Platypus makes a solid state splash
Published: 22 Oct 2001 09:43 BST
After storming into the memory market with its QikDRIVE product, Australian company Platypus is again pushing enterprise memory solutions to their outer limits with the launch of QikDATA.
Offering a combination of DRAM speed and PCI bus connection, the product is designed to radically improve the affordability of enterprise level memory solutions.
Describing the QikDATA as core to the company's development plans, Platypus Technology general manger, Anthony Lynn said he expected the solid state storage device to take off in the wake of the product's release.
The QikDATA design combines DRAM-based storage with a UPS system and independent hard disk drives. Plugging into the server via the PCI bus it offers exponential increases in functionality over traditional memory systems.
"We have been working with Monster.com in the US to test the product," Lynn said. "Functional comparisons show that whereas a normal hard disk drive is capable of completing about 160 transactions per second, QikDATA is capable of roughly 40,000 in the same time."
The QikDATA system is designed to provide the backup and memory functionality currently only available via costly server farms. Based on the Monster.com experience Lynn estimates QikDATA will significantly reduce enterprise hardware costs.
"Monster.com were looking at spending about $120,000 on new servers to reach the functional goals," Lynn said. "In the end they spent a total of $69,000 and this also gave them the equivalent performance to that of them spending $600,000 or the same performance at 12 percent of the cost."
Platypus Technology was spun off after Danish group Dataram bought out Australian memory producers Hypertec in March this year. Representing the R&D operations of its parent, the company spun off its operations to focus on enterprise level memory and storage solutions.
Chasing potential markets Platypus relocated its headquarters to New Hampshire, US, although it maintains the core of its R&D on the Australian mainland.
Having ramped up its US operations Platypus is betting on the success of the QikDATA to cash in on its initial R&D investment.
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