Features - Storage Innovations:

CHARISMAC RELEASES FibreShare FOR MAC OS X

Charismac has released a version of their reliable Storage Area Networking (SAN) software FibreShare that works with Apple's Mac OS X. The volume management software package allows multiple users to share between OS9 and OS X and have shared read and write access to Fibre Channel storage without the bottlenecks commonly associated with traditional Ethernet-based networking. "We're extremely excited about the release of FibreShare for OS X," said Wyler Furgeson, president and CEO of Charismac. "We did not want to release a product for OS X that was not as stable, as reliable, and as widely accepted as our OS 9 FibreShare product. I am confident that with this release we've exceeded our original expectations."

Charismac's OS 9 version of FibreShare has a large installed user base running under OS9. FibreShare allows audio and video applications such as Apple Final Cut Pro, Digidesigns' ProTools and Media 100 to see fibre channel storage as if it were directly attached to the client's computer with no performance hit to the system. FibreShare works seamlessly with hardware from IBM, Vixel, HP, StorageTek, EMC, Brocade, Hitachi Data Systems, McData and many others.

FibreShare for Mac OS X also sees and allows access to OS 9 volumes. Extra attention was given to this functionality so that customers could slowly migrate to OS X when necessary and as their SAN evolves.

"We wanted to provide customers with a way to bring in one or two seats of the OS X software into their existing FibreShare network if necessary. Customers do not need to feel the burden of upgrading their audio and video equipment to OS X is an all or nothing proposition," Furgeson added.

FibreShare for OS X comes complete with all tools necessary for installation including the award-winning Charismac RAID utilities for OS X allowing users to set up a SAN using single disk drives or multi-disk arrays. FibreShare also comes with a comprehensive benchmarking tool in order to test storage devices on the SAN.

FibreShare for OS X carries a suggested retail price of $1249 per network seat. Charismac offers quantity discounts as well as competitive upgrades from other SAN software packages.