Cluster Computing:

ISILON ANNOUNCES TWO GBps THROUGHPUT FROM A STORAGE CLUSTER

Isilon Systems, a premier provider of intelligent clustered storage systems for digital content, announced test results from independent analyst firm Enterprise Strategy Group that determined Isilon IQ delivers more than 2GB per second of throughput from a single file system and storage cluster -- the first clustered network storage solution to deliver performance at this level. Additionally, ESG Lab tested the new Isilon SyncIQ replication software and found extensive benefits over existing replication products.

In addition to testing the new Isilon IQ 1440 and 2250 storage clusters, ESG Lab spent significant time evaluating SyncIQ in a hands-on environment and worked with Isilon customers to evaluate its performance and benefits. ESG Lab validated that SyncIQ is an easy to use remote replication application that has a powerful set of user definable policies, providing customers multiple levels of control to save cost and time, and optimize storage and bandwidth resources. Specific findings also prove that remote replication with SyncIQ has a number of important uses, including disaster avoidance and recovery, local back-up and restore, content distribution, distributed workflow and information lifecycle management.

Top-Level Findings

Below are the top-level findings taken directly from The ESG Lab Reports on Isilon IQ 1440 & 2250 and SyncIQ replication software:

Isilon IQ 1440 & 2250:

• Isilon IQ is a clustered network storage system that is easier to manage than traditional NAS products while providing SAN levels of performance.
• Isilon IQ is an ideal solution for digital content (images, video, audio, pdfs) and reference data applications.
• Isilon IQ has nearly linear scalability in performance and requires minimal management regardless of how much storage capacity is added - it takes the same amount of people to manage 1 Petabyte as it does 1 Terabyte of storage.
• In less than 20 minutes, a 3-node Isilon IQ clustered system was installed, configured, and used as a single network drive with 4.3TB of storage capacity.
• ESG Lab's first-hand experience with Isilon IQ, combined with our discussions with their customers, validates the unique value Isilon offers.

SyncIQ:

• SyncIQ is easy to use and the performance is outstanding.
• SyncIQ policies provide system administrators with a powerful set of tools to optimize remote replication that can save time, increase storage capacity, and minimize bandwidth utilization and associated costs.
• Remote replication with SyncIQ has a number of important uses including distributing data across multiple locations for data sharing, load balancing, content delivery, disaster recovery and data migrations for system upgrades.
• SyncIQ has a fundamental architectural advantage for large scale replication over traditional single-server or single NAS-head approaches. The result is superior performance and near-linear scalability as cluster sizes grow.
• SyncIQ is an excellent addition to the Isilon product line and will greatly benefit customers who require remote replication capabilities.

"Isilon has developed a remarkable network storage solution, which is why they are gaining more and more customer wins in extremely competitive situations," said Tony Asaro, project manager for ESG Lab. "SyncIQ is an intelligent and unique remote replication solution that gives customers a wide range of options to optimize their environments. Sync IQ is easy to use and the performance is outstanding. The new product is an excellent addition to the Isilon IQ family and will greatly benefit customers who require remote replication capabilities."