Quantum Extending StorNext Data Management Benefits

Quantum Corp. announced enhancements to its StorNext scale-out file system that take unstructured data management to higher levels of efficiency, flexibility and compatibility.

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These enhancements in StorNext release 5.4 include the ability to integrate existing public cloud storage accounts and third-party object storage – starting with AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, NetApp StorageGRID, IBM Cleversafe and Scality RING – as tiers in a StorNext-unified namespace.

Another feature provides embedded application deployment in StorNext appliances, leveraging industry-standard virtualization technology to simplify integration with asset management, data management and data sharing applications.

StorNext 5.4 is an example of the enhancements in company’s scale-out storage portfolio over the past two years, as the company continues to focus on delivering high-performance, cost-effective, multi-tier solutions for managing unstructured data in demanding environments. During this time, the firm has also built on its leadership in media and entertainment and expanded its market reach in areas such as video surveillance, genomics, academic research and government security.

As a result, the company’s scale-out storage revenue has grown rapidly – 56% in the most recently completed quarter, which represented the 21st consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth.

Challenge of unstructured data growth
The growth in unstructured data continues unabated, driven by advances such as 4K video cameras and the proliferation of IoT sensor technology, and the ability to analyze and leverage this data is increasingly critical component of an organization’s business or mission. As a result, IT professionals face an ongoing challenge of how to manage and retain this data – and make it readily accessible when needed – in tan efficient and cost-effective way.

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StorNext: File system and multi-tier data management
Long used for bandwidth-intensive video capture, production and distribution workflows, StorNext is increasingly being deployed by data-intensive enterprises around the globe for a range of use cases, including:

• Technical computing and big data analytics in imaging environments such as genomics, academic research and video surveillance

• Real-time editing and manipulation of massive media data sets for entertainment

• High-performance archive

• Large-scale content repositories

StorNext provides combination of:

• Streaming file system performance

• Automated, policy-based data management through StorNext Storage Manager for cost-effective tiering across primary disk, object storage, tape and the cloud

• Heterogeneous OS support (Windows, Linux, Unix, MacOS)

• Multi-protocol support, including FC, Ethernet, IB, iSCSI, NFS,SMB/CIFS and S3

StorNext has been deployed in more than 120,000 clients with such customers as the five largest media companies in the world, all the top U.S. broadcast networks, Airbus Defense and Space, AOL Huffington Post, Baylor College of Medicine, BBC Sport, Calgary Police Service, CERN, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, MLB Network, NASA, NIH, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of North Carolina, University of Notre Dame and UFC (Customer success stories).

Xcellis workflow storage

StorNext 5.4 enhancements include:

• Cloud Integration – A new feature in StorNext Storage Manager enables users to move data into and out of their public cloud accounts and/or existing third-party object storage (private cloud), thereby extending their StorNext-managed, tiered storage environment, protecting prior investments and reducing the cost and complexity of cloud storage administration. StorNext 5.4 currently provides support for AWS (S3, Glacier, GovCloud, C2S) and Microsoft Azure and also offers a connection to the Google Cloud through standard S3 protocol. Augmenting Quantum’s own Lattus object storage, StorNext 5.4 includes support for NetApp StorageGRID, IBM Cleversafe and Scality RING, and Quantum plans to add integration for other object storage offerings.

• Embedded applications – Dynamic Application Environment is a virtual computing space on StorNext-powered Xcellis workflow storage appliances that enables applications to run within the high-performance, shared storage environment. By eliminating the need for dedicated servers and additional networking, the Dynamic Application Environment reduces the time, cost, and complexity of deploying and maintaining applications.

• Expanded SSD options – A new Xcellis configuration includes SSD-based metastorage at a lower price for smaller deployments with high-performance requirements.

StorNext 5.4 is shipping with all newly purchased Xcellis, StorNext M-Series and StorNext Pro solutions offerings, as well as Artico archive appliances. It is available at no additional cost for StorNext 5 users under current support contracts.

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Scale-out Storage Momentum
StorNext 5.4 announcement reflects the company’s expansion and enhancement of its scale-out storage portfolio. Over the past two years, the company has added a range of new offerings that reinforce its approach to managing data, from high-performance ingest to long-term archiving. These offerings include Xcellis, Artico, QXS hybrid storage, a StorNext AEL tape library and StorNext Connect management tools, which have been well-received by customers and partners, won numerous product awards and been recognized by independent analysts.

Most recently, after evaluating company’s QXS hybrid storage, Gartner, Inc. named the company as a ‘Challenger’ in its Magic Quadrant for General-Purpose Disk Arrays.

The firm has leveraged its enhanced portfolio and long-standing expertise in scale-out storage to extend the benefits of StorNext-powered solutions to a broader base of customers. The company’s success is evident in the growth it’s experienced across different scale-out storage markets and use cases – for example, in its most recently completed quarter, the company generated double-to-triple-digit revenue growth on a year-over year basis in media and entertainment, video surveillance, genomics, geospatial applications and unstructured data archive.

John Wastcoat, VP, business development, Aspera, Inc, a IBM Corp. company, said: “We’re excited at the prospect of delivering Aspera Enterprise and Connect Server as part of the new Dynamic Application Environment. Being able to deploy secure, high-speed data movement over the WAN as an integrated part of the StorNext storage environment is a perfect fit for our mutual customers.“

Scott Sinclair, senior analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group, said: “In the general IT market, Quantum is best known for its strong data protection portfolio. However, its StorNext file system and data management solutions have long addressed key challenges that an increasingly broad range of enterprises are facing due to the tremendous growth in large-scale unstructured data. StorNext 5.4 is an excellent example of how Quantum is extending the power and benefits of StorNext to these customers through innovations that leverage their prior investments and provide greater efficiency and flexibility moving forward.“

Molly Rector, VP, global marketing, Quantum, said: “More and more enterprises are finding that traditional NAS and general-purpose, scale-out storage solutions can’t meet today’s demands for managing their growing unstructured data volumes, so they’re turning to Quantum for their storage needs. We provide a unique combination of the fastest streaming performance, low-cost capacity and efficient data access – all in a unified namespace that enables users to store, share, preserve and utilize their digital assets to drive business and organizational success.“

Resources:
Scale-out storage and StorNext
Xcellis workflow storage
George Crump, analyst, Storage Switzerland LLC, live webinar titled End NAS Sprawl – Gain Control Over Unstructured Data