Technology News: Software: Emulex Switches Qualified for Use With Xserve RAID Storage System

Emulex Switches Qualified for Use With Xserve RAID Storage System

By ECT News Business Desk
MacNewsWorld
Part of the ECT News Network
09/20/04 8:54 AM PT

The two Emulex SAN storage switch models qualified by Apple are the first nonfabric Fibre Channel SAN storage switches specifically designed for entry-level SANs. The two models are designed to provide simple storage for end users who are migrating from direct attached storage to a networked storage model.

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Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) has qualified the Emulex models 355 and 375 SAN storage switches for use with Apple's Xserve RAID storage system, Emulex announced today.

Emulex SAN storage switch technology coupled with Xserve RAID delivers storage that can be used for smaller storage area network (SAN) environments, without the complexities of fabric services.

The Emulex models 355 and 375 SAN storage switches leverage the company's InSpeed technology for use in smaller front-end switching applications where low-cost and simplicity are required. The switches are designed specifically for companies that are seeking the advantages SANs provide over direct attached storage, such as:

Higher performance

between servers and storage devices.

Greater application availability.

Improved storage asset utilization.

Lower storage management and support costs.

Incremental scalability to keep up with difficult-to-estimate storage growth.

Simplicity Offered

"The recent introduction of the Emulex SAN storage switch family further reinforces Emulex's commitment to delivering a full suite of Fibre Channel SAN infrastructure solutions designed specifically for the SMB (small and midsize business) user who requires low-cost and absolute simplicity," Mike Smith, Emulex's executive vice president of Worldwide Marketing, said.

"With its nonfabric storage switches, Emulex offers an affordable and easy-to-use storage solution for Xserve RAID customers with smaller storage area network environments," Ron Okamoto, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, said.

Emulex SAN storage switch models 355 and 375 are the first nonfabric Fibre Channel SAN storage switches specifically designed for entry-level SANs. The switches are designed to deliver simple storage for end users migrating from direct attached storage to a networked storage model, but who wish to avoid the complexities that come with enterprise fabric-based services.

Features, Capabilities

The Emulex SAN storage switch model 355 is a 1U, half rack form factor 12-port nonblocking 2 Gb/s Fibre Channel switch. The Emulex SAN Storage Switch model 375 is a 1U, full-rack form factor 20-port nonblocking switch that, in addition to more ports, adds redundant fans and two hot-swappable, universal power supplies for high availability.

Both the 355 and 375 switches offer a number of features and unique capabilities included standard in the switch:

Intuitive integrated management Web server and a simple three-step installation process.

Smart Settings, which are selectable predefined switch configurations that optimize switch performance and stability for a variety of application environments.

Automatic Trunking, which fully multiplies interswitch link throughput and bandwidth with failover protection.

One-Step Zoning for simple storage pool partitioning.

Stealth Intelligent Change Manager, which eliminates state and configuration change notification disruptions, leading to an exceptionally stable SAN environment, especially for tape backup and rich media applications.