NetApp Targets Mid-range NAS, SAN Markets

Network Appliance this week added two new mid-range storage platforms focused on improved performance and simplified management and upgradeability.

The newly available platforms include the NetApp FAS3040 and the NetApp v3040, a virtualization edition. The vendor said the new systems offer 75 percent greater performance and 50 percent more storage than the systems they are updating, the FAS3020. The new systems support file services, FC SAN, IP SAN (or iSCSI), and multiple network configurations. They are based on a 64-bit architecture, with up to 252 disk drives, 126 TB of storage, and high-bandwidth I/O, including embedded 4Gb Fibre Channel ports.NetApp's feels its focus on improved cost/performance, a single management interface across all its systems and the ability to easily upgrade from one system to another are the keys to its expanding product line. "Customers understand that ease of use is an important component in managing total system costs," said Patrick Rogers, vice president, solutions marketing at Network Appliance.On the performance front, NetApp touted several metrics. In the Microsoft Exchange Solution Reviewed Program (ESRP) storage test, the new NetApps systems demonstrated support for up to 14,000 Microsoft Exchange users at 1.0 IOPs per user, 2,000 more users than comparable EMC storage systems, the vendor said. NetApp also claimed the new systems beat similar competitor systems in SPEC_SFS benchmarks for throughput and overall response time.