Distributor Avnet Technology Solutions has struck a deal with Scale Computing, maker of intelligent clustered storage technology, through which Avnet will provide channel pros with the means for integrating† to create a complete storage appliance solution – the iSN1000.
Avnet will make the iSN1000 available through Avnet’s IBM value-added reseller partners in the United States and Canada.
“This is the first time that Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas, will assist in both development and distribution of the same storage appliance,” says Mark Martin, vice president of marketing and business development for Avnet. “We strongly believe the IBM System X hardware with Scale’s ICS technology is a complete, end-to-end midmarket storage solution that is competitively priced.” He adds, “It will help our IBM-focused reseller partners enhance their storage solutions offerings by addressing key technology challenges facing their midmarket customers.”
In addition to running on IBM’s System X server line, Scale’s ICS technology uses IBM GPFS (general parallel file system) as its core file system. GPFS is a sophisticated, symmetrical, parallel file system. ICS taps into many of its features and adds others of its own, including the ability to run CIFS, NFS, and iSCSI protocols simultaneously, creating a unified SAN/NAS environment.
The iSN1000 is a usuable 1 TB storage node. Customers must make an initial purchase of three iSN1000s to create a 3-usable TB cluster, called the StarterSAN. Scale’s MSRP for the 3 usable TB StarterSAN is $18,300.
iSN1000 with ICS Technology
The iSN1000 with ICS technology is a clustered storage system that can scale per TB to more than 2.2 PBs on a single file system. Here are some of its features:
- Future Proof–The iSN1000 with ICS will work together with future iSNs of greater density and drive size. Because ICS is a clustered system, the 1TB iSN1000 will work in the same cluster with 2 TB, 4 TB and even 32 TB iSNs (when they are released).
- Snapshot/Replication Included–The iSN1000 with ICS includes advanced snapshot/replication features at no additional cost above the MSRP.
- Data-Aware Drives–Many other storage systems sold in the SMB are asymmetrical, meaning they store metadata in a controller. The iSN1000 with ICS is symmetrical. All drives are “data aware” as information is mirrored and striped across the entire cluster.
- Linear Scaling–The iSN1000 with ICS is designed to scale linearly, to more than 2.2 PBs, 1 usable TB at a time.
- Zero Service Disruption–To grow capacity, IT managers add extra iSNs to the cluster without disrupting services. ICS technology quickly identifies the node and adds its capacity to the existing cluster, then begins mirroring and striping data to the new node.
A downloadable PDF spec sheet is available from Scale Computing.
Alan Hahn, vice president of worldwide sales for Scale Computing says his company is excited about the partnership. “Avnet’s embedded team has done a stellar job integrating our product, and we are very excited to now be working with their distribution experts,” he says.
Hahn adds, “The ability to have both distribution and product development and integration with one partner is a tremendous asset to our business. We’re confident this product will sell quickly to IBM resellers and customers.”
