News

HDS Virtualizes Servers for Midtier

• By Kathleen Ohlson
• July 13, 2005

Hitachi Data Systems recently introduced a midrange storage array with storage virtualization features for small and mid-size customers seeking more capacity but lacking the required staff and data center infrastructure.

The TagmaStore Network Storage Controller model NSC55 manages up to 64 TB internally and 16 petabyes of externally attached heterogeneous storage, including support for high-end and midrange storage systems from EMC, IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems. The storage array features 12.1 GBps of internal bandwidth, 64 GB of cache, 48 Fibre Channel ports, 16 FICON ports and 16,834 logical unit numbers.

NSC55, which is a slimmer version of HDS’ TagmaStore Universal Storage Platform, released last year, includes embedded network-attached storage blades, mainframe connectivity and native disk-based write once/read many software tailored for compliance and record retention requirements. It matches storage to application needs and deployment of data by HiCommand Tiered Storage Manager software for requirements such as regulatory compliance.

The storage array is built with a multi-process global cache disk controller that any server can access through a non-blocking crossbar switch. Access to storage is load balanced across multiple virtual host ports because all servers view the same cache image. Crossbar switch architecture allows multiple data-intensive applications to run concurrently; its switched internal networks separate cache and path resources for data and control information, optimizing storage resources for bolstered performance and high availability.

NSC55 now allows SMBs to virtualize large storage pools to simplify management, carve up internal and external storage resources to ensure application QoS, move data dynamically and without disruptions across storage tiers for archiving, copy software across heterogeneous storage for business continuity and move mainframe data to SATA-based storage to replace mainframe storage systems or tape.