As the proliferation of file-based data continues to accelerate, the challenge of how to cost effectively store and manage that data becomes an ever-growing concern. Administrators must weigh the cost of storing certain aging data sets against the need for quick access. Meeting this challenge requires a solution that bridges the gap between high-performance but costly primary storage and inexpensive but management-intensive off-line storage solutions. The Isilon IQ NL-Series storage solution redefines the economics of nearline storage by combining near-primary accessibility with near-tape value. Ed Eldridge, Director of Storage and Application Solutions, comments on recent implementations:
“Accunet’s long, successful relationship with Isilon Systems is significantly enhanced by the addition of the NL platform. Customers with data capacities in the tens, hundreds, or thousands of terabytes routinely struggle with data aging and management issues. Large data sets pose the challenge of transfer time, and obviously the archive repository has to be large and therefore can create substantial additional costs. The goal is to provide both data and cost management and to minimize or eliminate the traditional trade-offs found in those areas.
“Isilon’s NL platform offers a purpose-built solution that is designed to provide large capacity, solid performance, and ease of management – all at an effective price point. The solution also addresses footprint concerns by providing 36TB of archive capacity in a 4U format. Couple that with all of the features of Isilon’s X-Series with regard to installation and expansion, and the NL provides a highly-scalable repository – up to 3.45 petabytes – that delivers at a high value level.”
Isilon’s NL platform uses the same operating system as it’s X-Series storage platform nodes, and also supports all of Isilon’s licensable software applications. The platform also creates new economic paradigms by offering utilization rates of up to 80% and more while retaining the pay-as-you-grow expansion model of Isilon’s traditional platforms.
“Being able to operate production and nearline storage platforms under the same familiar, powerful operating system reduces management and training costs while allowing customers to leverage software to simplify and streamline data management techniques.
“It is powerful to take a single interface and utilize it to create policies that move data based on size, type, aging, etc. to keep the right data on the right platform at the right time. A huge benefit is delivered to customers looking to retain large quantities of data at an effective price point without having to make concessions about data management and access.”
To learn more about the Isilon NL, contact Accunet today for an on-site or web demonstration. Put the power of nearline to work for you in the data center and gain the advantage your business needs.