Storage Toolkit

Bigger, faster midrange storage from IBM on the way

Tags:
TotalStorage

Dinesh C Sharma CNET News.com

Published: 12 May 2005 09:25 BST

IBM has added a new 4Gbps storage system to its midrange line-up.

The storage device, DS4800, can support up to 67TB of data, IBM said on Wednesday. The addition to the TotalStorage line-up is designed to operate with a range of operating systems, such AIX and HPUX (IBM's and HP's respective Unix variants), Sun's Solaris and Microsoft Windows, as well as Intel and Power-based versions of Linux.

The server will also support IBM's storage software, including an upgraded version of SAN Volume Controller that was also unveiled on Wednesday. SVC now supports up to 256 hosts, according to the company.

The DS4800 comes with data failover software and will support the recently announced integrated backup for databases with the AIX operating environment and IBM DB2 Universal Database. Other features include an alert for problems with the system, enhanced battery life, a second Ethernet port for diagnostics and a switched expansion drawer.

Two models of the new storage server — the 82A and the 84A — are slated to start shipping on June 17 with a starting list price of $54,000 (£29,000). The SAN Volume Controller version 2.1.1 will be available on 13 May with a starting price of $44,500, IBM said.

The highly competitive storage market is witnessing new launches. HP is slated to announce revamped storage products and services at the HP Americas StorageWorks Conference, which starts on 16 May in Las Vegas.