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IBM introduces IBM system storage N5000 series gateway to bolster SMB portfolio
New "Storage Bridge" Marks One Year IBM And Network Appliance Relationship
IBM today expanded its lineup of storage solutions for small and medium businesses and extended its landmark relationship with Network Appliance (NetApp), by introducing a new NAS gateway solution, the IBM System Storage N5000. The new solution acts as a "storage bridge" between Storage Area Networks (SANs) and Network Attached Storage (NAS) environments designed to deliver SMB customers greater access to their data as well as disaster recovery capabilities.
The IBM System Storage N5000 Series Gateway is the latest product in a series of offerings resulting from IBM's strategic relationship with Network Appliance. Earlier this year, IBM announced it would offer the IBM N series Gateway to customers with Fibre Channel storage networks. Today’s N5000 Series Gateway is designed to help companies address their information on demand needs by bringing the network consolidation advantages of a Gateway offering to clients who wish to connect their IP storage solutions to their Fibre Channel storage networks.
"The IBM and Network Appliance relationship has surpassed our expectations and is helping both companies reach new clients in new industries," said Bob Mahoney, Business Line Executive NSeries, IBM System Storage. "Through the relationship, IBM is able to provide its customers one of the broadest portfolio of midrange products and services that are designed to make connections across the enterprise and that help them to build a fully integrated business and technology environment."
"NetApp is pleased to continue to partner with IBM to bring the benefits of our data management solutions to IBM customers," said Patrick Rogers, vice president of marketing at Network Appliance. "Together, NetApp and IBM are continuing to expand and provide a best-in-class portfolio of storage solutions that helps customers integrate storage resources on their own terms, according to their own needs, and without compromise."
Gateway to Consolidated Storage
The new IBM System Storage N5000 Series Gateway offers cost-effective IP attachment to Fibre Channel-based storage subsystems as a comprehensive storage solution designed to unify NAS, SAN and iSCSI under a common architecture. Clients can utilize a single N-Series Gateway to support Unix, Linux and Windows file protocols as well as iSCSI block protocols, and extends the reach of SAN and NAS storage to heterogeneous storage subsystems.
The N series Gateways will be available in two models (N5200 and N5500), all with many redundant, hot swappable components, 8 Gigabit Ethernet and Fibre Channel ports, and over 30 different advanced software features and functions from the Data ONTAP operating system to Snap solution benefits. The varying models are scalable from 50 terabytes up to 84TB of physical capacity and can support heterogeneous storage subsystems including IBM System Storage DS4800 and DS8000 series systems, as well as other non-IBM storage products.
Nearline Storage Solution
IBM today is also announcing enhancements to its Nearline Storage Solutions including enhanced back-up capabilities and capacity with 500 GB SATA Disk Drives for all N series appliances. Nearline Storage is designed for customers who need on-line, fast access disk solutions with features including data protection capabilities, remote disaster recovery and online archival.
DataFabric Manager
With the addition of DataFabric Manager as the latest software function added to the N series, IBM can offer customers with comprehensive system management, alerting and monitoring tools. Designed to provide a central point of control, these tools help manage storage and content delivery infrastructure, and includes options to also license software features specific for business continuity and storage resource management.
Pricing and Availability
The products announced today will be available starting June 2, 2006. The IBM System Storage N5000 Gateways will be available with a starting list price of $34,650. The pricing includes a 3-year warranty on hardware and software. 06.06.2006, Hans-Juergen Rehm, IBM Deutschland GmbH
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