Snap Appliance Doubles Server Performance with New Unified Block and File Storage Solution
The Snap Server™ 18000 scales from 2TB-to-30TB, delivering an unmatched combination of price, performance, availability and scalability for less than $5.00/GB
San Jose, Calif. -- August 2, 2004 -- Snap Appliance TM, the network storage division of Adaptec, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADPT), today introduced the Snap Server 18000, its fastest Snap Server ever, featuring critical high-availability features including redundant, hot-swappable hardware components and battery-backed Nonvolatile Memory (NVRAM). With dynamic, on-the-fly scalability up to 30TB and a price tag at less than $5.00/GB -- 75% less than the industry average of $21/GB (see footnote 1) -- the Snap Server 18000 redefines affordable storage solutions for the distributed enterprise.
The Snap Server 18000 is a midrange solution providing a unified block and file platform for consolidating multiple types of data across a broad range of applications to simplify storage management and significantly reduce total cost of ownership (TCO). Powered by dual Intel Xeon processors with Symmetric Multi-processing (SMP), Serial-ATA (SATA) disk drives, and the award-winning Linux-based GuardianOS v3.1 software platform (also announced today), the Snap Server 18000 delivers double the performance of any other Snap Server (see footnote 2).
“The Snap Server 18000 is a significant step forward in high-performance, affordable, enterprise-class network storage, and a great way to start off as a new external storage division of Adaptec,” said Brian Babineau, an analyst with Enterprise Strategy Group. “I see the 18000 being a real asset to small/medium businesses (SMB) needing a pay-as-you-grow primary storage solution as well as for global 5000 companies looking for nearline storage or a remote replication solution.”
Like all of Snap Appliance’s other GuardianOS-powered Snap Servers, the 18000 offers target support for industry-standard Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI), allowing a single platform to support both block (local or database data types) and file (network-attached storage) data in a single platform. This helps customers to simplify the management of their data across the enterprise and enables a new class of cost-effective and efficient IP Storage Area Networks (SANs) using Ethernet.
“Increasing storage requirements and limited corporate budgets are sending SMBs and cost-conscious enterprises to seek value-based storage solutions from established brands,” said Mark Pollard, vice president of marketing of the Snap Appliance division of Adaptec. “The major growth market for storage systems is forecasted to be the less than $50,000 level. The emergence of new lower cost storage technologies such as iSCSI, for storage networks over Ethernet, as well as SATA disk drives are accelerating this growth. The new Snap Server 18000 capitalizes on these industry technologies without compromising the performance, availability, or advanced data protection features enterprise customers demand.”
The Snap Server 18000 solution consists of a high-performance, Networked Attached Storage (NAS) controller and allows the addition of up to seven Snap Disk TM 30SA expansion arrays for easy, incremental scalability from 2TB-to-30TB as business requirements grow. To maximize unified support of both block and file data types, the Snap Server 18000 includes a powerful software feature called Instant Capacity Expansion (I.C.E.) for on-demand scalability and provisioning without having to move data or backup the system. In addition, the Snap Server™ Manager (SSM) allows easy discovering, configuring, and managing of multiple Snap Servers throughout a distributed enterprise network, all from a central location.
Features and Benefits of the Snap Server 18000
Unified Storage Architecture for Simplified Data Management -- Industry standard iSCSI support for economical IP-enabled DAS and SAN solutions over Ethernet and allowing the storage of both block and file data on a single platform -- a key requirement for enterprises looking to reduce cost and complexity by consolidating servers and storage.
Microsoft Certified -- The Snap Server 18000 is listed on the Microsoft Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) in the Storage/RAID System category and features the “Designed for Windows” logo which identifies solutions delivering seamless integration with the Microsoft environment.
Superior Performance and Increased Data Availability -- Snap Server 18000 features dual Intel Xeon processors with SMP and SATA disk drives. Enterprise-class availability features include redundant, hot-swappable hardware components and NVRAM help to ensure data protection.
Simplified Storage Management -- Snap Server Manager (SSM) is capable of administering all GuardianOS-based Snap Servers across a customer’s enterprise network from a single console to reduce TCO and increase ROI with minimal IT resources. Based on Java™ technology, SSM provides an intuitive GUI that is platform-independent.
Comprehensive Data Protection for the SMB and the Enterprise -- Industry-leading storage management software, NetVault from BakBone, is embedded into the GuardianOS v3.1 to deliver enhanced data protection and virtual tape library capability for the Snap Server 18000. Native Snapshot Technology allows for consistent point-in-time incremental backups to further reduce costs. Snap also provides full Network Data Management Protocol (NDMP) support, an open protocol standard for enterprise-wide backup and recovery, enabling advanced restore options.
Server-to-Server (S2S) Synchronization v2 for Advanced Data Protection -- The new S2S v2 software (also announced today) delivers asynchronous, byte-level data replication and is ideal for synchronizing data within distributed enterprises, such as remote office backup/recovery applications or software distribution.
Pricing and Availability
The Snap Server 18000 offers 2TB of storage capacity and will be available before the end of August 2004 through Snap Appliance’s channel partners at an MSRP of $14,995. The Snap Server 18000 can accommodate up to seven Snap Disk 30SA (SD30) expansion arrays to reach a total storage capacity of 30TB. Each SD30 delivers 4TB of storage capacity at an MSRP of $17,995. The Snap Server 18000 comes with a free 45-day trial version of Snap’s new S2S v2 software, which can be purchased from the Snap Appliance web store starting at $699 per server license. Snap Care™ support services are also available through the Snap Web store at http://www.snapappliance.com or by calling (888) 343-SNAP (7627). Please note that all capacities described in this announcement are native capacities.
About Snap Appliance
Snap Appliance is a leader in distributed data management solutions and the worldwide volume leader in network attached storage (NAS) solutions (see footnote 3). More information is available at http://www.snapappliance.com.
About Adaptec Adaptec Inc. (NASDAQ:ADPT) provides end-to-end storage solutions that reliably move, manage and protect critical data and digital content.
Footnotes:
IDC WW Quarterly Disk Storage Systems Tracker, June 2004
Based on internal Snap Appliance test results using industry standard analysis tool, Iometer and NetBench. Snap Server 18000 is showing over 110 MBps of sustained throughput and over 67,000 I/Os per second (IOPS). NetBench results show over 550mb/s (70MB/s).
GartnerGroup Network Attached Storage Market Share: Worldwide 2003