Networking hardware

LeftHand refreshes iSCSI SAN software

Version 7.0 of LeftHand's iSCSI SAN software contains dozens of new features, including support for four-way replication and brushed-up thin provisioning. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

Windows Home Server offers low-end NAS

Microsoft has released the latest version of its Home Server software, available as low-end NAS by HP and Iomega; SunGard acquires Vericenter. Continue Reading

By

• SearchStorage.com Staff

Data migration product specifications

Part of the Tiered Storage Buying guide focusing on product specifications for data migration tools. Continue Reading

HP users mull blade storage

HP's "blade everything" strategy is starting to emerge in storage. Users at the HP Technology Forum this week mulled the possibilities for the technology. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

Burton Group Catalyst Conference San Francisco 2007

SearchSecurity.com brings you the latest news, interviews, podcasts and more from the Burton Group Catalyst Conference 2007 in San Francisco. Continue Reading

Brocade gets into the HBA business

Experts say the move, based on a partnership with LSI, could lower HBA pricing across the board and be the first step toward a Brocade-developed storage virtualization product. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

SAN School: Table of contents

What is a storage area network? What are the benefits and pitfalls of installation? How can a SAN fit into your organization? These questions and more are answered SAN School. Continue Reading

By

• SearchStorage.com editors

Cisco, EMC partner on SAN encryption

Cisco will ship encryption in switches later this year integrated with EMC's RSA key management software. Users are curious but cautious about its impact on other services. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

ISCSI TCP/IP TOE card purchase considerations

A look at the specific considerations in purchasing iSCSI Continue Reading

ISCSI TCP/IP TOE card specifications

Key specifications for a cross-section of popular iSCSI TOE cards. Continue Reading

4 Gbit Fibre Channel switch purchase considerations

As SANs scale up, data centres often upgrade and expand the SAN switch infrastructure. Here's what to look for when scaling Continue Reading

4 Gbit Fibre Channel switch product specifications

Product snapshots highlighting key specifications for a cross section of popular director-class 4 Gbit and faster FC switch products. Continue Reading

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. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

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 pass storage data between storage devices. This requires the use of IP switches and routers, and can involve the deployment of iSCSI TOE host adapters to offload iSCSI traffic from the local server's CPU. This Buying Guide is intended to help clarify the principle considerations involved scaling storage networks and each chapter offers a set of buying points and product specifications that can help readers identify prospective new scaling products. Continue Reading

Storage consolidation: WAN acceleration and WAFS technology overview

One important avenue of storage consolidation is the consolidation of remote office storage; this is where WAN acceleration and WAFS technology comes into play. Continue Reading

Storage consolidation: SRM tools overview

SRM tools are an important part of storage consolidation. They allow admins to monitor the storage environment, allocate and organise available storage, and offer insights into future trends. Continue Reading

IP storage switch and router specifications

Key specifications for a cross section of popular IP storage switch and router products. Continue Reading

IP storage switch and router purchase considerations

The choice of an IP switch or router demands careful consideration of issues including port speed, segmentation, interoperability and security Continue Reading

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. Continue Reading

By

• SearchStorage.com Staff

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 Continue Reading

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. Continue Reading

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. Continue Reading

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. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

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. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

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. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

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 . Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

Enterprise switch upgrade specifications

Product snapshots highlighting key specifications for a cross section of popular enterprise-class switch products. Continue Reading

Midrange storage array specifications

Product snapshots highlighting key specifications for a cross section of midrange storage array products. Continue Reading

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. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

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. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

Linksys, Gateway launch low-end NAS

Cisco subsidiary Linksys and PC maker Gateway launch new NAS products for small businesses and consumers. Continue Reading

By

• SearchStorage.com

High-end storage array specifications

The key specifications for a cross section of popular high-end disk storage array products. Continue Reading

HP announces iSCSI VTL for SMBs

HP's new iSCSI VTL devices include automated backup capabilities for users with fewer than four servers. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

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. Continue Reading

By

• SearchStorage.com Staff

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. Continue Reading

By

• SearchStorage.com Staff

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 million TB of iSCSI storage expected by 2010. But IP storage adoption has been far more than just a numbers game. ISCSI has been making real inroads in both small companies and large enterprises. Continue Reading

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. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

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. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

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. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

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. Continue Reading

By

• SearchStorage.com Staff

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. Continue Reading

EqualLogic CEO says IPO on the way

EqualLogic's CEO talks about the company's plans to go public, its intent to add 10 GigE to its products and why he thinks not all iSCSI products are created equal. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

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? Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

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... Continue Reading

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... Continue Reading

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... Continue Reading

When should I use a SAN vs. NAS or iSCSI?

It's often a matter of block vs. file... Continue Reading

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... Continue Reading

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... Continue Reading

Why don't we have clustered FC block storage?

Is it odd that the industry has made such serious strides toward incorporating clustering concepts in both file-based storage and IP -based storage, but not Fibre Channel storage? Continue Reading

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. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

Top 10 storage acquisitions of 2006

Industry consolidation was fast and furious this year. We rank the deals by quality, not quantity. Continue Reading

By

• Jo Maitland, News Director and Beth Pariseau, News Writer

Hot technologies for 2007

"Storage" magazine's editors reviewed technology developments, product introductions and storage standards to come up with this short list of must-have technologies for 2007. Continue Reading

Storage Decisions Session Downloads (NYC 2006)

Take a look at the sessions that floored at the Storage Decisions conference in New York City, September 27-29, 2006. Continue Reading

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. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

Storage Decisions in the wild, wild west

Dedupe, iSCSI, backup, virtualisation and cowboys in Stetson hats -- Storage Decisions Las Vegas 2006 had it all. Continue Reading

By

• SearchStorage.com Staff

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. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

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. Continue Reading

By

• SearchStorage.com Editors

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. Continue Reading

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. Continue Reading

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. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

Fiber optic networks vulnerable to attack

Fiber optic networks aren't hack-proof: A savvy attacker can crack them with ease. Continue Reading

By

• Sandra Kay Miller

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. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

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. Continue Reading

By

• Jo Maitland, TechTarget

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. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

Production databases find a home on IP SANs

Dow Chemical will be cutting costs with a NetApp system; AirClic goes with EqualLogic's newest SAS array after evaluating both NetApp and EMC. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

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 SMBs/SMEs using third-party services. This article examines e-vaulting, highlights the major considerations and roadblocks in implementation, examines the impact of e-vaulting on real-life users and looks ahead at future e-vaulting trends. Continue Reading

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. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

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. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

What storage managers are buying and why, page 4

What storage managers are buying and why Continue Reading

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. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

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 performance into focus, it has yet to reach its full potential in the enterprise. Continue Reading

ISCSI gets a boost from InfiniBand

The InfiniBand protocol has already gained popularity in some bleeding-edge storage systems; a new spec will now standardise connection to iSCSI storage. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, News

NetApp operations chief talks growth

Tom Georgens, executive vice president and general manager at NetApp -- also rumoured to be in the running as next CEO -- discusses what's driving its growth. Continue Reading

By

• Jo Maitland, TechTarget

Three ways to create clustered storage, page 2

Clustered storage systems run on storage servers, NAS gateways and hosts. Here's how to determine which clustered file-system architecture is best for your needs and storage environment. Continue Reading

Dell and EMC: Five more years

Dell leans on EMC for support in the face of an SEC investigation and possible delisting from NASDAQ. Continue Reading

By

• Alex Barrett, News Director, Datacenter Media Group

Emulex acquisition could cloud future of FC-SATA spec

New Emulex subsidiary Sierra Logic's strength is in FC-SATA bridging technology. Meanwhile, ONStor launches midrange clustered NAS, and Quantum shareholders withhold votes. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

Riverbed update offers users more bandwidth, better reporting

Riverbed announced a package of hardware and software updates, which some customers say they've been waiting for. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer

3PAR adds midrange array for secondary sites

3PAR has introduced a smaller version of its InServ Storage Server, which it describes as a product-line extension into its existing customer base. Continue Reading

By

• Jo Maitland, TechTarget

EMC updates SAN Advisor design tool

EMC's SAN design tool now recognises zones and allows users to customise rules; HP and EMC sign five-year cross-licensing deal. Continue Reading

By

• SearchStorage.com Staff

Fast Guide: Storage technologies

A guide to storage technologies for both SMBs and enterprise users. This will help you sort out the advantages, limitations and applications of each technology. Continue Reading

By

• Whatis and SearchStorage.com editorial

SAS drives product roundup

Serial-attached SCSI (or SAS) drives offer significant storage capacity at a much lower cost, while maintaining reasonable performance. Find out who the vendors are in this market. Continue Reading

By

• Stephen J. Bigelow, Senior Technology Editor

Storage area network quiz

It's all about the storage area network (SAN) -- man. The more you know, the easier it is. Take our SAN quiz and find out where you stand as a SAN guru. Continue Reading

Tony Asaro: Blogs and more

Read what Tony Asaro is talking about in this month's blog, and listen to him speak in a number of webcasts. Continue Reading

Cisco in talks to acquire EMC?

Summary: Word has it Cisco is considering a $43 billion acquisition of EMC. With all the storage mergers going on, is this possible? Continue Reading

Learning Guide: Low-cost storage

Resources on low-cost networking, iSCSI, SATA and IP storage Continue Reading

By

• Andrew Burton

Managed services: Looking to the long term

IT directors looking for an easy way to manage increasing volumes of data by buying more hardware could be storing up problems... Continue Reading

By

• Jessica Twentyman

Fast Guide: iSCSI

If you need to come up to speed rapidly on iSCSI, you've come to the right place. In this Fast Guide, we touch upon the basics and then we walk you through the pros and cons of iSCSI and Fibre Channel. Continue Reading

By

• Jen Hubley, Associate Editor, SearchStorage.com

Deals abound for high-end storage

Think high-end storage is out of your reach? Maybe not. Conversations with several storage buyers recently suggest that vendors are scrambling to give buyers the best possible deals. Continue Reading

By

• Alex Barrett, Trends Editor

LAN-free, serverless and domino backups, oh my.

In case you've missed anything, here's a roundup of some of the best original technical content that appeared on SearchStorage.com the week of May 10-14. Tips and Ask the Experts Q&A's cover LAN-free, serverless and domino backups.

 Continue Reading

By

• SearchStorage.com

Backup school: Quiz two, answer six

Here is the answer to Backup school quiz two, question six. Continue Reading

By

• Editors

Seagate touts SAS drives as faster alternative to SATA

Seagate is set to demonstrate a 2.5-inch hard drive based on the serial-attached SCSI interface. The company says the product will fill the need for a smaller, faster and more reliable alternative to serial ATA disks. Continue Reading

By

• Kevin Komiega

More questions and answers from SAN school lesson # 8

Here are SAN School Professor Chris Poelker's answers to more user submitted questions from SAN School Lesson 8, "Tying your SANs together." Q&A's cover topics ranging from what causes SAN problems, to preventing equipment problems. Continue Reading

By

• SearchStorage.com Staff

Resource guide to disk-based backup

 Continue Reading

Learning Guide: SAN-based backups

Some of the best advice on the ins and outs of SAN-based backups Continue Reading