Tegile’s Zebi takes VDI hosting to an extraordinary new level

We at Sunstar are confronted on a weekly basis to help our clients with a more efficient method of supporting desktop virtualization. We believe we found the answer in the Tegile Hybrid Array

Tegile’s Zebi hybrid storage arrays are designed to make the management of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) easier, faster, more reliable, more scalable and less expensive. Regardless of whether you use VMware View, Microsoft Terminal Services, Citrix Xen or other solutions, our arrays allow you to centralize operations, mitigate the disruptive effects of boot storms and protect your data at a significantly lower cost than you can with standard hard disk based arrays or solid state disk arrays

Tegile Zebi hybrid storage arrays are designed to make the management of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) easier, faster, more reliable, more scalable and less expensive.

Zebi hybrid arrays combine Tegile’s patent-pending MASS technology with high performance DRAM, solid state flash, Intel Xeon processors and high speed Ethernet or Fibre Channel, resulting in higher capacity and significantly higher performance. Whether you use VMware View, Microsoft Terminal Services, Citrix Xen or other solutions, Tegile Zebi hybrid arrays allow you to:

• Centralize operations
• Manage more machines without sacrificing capacity
• Mitigate the disruption of boot storms
• Protect data at a vastly reduced cost compared to other arrays
• Eliminate wear leveling problems and data integrity issues
• Deliver 7X more I/Os per second (IOPS) with considerably lower latency 

Increase storage by up to 75% by using 5X Zebi’s raw capacity
Maximizing capacity, on-the-fly de-duplication and data compression enable more hosted virtual desktops for a lower investment in storage and network infrastructure – without compromising performance. 

Less downtime and better protection than standard arrays
Zebi arrays are architected with no single point of failure and offer:

• Automatic failover capabilities
• Unlimited automatic snapshot and replication features
• Scheduling flexibility for more frequent back-ups of critical machines
• Instant restore capabilities — roll back any machine to a previous state
• Streamlined data back-up resulting in increased bandwidth, reduced hardware expenditures and simplified management 

Zebi easily integrates into diverse enterprise IT environments and:

• Supports SAN and NAS deployments from the same array with built-in Fibre Channel and iSCSI block-level protocols as well as NFS and CIFS file level protocols
• Provides high-performance, low latency storage to the hypervisor, while allowing users to simultaneously share files via CIFS 

Zebi’s browser-based dashboard is easier to use and more intuitive
The configuration wizard and tiered access controls simplify virtual machine optimization, enabling mass hypervisor deployments in minutes, not hours. Helpful graphs and customizable monitoring worksheets make it easy to identify trends and issues for better planning and efficient optimization.

To learn more please reach out to us at Sunstar by calling (800) 663-5523 or contact us online:

If you have a need for a storage array, Sunstar Company recommends that you to look at the Tegile Hybrid Array.  Rich in features with performance in mind.

Tegile Systems is pioneering a new generation of enterprise storage arrays that balance performance, capacity, features and price for virtualization, file services and database applications.

Tegile’s hybrid arrays are significantly faster than legacy arrays and significantly less expensive than all solid-state disk-based arrays. Featuring both NAS and SAN connectivity, these virtual data storage systems are easy-to-use, fully redundant, and highly scalable. Additionally, they come complete with built-in snapshot, replication, near-instant recovery, and virtualization management features.

Tegile’s patent-pending MASS technology accelerates performance to solid state speeds without sacrificing the capacity or cost advantage of hard disk storage. Additionally it enables on-the-fly de-duplication and compression so usable capacity is far greater than its raw capacity.

To learn more about the Zebi’s features we suggest that you visit our site and see the specifications and determine if it is a fit for your company.

 

7X the Performance

Through the deep integration of SSD and caching technologies, Tegile systems deliver five times the performance of legacy arrays. These performance gains are recognized by applications even when their data ultimately lands on hard disk drives. High IOPS and low latency for everyone.

NAS and SAN From the Same Array

Enjoy the flexibility of choice in how your storage is connected to your servers. Fibre Channel and iSCSI block protocols are supported, while both NFS and CIFS file protocols are available for NAS environments. No more silos of storage in your data center.

Storage Simplified

Tegile’s arrays are dramatically easier to manage than legacy systems. Application optimized templates accelerate the provisioning process and implement best practices in a single mouse click. Backup and replication are built in – no complex back-end software to manage. Best yet – all of our software is included in a single license.

 

Up to 75% Less Capacity

In-line compression and de-duplication are used on SSD and hard disk drive media throughout the array. This allows customers to significantly reduce their acquisition and operational cost of storage. All application data is reduced – not just secondary applications, and not in a post-process manner.

Built in Business Continuity

Integrated snapshot and remote replication functionality shrink backup windows down to next to nothing and eliminates the need for backup software. Our thin replication feature only transmits changed data to reduce the burden on the WAN as well, saving even more.

Purpose Built for Virtualization

One-click virtual machine optimized storage creation can deploy hundreds of virtual machines and desktops in minutes, not hours. Built-in backup and data replication via unlimited snapshots, cloning, and instantaneous restores keeps virtual machines and desktops protected.

To learn more or request a quote please do reach out to Sunstar: (800) 663-5523 or online

 

Fusion-io, Inc. acquired Colorado-based NexGen Storage, Inc.

NexGen is a developer of hybrid storage appliances based on Fusion ioMemory for SMEs. By using software in combination with ioMemory and standard disk drives, NexGen transforms industry-leading x86 server platforms into hybrid storage systems that provide the performance of an all-flash array at a fraction of the cost.

This acquisition is a strategic expansion of the software-defined Fusion-io product portfolio, accelerating Fusion-io’s opportunity in the SME market with a solution built to allow customers to provision both performance and capacity according to their needs. The ioControl management software at the core of the NexGen hybrid storage system transparently shares all storage resources and maintains simultaneous performance targets for multiple applications. With the software, customers can provision, prioritize and maintain predictable performance efficiently and cost effectively. It also ensures that customers have an upgrade path to all-flash solutions as their data demands continue to grow.

Sunstar Company, Inc.

 

The Data Archiving Solution for File Protection and Accessibility

The explosion of digital data propels the need for scalable, simplified data archiving solutions. Data may need to be kept for 2 or 20 years, but it always needs to be accessible and accurate. The Crossroads StrongBox® archive solution simplifies your archive, protects business-critical data and delivers significant cost savings for long-term archiving.

Tech Specs Overview: LTFS/ LTO Archive NAS Functionality NFS and CIFS Connectivity 3 Flexible Platforms 35 TB to 35 PB Capacity

StrongBox T10 Enhanced disk cache – 5.7TB RAID 5 Scales to 100 million files StrongBox T20 Scales to 800 million files 8 LTFS drives for enhanced performance StrongBox T30 Scales to 2 billion files Up to 600 MB/s transfer rates for rapid ingest of large data volumes

What is StrongBox?

StrongBox is a shared storage solution purpose-built for data archiving and preservation. Using Linear Tape File System (LTFS) technology and intelligent storage architecture with standard file systems (CIFS/NFS), StrongBox empowers online, all the time file availability with uncompromised data protection, full data mobility, non-proprietary file storage and significant cost-savings. StrongBox unifies your archive – past and present – while providing seamless scalability and reliability for the future.

Industry-Specific Use Cases for StrongBox

In the Media and Entertainment industry, a company’s digital content is its greatest asset. StrongBox empowers a holistic archive for long-term content, providing seamless file sharing, complete data protection and simple integration into file-based workflows. With StrongBox, M&E companies spend more time creating and less time managing data.

Video Surveillance and Security businesses record monumental amounts of content on a daily basis, and traditional storage alone can consume up to 50 percent of a surveillance project budget. StrongBox reduces video storage cost of ownership up to 80 percent by using cost-efficient LTO media.

Government and Legal institutions have sensitive information that requires stringent data protection. With policies such as multi-copy, WAN replication and secure tape export, StrongBox provides data security on multiple fronts, ensuring data integrity and access authentication to meet compliance standards.

For Healthcare and Research and Development facilities, patient or research data is needed far into the future. StrongBox never modifies stored data, essentially future-proofing data with reliable, non-proprietary LTFS.

Retail and Logistics companies handle huge amounts of data that keep operations running smoothly. StrongBox empowers a file-based system for streamlining business record storage and delivering files seamlessly when needed.

Contact Sunstar Company to learn more: (800) 663.-5523

Highly available, extreme-performance flash storage

Formerly: RamSAN 820 and 720

IBM FlashSystem™ 820 and IBM FlashSystem 720 are designed to speed up the performance of multiple enterprise-class applications, including OLTP and OLAP databases, virtual desktop infrastructures, technical computing applications and cloud-scale infrastructures. These IBM systems deliver extreme performance per gigabyte, so organizations can quickly uncover business insights using traditional data analytics as well as new, big-data technologies. In addition, FlashSystem 820 and FlashSystem 720 eliminate storage bottlenecks with IBM MicroLatency™—that is, less than 100-microsecond access times—to enable faster decision making. With these low latencies, the storage disk layer can operate at speeds comparable to those of the CPUs, DRAM, networks and buses in the I/O data path.

IBM FlashSystem 820 and IBM FlashSystem 720 at a glance^*

Series	IBM FlashSystem 820		IBM FlashSystem 720
Model	9831-AE2		9831-AS2
Flash type	eMLC		SLC
	10 TB	20 TB	5 TB	10 TB
Usable capacity (terabyte [TB]/ tebibyte [TiB])	12.4 TB/11.3 TiB	24.7 TB/22.5 TiB	6.2 TB/5.6 TiB	12.4 TB/11.3 TiB
Usable capacity RAID 5 (TB/TiB)	10.3 TB/9.4 TiB	20.6 TB/18.8 TiB	5.2 TB/4.7 TiB	10.3 TB/9.4 TiB
Raw maximum capacity (TB/TiB)	16.5 TB/30 TiB	33 TB/30 TiB	8.3 TB/7.5 TiB	16.5 TB/30 TiB

• Reduce business interruptions without sacrificing performance or usable capacity, with IBM® Variable Stripe RAID™ technology
• Accelerate decision making across multiple applications, including online transactional processing (OLTP) and online analytical processing (OLAP) databases
• Boost IT efficiency and gain high bandwidth and extreme input/output operations per second (IOPS) performance in exceptionally dense, 1U storage systems—without compromising on latency
• Realize macro efficiencies with green storage for data centers, designed for fast data access at low wattage
• Extract immediate value from your investment with quick time to deployment
• Leverage single-level cell (SLC) or enterprise multi-level cell (eMLC) flash technologies
• Enable organizations to quickly uncover business insights using traditional data analytics as well as varying big-data technologies
• Offer scalable performance in storage devices that are both space and power efficient

Have an interest:

Contact us at Sunstar Company at 800.663.5523

Nothing beats the StorageTek T9840D tape drive when it comes to speed.

Please contact us at Sunstar Company for all your StorageTek needs.

Oracle’s StorageTek T9840D tape drive provides fast data access, high throughput, and data longevity, enabling you to improve response times, shrink backup windows, and increase availability.

 

The facts

• Fourth-generation tape drive using same media reduces TCO
• Accesses data in 16.5 seconds
• Available with native FICON and fibre channel interfaces
• Uses encryption technology to secure data onsite, offsite, and in transit
• Moves data at 30 MB/sec and stores up to 75 GB on a single cartridge

Feature	Benefit
Access-centric, two-reel design	Faster access and increased capacity
Stores 75 GB on a single cartridge	Double the capacity of the previous generation
Choice of Natvie FICON or fibre channel interfaces	StorageTek VolSafe secure media technology” feature has a benefit of “Protects data with Write Once Read Many technology
Backward-compatible with three generations	Protects your investment and enables an optimum balance of access and capacity
StorageTek VolSafe secure media technology	Encrypts and protects data
High duty cycles and high reliability	Supports 24×7 operations with around-the-clock availability

VNXe3150 (Dual Processor)

Now available from Sunstar Company, Inc.

An affordable, unified storage platform for businesses running applications for up to 500 users, the EMC VNXe Series delivers automated, application-ready storage with solution-focused software that’s easy to manage, provision, and protect.

VNXe3150 (Single Processor)

An affordable, unified storage platform for businesses running applications for up to 500 users, the EMC VNXe Series delivers automated, application-ready storage with solution-focused software that’s easy to manage, provision, and protect

VNXe3300

An affordable, unified storage platform for businesses running applications for up to 1,000 users, the VNXe Series delivers automated, application-ready storage with solution-focused software that’s easy to manage, provision, and protect

Want to learn more.

Please call us at (800) 663-5523

Sunstar Sales

News from Sunstar Company, Inc.

IBM® Storwize® V7000 and Storwize V7000 Unified are virtualized storage systems designed to consolidate workloads into a single storage system for simplicity of management, reduced cost, highly scalable capacity, performance and high availability. They offer improved efficiency and flexibility through built-in solid state drive (SSD) optimization, thin provisioning and non-disruptive migration of data from existing storage. They can also virtualize and reuse existing disk systems offering a greater potential return on investment. Storwize V7000 and V7000 Unified now supports integrated Real-time Compression, enabling storage of up to five times as much active primary data in the same physical space for extraordinary levels of efficiency.

IBM PureFlex Systems is the new IBM family of expert com

puting systems, integrate server, storage, networking, and management systems for Power Systems and System x architectures. Now the IBM Flex System V7000 Storage Node is available as an integrated component of IBM Flex System and IBM PureFlex Systems. The Flex System V7000 Storage Node is functionally equivalent to the Storwize V7000 and has been seamlessly integrated into the Flex System Manager and Chassis Map, delivering new data center efficiencies. Integration with PureFlex Systems is designed to be easy to use and enable rapid deployment. At the heart of your PureFlex System, Flex System V7000 can become part of your highly efficient, highly capable, next-generation information infrastructure.

IBM Storwize V7000 and Storwize V7000 Unified Benefits

IBM Storwize V7000 and Storwize V7000 Unified are virtualized storage systems to complement virtualized server environments that provide unmatched performance, availability, advanced functions, and highly scalable capacity never seen before in midrange disk systems.

Storwize V7000 supports block workloads whereas Storwize V7000 Unified consolidates block and file workloads into a single system.

• File support: Consolidates block and file storage in a single system for simplicity and greater efficiency (Storwize V7000 Unified only)
• Active Cloud Engine: Enables highly-efficient policy-based management of files to reduce costs through use of tiered storage (Storwize V7000 Unified only)
• Clustered systems: Ability for block systems to both scale up and out for performance and capacity

• Automated storage tiering with IBM Easy Tier: Advanced technology for automatically migrating data between storage tiers based on real-time usage analysis patterns
• New generation GUI: Easy-to-use data management designed with a graphical user interface and point-and-click system management capabilities
• Real-time Compression: Reduces disk capacity required to store data by up to 80%, helping improve efficiency and control storage costs

• Deliver sophisticated, enterprise-class storage functionality for businesses
• Support your growing business requirements while controlling costs
• Provide up to 200 percent performance improvement with automatic migration to high-performing solid-state drives (SSDs)¹

• Enable storing up to five times more active primary data in the same physical disk space using IBM® Real-time Compression™²
• Consolidate block and file storage for simplicity, greater efficiency and ease of management
• Enable near-continuous availability of applications through dynamic migration

• Easy-to-use data management designed with a graphical user interface and point-and-click system management capabilities
• Metro Mirror and Global Mirror for replicating data synchronously or asynchronously between systems for backup efficiency
• SSD for applications that demand high speed and quick access to data
• RAID 0, 1, 5, 6 and 10

Consider the challenges that IT organizations typically face in these complex environments. Sharing storage among servers is often impossible, but relieving the problem by deploying tiered storage can be difficult. Isolated server and storage management tools reduce IT productivity, but when data migration processes are implemented, they can disrupt business operations. Meanwhile, organizations are concerned about the growing costs of storage and storage management. And they often are unable to use virtualized storage as they use virtual servers, as a tool to optimize expenditures, resources and capabilities.

In storage management today, breaking the cycle of increased complexity and explosive data growth can be a big challenge. The old ways of buying and managing storage have become less effective. Due to resource constraints—both physical storage resources and human resources—IT organizations must act quickly to optimize and simplify their infrastructure. Unchecked complexity and growth will only become bigger problems over time.

To stand up to these challenges and allow businesses to respond to a rapidly changing marketplace, IBM Storwize® V7000 and Storwize V7000 Unified are virtualized storage systems to complement virtualized server environments that provide unmatched performance, availability, advanced functions and highly-scalable capacity never seen before in midrange disk systems. As members of the IBM Storwize family, Storwize V7000 and Storwize V7000 Unified are powerful midrange disk systems that have been designed to be easy to use and to enable rapid deployment without additional resources. Storwize V7000 supports block workloads, whereas Storwize V7000 Unified consolidates block and file workloads into a single storage system for simplicity of management and reduced cost. Storwize V7000 and Storwize V7000 Unified are virtual storage systems that offer greater efficiency and flexibility through built-in SSD optimization and thin-provisioning technologies. Integrated IBM Real-time Compression enhances efficiency even further by enabling storing up to five times as much active primary data in the same physical disk space.² Storwize V7000 and Storwize V7000 Unified advanced functions also enable nondisruptive migration of data from existing storage, simplifying implementation and minimizing disruption to users. Finally, these systems also enable you to virtualize and reuse existing disk systems, supporting a greater potential return on investment (ROI)

To learn more: Contact us at (310) 330-2900 or (800) 663-5523

Request information online from Sunstar Company.

News from Sunstar Company

The Nexsan NST5000TM Hybrid storage systems, with simultaneous support for NFS/CIFS/iSCSI, utilizes powerful controllers, copious solid-state cache acceleration, up to 5PB of capacity, and an enterprise-class feature set including redirect-on-write snapshots, replication, quotas/ thin provisioning, active/active clustering, a VSS hardware provider, no single point-of-failure configuration, and much more. It comes in 3 models: NST5100, NST5300, and NST5500.

OVERVIEW OF NEW NST5000 FEATURES IN VERSION 2.1
• eMLC SSDs for NST5000
• LSI SA6160 SAS Switches are now sold by Nexsan for NST5500
• E48 and E48X for disk expansion
• 4TB Drives for NST5300/NST5500
• Dual E-Series Expansions (e.g. E60 + E60X + E60X)
• Max Capacity for NST5300 is now 360 drives and 1440TB
• Max Capacity for NST5500 is now 1260 drives and 5040TB
• New Management GUI and CLI
• SNMP Agent
• Active/Active Clustering Enhanced Management
• Faster Asynchronous Replication
• Dedicated Management Interface (Enet Port)
• Enhanced Network Discovery of NST5000s during Installation

New eMLC SSDs for NST5000

NST5100 can now take up to NST5000 can now take up to 9TB of FASTier SSD Cache.

Customers can get the full advantages of FASTier® in smaller capacity systems, now made more affordable with new-generation eMLC devices.

LSI SAS6160 Switch NST5500 now supports the use of the LAS SAS switch.  Maximum capacity goes from 1PB to 5PB.

E48 / E48X Disk Expansion

New E-Series disk array, the E48 and its E48X expansion are now supported via FC or SASx4 connections to the

NST5300/NST5500.

Provides dense storage (12 drives per U) without having to use a deep rack.  Deep rack is required for E60/E60X, which offer 15 drives per Udensity. 4TB Drives NST5000 now supports 1/2/3/4TB drives for capacity.  Increases the capacity and storage density of the system

Dual E-Series Expansions

NST5300 and NST5500 can now utilize E-Series disk arrays that have been expanded by up to 2 expansion chassis. Max Capacity for NST5300 is now 360 drives and 1440TB.  Max Capacity for NST5500 is now 1260 drives and 5040TB

Management GUI

GUI has been redesigned for conformity with Nexsan corporate branding and color schemes, and performance and scalability have been increased.

Reduces the time required to administer the storage systems. Retains unified management of file and block.

Management CLI

The NST5000’s™ nxadmin CLI now provides a full-fledged, command-based administrative CLI for advanced users. Further reduces the time required to administer the systems for advanced users, lowering OPex and TCO.

SNMP Agent

The NST5000™ now has a built-in SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) agent to provide network administrators the ability to monitor and view status and configuration information for the NST5000™, as well as any externally-connected Nexsan Storage Systems.

Administrator can walk through standard SNMP MIB (Management Information Base) objects on any popular SNMP Management platform, reducing TCO and increasing overall reliability of the IT solution.

Active / Active Clustering

NAS operations were already active/active. Now iSCSI operations are as well.

Increases I/O bandwidth and overall storage system performance.

Faster Asynchronous

Replication

The NST5000™ now provides a mechanism for enabling data de-duplication during replication. De-duplication removes redundant data blocks from datasets (shares and/or iSCSI LUNs) before replicating the data to the remote NST5000™ system. This mechanism reduces network bandwidth consumption, but the trade-offs are increased memory and CPU usage on the NST5000™.

Dedicated Management

Interface

One of the two Ethernet ports on the controller’s motherboard is dedicated to Management. Easier to manage the system after changes have been made to the networking switches and infrastructure.

Enhanced Network

Discovery

For initial installation, the NST5000 storage systems are now discovered across LAN segments. Faster and more robust initial installation of NST5000 systems.

To learn more – please contact us at (800) 663.-5523 or (310) 330-2900

Online: Sunstar Company, Inc.

FICON (Fibre Connection) is the IBM proprietary name for the ANSI FC-SB-3 Single-Byte Command Code Sets-3 Mapping Protocol for Fibre Channel (FC) protocol.

It is a FC layer 4 protocol used to map both IBM’s antecedent (either ESCON or parallel) channel-to-control-unit cabling infrastructure and protocol onto standard FC services and infrastructure. The topology is fabric utilizing FC switches or directors. Valid rates include 1, 2, 4, and 8 Gigabit data rates at distances up to 100 km. FICON has replaced ESCON in current deployments because of FICON’s technical superiority (especially its higher performance) and lower cost.

Except for some initialization dialogue that requires stronger synchronization, FICON uses Fibre Channel class of service 3.

Each FICON channel port is capable of multiple concurrent data exchanges (currently a maximum of 32) in full duplex mode. Information for active exchanges is transferred in Fibre Channel sequences mapped as FICON Information Units (IUs) which consist of one to four Fibre Channel frames, only the first of which carries 32 bytes of FICON (FC-SB-3) mapping protocol. Each FICON exchange may transfer one or many such IUs.

FICON channels use five classes of IUs to conduct information transfers between a channel and a control unit. They are: Data, Command, Status, Control, Command and Data, and lastly Link Control. Only a channel port may send Command or Command and Data IUs, while only a control unit port may send Status IUs.

To learn more: Contact Sunstar Sales at (310) 330-2900

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