Eurologic: IP storage solution, allowing easy, deployment of IP-SAN technologies - Eurologic Systems intros Elantra iCS2100 data storage device - Product Announcement

EDP Weekly's IT Monitor, August 26, 2002

Eurologic Systems has announced the advancement of its IP-SAN initiative with the introduction of the Elantra iCS2100, the first member of the Eurologic Elantra IP-SAN solutions family. IP-SAN technology brings the benefits of SANs to a wider audience, making adding and managing storage resources much simpler, more cost-effective and improves the reliability, scalability and security of storage by leveraging Ethernet technology. Application areas include companies wanting to aggregate or consolidate their storage, as well as Exchange back-office implementations, web servers and secondary storage systems for remote data replication.

The iCS2100 allows users to take advantage of the availability and scalability offered by shared storage configurations, as well as the large skill base and low cost infrastructure of existing IP based Ethernet networks. The system is easy to install, is totally secure and is interoperable with a number of software and hardware initiators. Targeted at the early adopters of iSCSI solutions from small and midsize businesses to departments within large companies that are looking for the increased flexibility of Ethernet based SAN systems and a cost-effective, easy-to-use alternative to Fibre Channel SANs.

The iCS2100 is the first product from Eurologic's Elantra IP-SAN solutions roadmap, and is a highly flexible storage solution demonstrating a number of features such as target-based virtualization, the ability to export multiple logical volumes (up to 512), dynamic expansion capabilities, sharing of block storage between servers, target security and support for zoning of storage between applications.

Future product releases will build on the core technologies of the iCS2100, delivering enhanced feature sets and additional functionality, including snapshot, remote mirroring and support for new disk drive interfaces.

"Users are looking for SAN technology that is easier to rollout and administer, so they can grow and manage their storage as needed more cost-effectively and with ease." said Mike Stolz, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, "Eurologic has listened to what the market has been asking for and worked on the marriage of these needs with the advancements that IP-SAN technology is offering, which will be evident in the range of solutions that we will be bringing to market."

The vendors of this leading edge technology need to work together so that users are in a position to immediately reap the rewards of IP-SAN solutions. As a strong proponent of this approach, Eurologic has been working with Adaptec, (NASDAQ:ADPT), Emulex, (NYSE:ELX), Intel and QLogic (NASDAQ:QLGC), to ensure interoperability of IP SAN solutions. In addition, Eurologic has been an active participate in the IETF Working Group and at industry events.

"The rapid pace of iSCSI adoption will benefit from strong collaboration among industry leaders to ensure the successful deployment of Ethernet-based SANs. Adaptec and Eurologic are working closely to drive the availability of highly interoperable, affordable iSCSI SAN solutions for the mainstream business environment." Ram Jayam, Vice President and General Manager Adaptec Storage Networking Group.

"As the leading provider of storage networking host bus adapters, Emulex is committed to bringing scalable, high performance iSCSI solutions to market," said Mike Smith, Emulex Executive Vice President of Worldwide Marketing. "Working with Eurologic allows us to leverage their experience in designing and deploying storage networking products to ensure end users see a high level of interoperability and stability in their iSCSI based SANs."

"The Intel PRO/1000 T IP Storage Adapter offers IT users an easy-to-use, cost effective, Ethernet-based SAN when deployed with iSCSI targets such as Eurologic's iCS2100," said Jim Woodruff, Director of High-End Servers for Intel's LAN Access Division. "As the only major initiator supplier with a generally available iSCSI adapter, we anticipate that the introduction of iSCSI targets such as the iCS2100, will accelerate the deployment of IP SANs."

"IP Storage will grow the market for storage networking by allowing users to make use of their knowledge of Ethernet networking and management systems," said Graeme Plant, director of marketing for QLogic iSCSI products. "QLogic is excited to be working with other industry leaders such as Eurologic on advancing IP Storage solutions and giving users more choice in technologies for pooling storage."