Fujitsu Siemens FibreCAT SX100 Into the Enterprise Class

With considerable increases in storage volume, performance, reliability and security, the new top of the range model in the FibreCAT SX family targets customers in the upper performance segment for disk storage systems. The new FibreCAT SX100 from Fujitsu Siemens Computers has a capacity of up to 108 TB and delivers a 100 percent increase in speed in comparison to the FibreCAT SX80 model.

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In addition, the new enterprise model offers twice as many ports per controller, allowing four servers to connect to the disk system directly and redundantly, to set up disaster-tolerant configurations. The FibreCAT SX100 is ‘ready for replication’, offering a capacity of up to 244 snapshots, which dramatically simplify and accelerate backup and restore operations. The basic system price includes a license for four snapshots and others can be added at additional cost. The FibreCAT SX100 storage system starts at €7750 and is available starting immediately, either directly from Fujitsu Siemens Computers or through certified channel partners.

“Thanks to our new enterprise model, companies with high capacity needs can now also profit from the advantages provided by our trusted and successful FibreCAT SX technology,” explained Helmut Beck, Vice President Storage Business at Fujitsu Siemens Computers. “The FibreCAT SX100 not only offers high storage performance, but also provides all the functionality that enterprises need to be able to cope with steadily increasing volumes of data in a cost-effective and energy efficient manner. In combination with the new enterprise functions, the tried-and-trusted reliability of our FibreCAT SX series helps companies increase the availability of their stored data even further.”

Data security at its best
The FibreCAT SX100 supports up to 108 hard disks in nine enclosures to provide a storage capacity of up to 108 TB. Like all models in the FibreCAT SX series, the enterprise system is equipped with FibreCache. This market-leading technology from Fujitsu Siemens Computers connects RAID controller caches so that they can synchronize significantly faster than conventional storage systems. The optimized controller technology provides an additional increase in performance, improving the FibreCAT SX100’s data throughput by 100 percent over previous models such as the SX80. In addition, the standard use of 4 Gb/s FibreChannel technology makes the FibreCAT SX family particularly well suited for use in database systems, backup-to-disk, streaming applications and data consolidation.

Users can choose between SATA-II and SAS disks, or select a combination of the two in a single enclosure, making it possible to exploit the advantages of both technologies: while SAS disks provide high flexibility, performance and data availability, SATA hard disks offer good scalability and a low-cost solution with high storage capacity. Thanks to the introduction of Native Command Queuing (NCQ) technology, hard disk performance is increased by 15 percent. In addition, price-conscious and environmentally-aware users can save energy by using SATA hard disks instead of SAS.

The FibreCAT SX100 delivers maximum security. All important components, including RAID controllers, fans, disks and power supply are redundant and hot swappable. FibreCap technology, which is featured in all models of the FibreCAT SX family, protects the system from data loss in the event of a power outage. Instead of conventional rechargeable batteries, FibreCap uses high-capacity capacitors to protect the contents of the RAID controller should a power failure occur. Because capacitors do not require the long recharging times typical of rechargeable batteries, the cache is completely ready to go again shortly after the power supply is restored.

Thanks to pre-installed management software and the intuitive Web interface, the new enterprise model is extremely user-friendly. No additional software is required on the server, making it possible to set up and manage the system quickly and easily.

The new FibreCAT SX100 is certified for the following operating systems: Windows 2003/2008, Linux/RedHAT, Solaris 9 and 10 (SPARC and x86) as well as for VMware 3.x and PANWARE 5.x (ServerView PAN Manager). Because the FibreCAT SX100 can also be operated in networks with Intel-based servers made by other manufacturers, the system boasts a very wide application range.