InoStor's new Linux-based network storage apps protect against disk drive failures

EDP Weekly's IT Monitor, Nov 15, 2004

InoStor Corporation, a Tandberg Data Company, has announced its next-generation Linux-based network storage appliances that feature patented RAIDn technology to eliminate downtime and guard against data loss even in the case of multiple disk drive failures, enabling small and mid-size business to benefit from enterprise-class high availability technology.

Available in 1U and 2U form factors, with storage capacities starting at 480GB scaling up to 4.8TB, InoStor's new InteliNAS devices offer front-loading, hot-swappable SATA hard disk drives supporting RAID 0, 1, 4, 5 and 0 1 as well as InoStor's RAIDn. The appliances include complete data management capabilities including iRep replication to facilitate data mirroring, snapshot technology and tape backup.

According to David Licosati, InoStor vice president, the new, cost-effective InteliNAS storage solutions are ideal for corporate workgroups, branches and small to medium-size businesses (SMBs) where data-intensive applications and rapid data access are critical.

"As the industry moves to larger capacity, lower cost SATA hard disk drives, companies are increasingly exposed to frequent hard disk drive failures and the potential loss of huge amounts of data," Licosati explained. "InoStor iceNAS-based InteliNAS products guard against these failures thanks to our patented RAIDn technology, which protects against multiple hard disk drive failures without the high costs typically associated with this benefit."

InteliNAS IU configurations provide storage capacities of 480GB, 640GB, 1.0TB, 1.2TB and 1.6TB in a rackmount package along with dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, four hot swappable frontloading SATA hard drives and a 350W power supply.

The 2U high-capacity devices offer storage capacities of 1.44TB, 1.92TB, 3.0TB, 3.6TB and 4.8TB in a 2U rackmount system. They include 12 hot-swappable SATA hard drives, dual 400W power supplies and dual Gigabit Ethernet interfaces for rapid data reading and writing.

InteliNAS integrates seamlessly with Windows, UNIX, Macintosh and Linux platform environments. Optional SCSI-connected autoloader or library tape devices are available for easy backup/restore and offsite archiving.

Prices start at $2,899 MSRP and include a three-year parts and labor warranty with advance exchange backup by free technical support. An on-site warranty is optionally available.

RAIDn data protection technology is a software library with a set of patented algorithms that implement a parity scheme across an array of disk drives, providing data protection against random, multiple drive failures without incurring the high costs typically associated with RAID schemes. It allows companies to deploy data protection solutions with greater security, reliability, capacity and affordability than conventional RAID, hybrid and "hot spare" configurations. RAIDn is available for OEM licensing.

iRep replication software further protects data against loss by facilitating data mirroring, distribution and consolidation between systems locally or at offsite locations. It assures that 100 percent accurate data sets are automatically maintained on remote machines, and that data can be rapidly accessed to get business operations up and running.