Storage:

NexStor 4000S Combines Performance/High Density

nStor Technologies Inc raised the standards for storage systems by demonstrating sustained Ultra320 SCSI performance in a 2U (3.5") enclosure, making it the highest density enclosure on the market utilizing this new technology. Previewed at COMDEX 2001, the NexStor 4000S Ultra320 SCSI product series has been delivered to key customers and selected Ultra320 developers. The 4000S is available in limited quantities, with volume production slated for early second quarter of 2002. "With the introduction of the NexStor 4000S series, businesses can now integrate a storage system into space restrained environments without sacrificing Ultra320 (320 MB/s per bus) SCSI performance," said Tom Piacentini, vice president of marketing, nStor Technologies. "It is the first system of its kind to demonstrate sustained Ultra320 data transfer rates -- not just signal bursts or performance measurement for a split second."

The NexStor 4000S combines performance with high density, accommodating 12 low-profile 73GB drives, active/active RAID controllers, and Ultra320 performance all within the same 3.5” form factor. Maximum capacity is 876GB, scalable to 1.7TB with the next generation of disk drives. The innovative 4000S design is also the first to integrate active/active Ultra160 (160 MB/s) SCSI RAID controllers within the same 3.5” form factor -- no additional separate controller module unit is required. All 4000S systems employ a modular design, making them excellent building blocks for expanding, direct-connect storage environments. In addition, the 4000S offers flexible, customizable configurations to meet the needs of OEMs, resellers and end users. Available as a rackmount storage system or a deskside tower model, the systems employ common, interchangeable components to provide a secure foundation for entry-level to mid-range storage requirements.

"The 2U design has become the foundation of our SCSI and Fibre Channel storage family," Piacentini continued. "With drive manufacturers heading toward a common 1" (low-profile) drive form factor, the standardization on a single 12-bay storage system maximizes nStor's development cycle by allowing us to focus on a single design technology. The 4000S also incorporates headroom for higher capacity 1-inch drives that will become available."

Additional performance features include cable-less data I/O paths, traditional front-to-back cooling, and backwards Ultra2 and Ultra160 SCSI host connectivity. The high availability architecture of the 4000S maximizes uptime and reliability, with its hot-swappable, redundant power supplies, drives, RAID controllers and fan module.

The NexStor 4000S is available as a JBOD unit, single controller RAID or dual controller RAID system. Users can choose from Ultra320 JBOD or Ultra160 RAID SCSI connectivity within the same 3.5" system. The JBOD unit provides compatible Ultra320 performance through single (320 MB/s) bus or dual (640 MB/s) bus configurations. The product can be migrated into a high-availability RAID system by simply adding RAID controllers into the back of the system. Each RAID controller provides Ultra160 host connectivity for a combined 320 MB/s host performance capability.

nStor's accompanying AdminiStor 6.2 software suite provides configuration, monitoring and management capabilities. An intuitive graphic user interface (GUI) allows customers to install, set up and configure systems in a minimum amount of time. AdminiStor features include logical unit (LUN) mapping, real-time monitoring, and local or remote system administration. AdminiStor 6.2 offers cross-platform support in environments including Red Hat Linux, Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Sun Solaris.

About nStor Technologies

Headquartered in San Diego, California, nStor Technologies Inc designs, develops and manufacturers direct attached and SAN-ready data storage enclosures and storage management software used in storage solutions for open systems computing operations. that include Windows NT, Windows 2000, Unix, Macintosh and Linux platforms. nStor markets its products through a direct sales force and a global network of reseller and OEM partners. Additional information about nStor can be found by visiting the company's Web site at www.nstor.com.