Dell: New Product Reduces Entry-Level SAN Costs

Dell says it's Dell/EMC AX100 cuts networked storage by about half as it uses iSCSI technology.

iSCSI is a standards-based connectivity technology that eliminates the need for a dedicated Fibre Channel network and lets users deploy entry-level storage area networks (SANs) on the same Internet Protocol (IP) networks they use to connect their servers and computer systems.

The Dell/EMC AX100i eliminates the need for specialized Fibre Channel equipment and skills by utilizing inexpensive networking components. By replacing Fibre Channel networking components with Ethernet networking components, customers can cut the cost of a complete entry-level SAN by up to 50 percent, according to Dell.

Demand for IP-based SANs is expected to grow as small organizations and remote workgroups realize the simplicity and value of iSCSI. Industry analyst firm IDC predicts that nearly 20 percent of the revenue in the sub-$15,000 external storage array market will come from iSCSI technology this year.

The Dell/EMC AX100i supports applications such as Exchange and SQL for small organizations and workgroups and offers simplified set-up, management, scalabilityand streamlined back-ups. Users can set up the AX100i on their own, connecting to a standard Ethernet network using wizard-based tools.The Dell/EMC AX100i is now available at $4,999.