IBM Delivers on Storage Area Network (SAN) Initiative

Strategic Insights -

IBM has announced new packages designed to help businesses of all sizes consolidate, secure, preserve, and share critical data more easily. This announcement marks one year since IBM launched its SAN initiative at PC Expo, demonstrating the company's focus on the growing market opportunity. IBM is delivering a range of SAN-ready storage solutions, from entry-level to high-end, to meet the needs of customers.

Key Takeaways:

  • IBM is launching new packages to help businesses consolidate, secure, preserve, and share critical data more easily.
  • The packages are designed to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, from entry-level to high-end.
  • IBM's SAN initiative includes tape and disk storage, hardware, software, and services to create complete SAN solutions.
  • The initiative is focused on meeting the needs of companies using NT-based platforms, with 91% indicating that NT servers would be connected to a SAN in their companies (IDG research study).
  • IBM SmartPaks are packaged SAN solutions that include storage hardware, software, switches, and services.
  • SmartPaks are constructed around the four basic goals of networked storage: data consolidation, data protection, disaster prevention, and sharing.
  • Tivoli storage management software is included in all SmartPaks to manage the entire SAN.
  • Customers can select a SAN solution based on server platform, size of the enterprise, and goals of the storage network.
  • IBM Netfinity FAST200 is a new, low-cost Fibre Channel storage server that enables more Netfinity and other Intel-based server customers to connect to SANs.
  • Magstar 3590 Model E offers native Fibre Channel connectivity for SANs and supports Windows, Linux, and Novell as well as other Intel-based platforms.
  • Shark Enterprise Storage Server is the highest-performance disk storage system in the industry and is optimized with Fibre Channel connectivity to S/390, NT, RS/6000, and NUMA-Q.
  • IBM Global Services is expanding its SAN services offerings with enhanced Performance Management and Capacity Planning Services.

Statistics:

  • 91% of companies using NT-based platforms plan to connect their NT servers to a SAN (IDG research study).
  • IBM Netfinity FAST200 starts at less than $8,000.
  • Magstar 3590 Model E can transfer data at speeds of up to 100 megabytes per second over distances of up to 11 kilometers.
  • IBM has 62,000 existing Magstar customers.
  • IBM has provided upgrades to the new Fibre Channel technology to allow attachment to RS/6000 and other Unix and Windows NT/2000 servers.
  • IBM Global Services continues to expand its SAN services offerings to help customers optimize their SANs.

Sources:

  • "The Promise of SANs," an IDG research study
  • IBM announcement on SAN initiative at PC Expo (no date specified)
  • IBM press release on new SAN offerings (no date specified)
  • IBM Global Services press release on SAN services offerings (no date specified)