Quantum Begins Family of StorNext Appliances

Quantum Corporation announced availability of its first product in a new family of StorNext appliances.

           
6U StorNext M330 with two 250GB boot/OS drives
      RAID-1, two 8Gb FC and three 1GbE ports

The StorNext M330 metadata controller appliance combines the heterogeneous software file sharing and tiered, vendor-agnostic archiving benefits found in Quantum’s StorNext data management software with the simplicity of purpose-built hardware. Targeting organizations with sustained large data throughput challenges, such as video files that can quickly grow to multi-petabytes of streaming digital content, the scalable StorNext M330 addresses complex ‘big data’ management needs yet is designed for ease of deployment with minimal configuration requirements.

StorNext M330 Appliance Highlights

• Retains proven, high-performance power of StorNext software. Companies in media and entertainment, oil and gas, government and life sciences rely on Quantum’s StorNext software to manage the ingesting, sharing and archiving of very large data files. Architected to handle streaming data with scalability and performance, StorNext is now available in a ready-to-use appliance.
• Simplifies installation and enables predictability and scalability for heterogeneous, file sharing business environments. The StorNext M330 is purpose-built for accelerated deployment and offers repeatable performance and functionality. The appliance introduces new software features for StorNext, such as an enhanced GUI and reporting tools for accelerated set-up and performance tuning. Additionally, the StorNext M330 includes availability software, two StorNext SAN clients for the controllers, and 10 StorNext SAN clients for any supported OS type, including Windows, Linux, AIX, HP-UX and Solaris. These StorNext software features are factory installed, factory licensed, and included in the base price of the appliance.
• Manages high-performance sharing and access to millions of big data files with major disk subsystem or tape library. The StorNext M330 comes with the StorNext File System software, two metadata controllers (one for high availability) and a dedicated metadata array. The appliance can simultaneously share and access big data files by utilizing Fibre Channel speeds over a SAN and tier data to disk or tape for preservation or future use through Quantum’s StorNext Storage Manager software. Customers and partners can integrate the StorNext M330 with disk solutions from their chosen primary storage vendor as well as with tape libraries from major providers.
• Provides a reliable, efficient and available platform for managing complex data management issues. An appliance form factor with components tested and certified by Quantum minimizes the resources required to deploy StorNext for big data environments. The StorNext M330, which includes a second system for automatic failover, is for organizations tackling the management of shared heterogeneous file systems with limited IT resources or minimal configuration requirements.
• Offers faster, easier support for demanding customer environments. Complex system environments which integrate StorNext software, OEM operating platforms and servers can create maintenance and support challenges for customers and partners. The StorNext M330 gives customers the opportunity to select a packaged metadata controller which is integrated and supported by Quantum.
• Targets the growing use of big data files such as video in the enterprise. Video applications, previously used by only largest media companies, are spreading broadly to a range of enterprises – to support business needs in areas such as marketing, remote sales and employee training. The StorNext M330 enables departments within enterprises to leverage the same performance and functionality that StorNext software provides but in a simpler model for deployment and support.
• Paves the way for StorNext family of appliances. The StorNext M330 is the entry offering in a future family of appliances which will provide customers and partners with a set of ‘pluggable’ building blocks from which to create optimized big data application solutions.

Pricing and Availability
The StorNext M330 is priced at $75,000 and available from Quantum, as well as from its worldwide channel and distribution partners.

Richard Villars, vice president, Storage and IT Executive Strategies, IDC, said: "Once an issue for only Hollywood and select government agencies, rapid yet cost-effective ingest and ongoing data management of exploding rich content pools is now a critical requirement for many enterprises and mid-sized businesses. Solutions like Quantum’s new StorNext M330, a powerful and easy-to-use appliance, will make it easier for IT organizations to effectively address the complexity of accessing and sharing video."

Janae Stow Lee, senior vice president, File System and Archive Product Group, Quantum, said: "The StorNext M330 expands the delivery model for StorNext from the ‘a la carte’ flexible structure to one that is also more predictable and simple. This appliance, built on feedback from experts in the StorNext installed community, broadens the usability of StorNext software to organizations that need distinctive high-performance shared file scalability and economic archive capabilities, but don’t require a customized deployment."