Storage Seeks NAS Appeal: Page 2 of 3

• Exanet Inc. has a second release of its ExaStore NAS, which the startup claims significantly beefs up performance over the previous version. The system -- a Linux-based distributed file system that runs on dedicated, off-the-shelf Intel Xeon-based servers -- targets environments that need fast, shared file access, such as digital prepress and scientific applications.

  Company spokespeople say the new release will boost the system's attractiveness in the pricey market for high-end NAS. A two-node ExaStore cluster with 10TB of SATA disk typically costs $125,000.

• Another NAS startup, Isilon Systems, announced a new version of its OneFS distributed file system, which runs on the Isilon IQ series of NAS hardware. Isilon says it has improved data protection by speeding up repairs from failed disks with extensions to its FlexProtect-AP software. The upgraded OS also adds file-level replication with the integration of the company's SyncIQ software, which can be purchased separately for $4,950 per node. OneFS 3.0 will start shipping in new systems in November; upgrades from older versions are free.

These moves reflect a bigger trend in the increasingly competitive NAS field. "Reducing complexity" is becoming the new catchphrase as products seek a broader audience.

Brett Mendel, Senior Analyst, Byte and Switch Insider