Features - Storage Innovations:

NETEZZA ROLLS OUT DATA APPLIANCE

Two years after its founding, Netezza has launched its tera-scale data appliance to help Fortune 1000 companies organize and analyze vast amounts of data.

The Framingham, Massachusetts, company says its Netezza Performance Server (NPS) 8000 series will deliver better performance at a lower price than previously available. NPS combines data warehousing hardware, software and storage systems with analysis software.

Samantha Stone, a Netezza spokeswoman, told boston.internet.com that the offering is particularly well-suited for telecommunications, financial services, government and retail customers. Two systems have already been shipped, she said.

A key to its design is the placement of silicon processors near the storage device. This architecture filters and processes records as they come off the storage disk, bringing only the relevant information for each query.

By combining an appliance packaging, off-the-shelf components and a standards-based architecture that doesn't require customers to restructure data, tools or applications, Netezza says it can lower ownership costs for large companies.

That's not to say the NPS is cheap. Pricing for the systems, which are now available, start at $622,000. Initial configurations include the NPS 8100 (up to 4.5 terabytes total storage), the NPS 8200 (9 terabytes) and the NPS 8400 (18 terabytes).

Still, analysts who have previewed the technology have been supportive.

"Companies that rely on data intensive analytic processes can benefit by being able to dig into their data to increase information flow and business productivity," Henry Morris, a vice president with market researchers IDC wrote in a recent report.

Netezza is privately held and has raised $28 million in venture capital from Matrix Partners, Charles River Ventures and Battery Ventures.

In addition to being well-heeled, Netezza has moved into new headquarters and added Sun Microsystems' veteran Ed Zander to its board of directors. It has about 70 employees.