Winchester Systems Adds 2U Model and 16Gb FC to FlashNAS Line

Winchester Systems Inc. announced functional enhancements and a new model to its FlashNAS ZFS line of unified storage systems.

The ZFS ZX-2U12 is a slimmer version of its 3U cousin, but packs all of the same functionality: hot swappable dual-redundant controllers, unlimited snapshots, remote replication, SSD caching, compression, self-healing data, NDMP support and WORM folders. The 3U system, formerly known as FlashNAS ZFS 3400, has been renamed as FlashNAS ZFS ZX-3U16.

In addition to simultaneous block and file access via CIFS, NFS, AFP and iSCSI protocols over 1GbE and 10GbE, it can also serve disk blocks via 16Gb FC. Each system comes with eight embedded 1GbE ports (four per controller). Four 1GbE, two 10GbE or two 16Gb FC ports can be added to each controller using a daughter-card module that plugs onto the controller motherboard. This modular design makes it easy to tailor FlashNAS ZFS to suit customer-solution requirements. It also enables field upgrades: customers can purchase a FlashNAS ZFS system with 1GbE ports, for example, and later upgrade it to 10GbE or 16Gb FC when they need faster connectivity.

The company also added a command line interface, making all functions available for scripted automation. And support for the 6TB SAS disk drives increases the maximum storage capacity for a single system to 1.5PB.

All of this functionality, once upon a time only available in ‘enterprise’ storage products, is integrated into a single system with a web-based management interface. There are no hidden or extra costs to allow specific features, or to support any specific capacity – enabling FlashNAS ZFS to provide enterprise data protection, scalability and reliability at affordable prices.

The systems and features are available. The company also offers storage-infrastructure consulting, on-site installation and service spares, and 24×7 product service and support for FlashNAS worldwide.