Rackable Systems launches iSCSI storage target appliance for high density, high performance data center deployments

EDP Weekly's IT Monitor, Dec 13, 2004

Rackable Systems, Inc., a provider of compute and storage servers for scale out data center deployments, has announced its new family of iSCSI storage targets. Immediately available on all Rackable Systems storage servers, iSCSI leverages standard Ethernet networking to provide the scalability, high-availability and performance benefits of an enterprise-class SAN--without the complexity and interoperability challenges of Fibre Channel. Rackable Systems' innovative storage server designs maximize density by providing up to 134 terabytes of storage in a single cabinet using patented back-to-back form factors.

"By implementing iSCSI-based SANs, companies can realize the advantages of centralized storage while maximizing their existing investments in Ethernet and IP-based technologies," said Geoffrey Noer, senior director of storage products at Rackable Systems. "Rackable Systems' iSCSI target appliances leverage our proven, open architecture approach and unique back-to-back mounting design--and tightly integrate Wasabi Systems' Storage Builder iSCSI software to deliver a scalable, high-performance solution."

"By leveraging industry-proven technologies such as Ethernet, TCP/IP and SCSI, iSCSI is positioned to become an effective means for companies to deploy lower cost networked storage," said Brad Nisbet, storage program manager at IDC. "IP-based SANs are emerging as an attractive alternative to Fibre Channel, and Rackable Systems has developed a key strategy for bringing iSCSI to customers looking for simple and cost-effective storage."

"By mirroring two Rackable Systems S3009-iSCSI servers located in separate data centers, we are able to leverage our existing Ethernet network to provide storage to our user community that is both high performing and highly reliable," said Dustin Machi, manager of the Core Computational Facility at Virginia Bioinformatics Institute. "As our storage demands continue to increase, iSCSI provides the scalability to satisfy our storage needs without jeopardizing our storage budget."

All Rackable Systems storage servers are immediately available as iSCSI target appliances. Servers range from the ultra-dense, half-depth S3012 server to the S3116 enterprise-oriented server featuring redundant power and cooling fans. With a list price as low as US$3 per gigabyte in a 3 terabyte system, a wide variety of configurations is available at accessible entry costs. For further information, please contact Rackable Systems at 408-240-8300 or visit www.rackable.com.

Rackable Systems' storage servers offer a cost-effective solution for customers with high-capacity storage requirements. Like its compute server offerings, Rackable Systems' storage products offer flexible configurations tailored to customers' unique data center environments. With density levels of up to 336 drives per cabinet and 134 terabytes of storage, Rackable Systems' broad range of storage servers are available as NAS appliances, file servers and application servers--and now as iSCSI target appliances. Leveraging an open architecture approach and industry-standard components, Rackable Systems' storage servers are available in both half-depth and full-depth form factors, offering a lower total cost of ownership with the benefit of world-class customer support.