, 2007 23 Apr'07
Weekly compilation of storage news:Dell LTO-4 drive, new Sun array

Dell is first out of the gate with the new LTO-4 drive, which offers native encryption; Sun unveils new array and deepens its relationship with FalconStor.
April 17, 2007 17 Apr'07
Storage consolidation: Disks and disk subsystems overview

Any storage consolidation effort must involve a serious consideration of disk subsystems and the specific disk types that those systems will contain

April 16, 2007 16 Apr'07
Storage consolidation: Weighing the pros and cons

Storage consolidation holds out the promise of more efficient storage management. But pitfalls include slower network performance and a difficult data migration process.
April 10, 2007 10 Apr'07
Capacity planning software specifications

Gauging storage needs over time is one of the biggest challenges faced by IT administrators, and a new generation of capacity planning tools is emerging to help forecast growth and utilisation of storage resources.
April 10, 2007 10 Apr'07
Emulex stands alone with FC-SATA switch

Emulex has released an embedded storage switch based on the newly approved FC-SATA standard, but it's unclear if any other companies in the industry are on the bandwagon.
April 09, 2007 09 Apr'07
HP renews SMB storage campaign

With the launch of the new All-in-One 1200 and the shifting of executives to a new SMB business unit, HP is focused on its low-end products in an effort to boost growth.
April 05, 2007 05 Apr'07
Goldman Sachs: Interest in NetApp SAN products wanes

A survey by the investment firm shows enterprise storage buyers had a declining interest in NetApp SAN products over the last year.
April 04, 2007 04 Apr'07
Storage vendors propose FC over Ethernet standard

A group of nine storage vendors led by Emulex is proposing a Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) standard .

March 28, 2007 28 Mar'07
Enterprise switch upgrade specifications

Product snapshots highlighting key specifications for a cross section of popular enterprise-class switch products.
March 22, 2007 22 Mar'07
Midrange storage array specifications

Product snapshots highlighting key specifications for a cross section of midrange storage array products.
March 04, 2007 04 Mar'07
NetApp stokes midrange fires with new array

The FAS 3040 is a scaled down version of the 64-bit 3070 architecture; NetApp officials say more moves downmarket will follow.
March 04, 2007 04 Mar'07
Buzz builds around data reduction for primary storage

Analysts predict that in-band compression offerings from StoreWiz, newly updated this week, are the first step toward a new wave of primary storage deduplication products.
March 01, 2007 01 Mar'07
Linksys, Gateway launch low-end NAS

Cisco subsidiary Linksys and PC maker Gateway launch new NAS products for small businesses and consumers.
February 27, 2007 27 Feb'07
High-end storage array specifications

The key specifications for a cross section of popular high-end disk storage array products.
February 25, 2007 25 Feb'07
HP announces iSCSI VTL for SMBs

HP's new iSCSI VTL devices include automated backup capabilities for users with fewer than four servers.
February 22, 2007 22 Feb'07
Google offers 10 GB inbox

The search engine giant is offering an email application on a subscription basis with five times the storage capacity of the free version.
February 08, 2007 08 Feb'07
New storage IPOs report losses

Of the 2006 "graduating class" of storage IPOs, two reported losses this week in their first quarter as public companies.
February 06, 2007 06 Feb'07
IP storage adoption plows ahead bringing tangible benefits

According to IDC, there were 32,124 terabytes (TB) of iSCSI storage deployed worldwide in 2005. That figure had almost tripled to 97,506 TB by 2006. IDC expects that figure to triple again in 2007 to over 320,000 TB of iSCSI storage, with almost 4 ...
February 04, 2007 04 Feb'07
HP fills in gaps with product updates

HP announced updates to several of its products, but analysts are wondering what its ultimate strategy will be for storage virtualisation.
January 29, 2007 29 Jan'07
Hybrid drives hit NAS boxes

DNF will be making hybrid drives available in all of its storage products, but it doesn't recommend them for IP SANs.
January 28, 2007 28 Jan'07
Brocade unveils McData integration roadmap

McData's directors and FICON routers will remain separate product lines for now; McData's SAN management software will replace Brocade's Fabric Manager.
January 25, 2007 25 Jan'07
Symantec makes major update to Enterprise Vault

Symantec adds automated data classification and integration with security products in Version 7.0 of its Enterprise Vault archiving tool; EMC reports record earnings for the fourth quarter.
January 24, 2007 24 Jan'07
iSCSI SANs grow in midmarket, enterprise

Because transporting "SCSI over IP" leverages ubiquitous Ethernet networks, that translates to lower cost, easier maintenance and simpler management, which makes SAN deployment more attractive for SMEs.
January 14, 2007 14 Jan'07
EMC, NetApp execs debate future of iSCSI

A discussion between an EMC and NetApp executive, via their blogs, has users and analysts debating: Will the "Year of iSCSI" ever really happen?
January 08, 2007 08 Jan'07
Is an SMB environment too small for a SAN?

Almost any size business can benefit from some type of SAN -- or "network storage"; whether it's NAS, iSCSI-based IP storage or FC storage...
January 08, 2007 08 Jan'07
What is the difference between InfiniBand, SAS and iSCSI and where does each technology fit?

InfiniBand is an interface; just like Fibre Channel (FC) or Ethernet. As an interface, InfiniBand carries different protocols...
January 08, 2007 08 Jan'07
What is the difference between SAN routing, channel extension and virtualization?

Some folks see SAN routing as just segmentation; some see it as protocol conversion; some see it as distance enablement. SAN routing really embraces all those...
January 08, 2007 08 Jan'07
When should I use a SAN vs. NAS or iSCSI?

It's often a matter of block vs. file...
January 08, 2007 08 Jan'07
How does IP storage differ from iSCSI, NAS and Fibre Channel?

Generically, IP storage involves any storage functionality that is leveraging TCP/IP as a network transport...
January 08, 2007 08 Jan'07
What's the difference between SONET/SDH, DWDM and OCx -- Why not just use TCP?

We live in a virtual world where most of us have network access in our homes -- the Internet -- which is a virtual network...
December 25, 2006 25 Dec'06
Top 10 storage stories of 2006

SAN and NAS converged and shook up the industry, iSCSI went mission-critical, users conquered tiered storage and more.
December 20, 2006 20 Dec'06
Top 10 storage acquisitions of 2006

Industry consolidation was fast and furious this year. We rank the deals by quality, not quantity.
December 10, 2006 10 Dec'06
Hitachi, BlueArc announce OEM partnership

What had been rumored to be an acquisition has turned out to be an OEM deal, but HDS has also made an investment in BlueArc, indicating an acquisition could be the next step.
December 10, 2006 10 Dec'06
Storage Decisions in the wild, wild west

Dedupe, iSCSI, backup, virtualisation and cowboys in Stetson hats -- Storage Decisions Las Vegas 2006 had it all.
December 07, 2006 07 Dec'06
Dell, Microsoft tout joint NAS product

The new NX1950 product is vastly more expensive than its counterparts from HP and NetApp, but it scales higher, supports clusters and has redundant controllers.
November 30, 2006 30 Nov'06
Symantec blames piracy for Veritas licensing snafu

Weekly compilation of storage news: Symantec says that software counterfeiting is throwing a wrench in tech support ; FRCP rules take effect.
November 21, 2006 21 Nov'06
Skills gap grips India's budding storage market

India is the second fastest growth market for storage technology in Asia Pacific after China, according to IDC, but a skills shortage could hamper growth, experts say.
November 21, 2006 21 Nov'06
Virtual SAN purchase considerations

The specific considerations for key virtual SAN products plus a series of specifications to help make on-the-spot product comparisons between vendors.
November 15, 2006 15 Nov'06
EMC, NetApp duke it out in the midrange storage

As NetApp gains market share in midrange storage, EMC makes a rare response to performance claims.
November 14, 2006 14 Nov'06
Fiber optic networks vulnerable to attack

Fiber optic networks aren't hack-proof: A savvy attacker can crack them with ease.
November 08, 2006 08 Nov'06
High-end clustering users contemplate snapshots

Some users and analysts say the line between high-performance NAS clusters and enterprise NAS systems continues to blur as clustering vendors begin to include enterprise features.
November 05, 2006 05 Nov'06
NetApp adds a midrange box, tunes up software

NetApp adds the FAS3070 to its midrange lineup to compete with EMC's CX3-80 and updates a number of its software products.
November 02, 2006 02 Nov'06
Reporter's Notebook: Whispers and rumbles from SNW

Floridians talked DR, big guys quibbled over deduplication, and rumors of acquisitions and new products to come flew at SNW Orlando this year.
October 31, 2006 31 Oct'06
E-vaulting's many faces can confuse IT efforts

E-vaulting is the process that describes how enterprise IT departments ship backup tapes and replicate data to remote disk arrays and VTLs. E-vaulting is not a new concept, but more recently it has grown to mean remote backups and replication for ...
October 30, 2006 30 Oct'06
Storage vendors polish their wares at SNW

EMC upgrades recovery management software, HP unveils a storage blade and VTL gateway for the EVA; IBM sweetens warranty for DS8000; Symantec updates Backup Exec and Ghost.
October 30, 2006 30 Oct'06
Storage vendors polish their wares at SNW, page 2

EMC upgrades recovery management software, HP unveils a storage blade and VTL gateway for the EVA; IBM sweetens warranty for DS8000; Symantec updates Backup Exec and Ghost.
October 09, 2006 09 Oct'06
Isilon adds snapshots, makes play for mainstream NAS

Users and analysts say Isilon's new snapshot features are a challenge to NetApp, but the NAS cluster specialist still has a way to go to compete in the enterprise.
October 04, 2006 04 Oct'06
Tiered storage becoming tried and true

Tiered storage matches the value of data with the performance (and expense) of storage. Ideally, tiered storage can save money, while easing the access demands to any single storage tier. While tiered storage has clearly brought storage costs and ...