New Functionalities for NetApp MetroCluster

NetApp announced new functionalities for NetApp MetroCluster that offer customers continuous data availability in virtualized environments, the ability to perform nondisruptive software and hardware upgrades, and integration with NetApp® deduplication technology for enhanced storage efficiency.

As enterprise customers move to virtualized IT environments, they require enhanced protection and continuous access to the data used by their virtualized servers. NetApp MetroCluster now addresses protection and access issues by providing customers with continuous data availability in their virtual environments for improved business operations. In addition, MetroCluster enables customers to perform nondisruptive hardware and software upgrades through transparent failover and giveback. MetroCluster transitions customer data services from primary to secondary storage, allowing uninterrupted data access during the upgrade process. MetroCluster also includes NetApp’s unique deduplication technology, offering customers improved storage efficiencies.

“More and more customers are deploying VMware’s virtualization platform to reduce capital and operating costs and to improve the manageability of application and storage environments that require high availability,” said Parag Patel, vice president of Alliances at VMware. “NetApp MetroCluster is a great complement to the VMware platform. MetroCluster provides fast and reliable failover capabilities that help enable VMware customers to achieve continuous data availability across their storage infrastructures.”

Additionally, NetApp MetroCluster integrates with Brocade SAN switches to extend continuous data availability up to 100km, enabling customers to access their data if a failover occurs within a building, across a campus, or over a metropolitan area.

”By closely collaborating with NetApp, we are enabling customers to extend high-availability capabilities throughout their campus and data center environments,” said Marty Lans, senior director of Product and Offer Marketing at Brocade. “NetApp MetroCluster integrates with the Brocade 300 and 5100 Fibre Channel switches and adds considerable value to the storage network through its ability to automate failover quickly and seamlessly.”

“In today’s economic environment, IT managers prefer high availability solutions that are cost-effective and simple to manage,” said Patrick Rogers, vice president of Solutions Marketing at NetApp. “With these latest enhancements, NetApp MetroCluster provides continuous data availability at half the cost and half the complexity.