Business News Holding

Category: storage

  • Virtualization Heads Gartner's Strategic Technology List


    Virtualization     is the technology with the potential for having the most “significant impact” on enterprises over the next three years, according to Gartner.

    Every year the analyst firm highlights the top 10 technologies and trends it predicts will be strategic for most organizations.

    Virtualization, which ranked fifth on Gartner’s list last year, has moved to the top slot for 2009.

    Gartner defines "significant impact" as including factors such as high potential for disruption to IT or the business, the need for a major dollar investment, or the risk of being late to adopt.

    David Cearley, vice president at Gartner, said strategic technologies affect, run, grow and transform the business initiatives of an organization.

    "Companies should look at these 10 opportunities and evaluate where these technologies can add value to their business services and solutions, as well as develop a process for detecting and evaluating the business value of new technologies as they enter the market," he said.

    Cloud computing ranked second in the list, while servers came third.

  • Hitachi Unveils Midrange Storage Platform


    Hitachi Data Systems has unveiled its next-generation line-up of midrange storage systems, the Hitachi Adaptable Modular Storage (AMS) 2000 Series.

    The company says the ground-breaking new systems introduce a wide range of pioneering technologies previously unavailable on a midrange storage platform.

    It says they deliver improved performance, connectivity, scalability, reliability and ease-of-use to midrange customers.

    Customers benefit by implementing a sophisticated, cost-effective midrange storage platform that can scale to better address their growing storage environments and diverse application requirements.

    Mark Peters, an analyst with the Enterprise Strategy Group, said that mid-sized businesses and operations have precisely the same challenges as larger ones.

    But he said the storage industry often met their needs for reduced scale and increased affordability with a significantly compromised feature set.

    "The new AMS products from Hitachi turn such old-fashioned notions on their head, providing mid-sized storage systems that blend advanced functionality and affordability with flexibility and ease of use,” he said.

    “Hitachi’s innovative combination of a SAS backend with an advanced active-active controller is what underpins the systems’ extensive capabilities, which users can access via a straightforward GUI.”

    The Hitachi AMS Series 2000 delivers up to 4x the performance compared to prior generations, and also offers storage consolidation for iSCSI, NAS, and Fibre Channel storage area network (SAN) connections.

    The AMS Series 2000 is comprised of three models: the Hitachi AMS 2100, the Hitachi AMS 2300, and the Hitachi AMS 2500.

    The entire portfolio of midrange storage systems meets the benchmarking standard "Five 9’s" of availability, 99.999 per cent uptime.

    The new Hitachi AMS Series 2000 delivers the following:

    • The industry’s Hitachi Dynamic Load Balancing Controller turbocharges the storage system to peak levels of performance with virtually no-touch.
    • Unlike asymmetrical controller designs of traditional midrange storage systems, the breakthrough Hitachi Dynamic Load Balancing Controller eliminates typical bottlenecks and “hot spots” that can decrease I/O response times by monitoring utilization rates of each controller and dynamically enables workload balancing.
    • The industry’s first 3Gb/s Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) Backplane in a midrange storage platform, providing the fastest, most cost-effective way to process and transfer data through a storage controller engine.
    • This breakthrough technology curbs the architectural limitations of arbitrated loop designs with support for up to 32 3Gb/s high-performance point-to-point links that deliver a blistering 9600 MB/sec of bandwidth and dramatically speed data transfer.

  • SecuWipe Software Erases Smartphone Data


    Aiko Solutions has announced the public release of SecuWipe, a data erasure utility for PDAs and smartphones.

    Concerns over smartphone security have been rising steadily, not least because of the handsets’ great capacity for storing large amounts of corporate and personal information.

    Standard “deletion” and even a “hard reset” do not completely wipe data off the device, with the result that sensitive information can still be easily retrieved by using special recovery software.

    Aiko is claiming an industry first by offering software that overwrites data with US DoD (Department of Defense) compliant methods and makes data truly erased and unrecoverable.

    The security software developer says SecuWipe is an advanced software utility to securely sanitize data on Windows Mobile Pocket PCs, Smartphones and Windows CE handhelds.

    It says the solution can be used to clean the Smartphone before recycling or to remove traces of online activity, SMS and calls records.

    “SecuWipe is the best choice for those who want to avoid security breaches and protect customer privacy,” according to a statement from the company.

    The program employs different data sanitizing algorithms, including zero-filling, U.S. DoD 5220.22-M method, Bruce Schneier’s algorithm, and Peter Gutman’s algorithm.

    SecuWipe will securely erase:

    • Contacts
    • Email, SMS, MMS messages
    • Calls
    • Appointments, Tasks
    • Notes, Recordings
    • Internet Cache, Cookies and History
    • Free Space
    • SD card(s)
    • Files and Folders

    SecuWipe is available as a demo version at no cost, and it can be downloaded. A single-user license can be securely purchased online for USD $39.95. Volume and academic pricing is available upon request.

  • SingleHop Offers 2 Gigs RAM Free


    Managed dedicated hosting provider, SingleHop, has announced that it has completed a free of charge, memory upgrade program.

    Over 900 SingleHop customers had less than 2 GB of RAM in their servers when the program commenced in July 2008.

    The company says now almost every customer has a minimum 2 GB of RAM.

    All new customers will receive a minimum of 2 GB of RAM in their servers, also free of charge.

    SingleHop allowed customers to schedule the time and date when their upgrade would be performed during the process.

    The entire program, valued at over USD $100,000, was aimed at increasing customer loyalty and satisfaction, as well as improving SingleHop’s competitiveness in the marketplace.

    Zak Boca, president of SingleHop, said two very important goals were accomplished through the upgrade program.

    “First we increased the satisfaction and loyalty of our existing clients by giving them an upgrade for free,” he said. “Second, we made our server offerings more competitive with the overall marketplace.”

    Boca said many hosting providers like to upgrade their packages for new clients, but don’t touch the packages for existing customers. He said this was counter-productive.

    “We’re just as concerned with keeping current customers happy as we are with attracting new ones,” he said.

    The third quarter of 2008 has seen a huge surge in SingleHop product offerings including:

    • the IPCast Pay-As-You-Go Content Delivery Network
    • the announcement of LEAP, the server manager webtop client portal
    • the company’s free 2GB RAM upgrade for existing clients
    • the release of Advanced Automatic Server Provisioning (AASP), a technology exclusive to SingleHop and LEAP, which drastically increases server installation time as well as reduces human error. Additionally LEAP features SingleHop’s exclusive IP ensure technology, which guarantees that clients will only receive clean IP addresses.

  • IBM Expands Storage Virtualization for SMBs


    IBM is to introduce a cheaper and less powerful version of it storage virtualization software for use by small and medium sized (SMB) businesses.

    The System Storage SAN Volume Controller (SVC) software is designed to help improve storage utilization rates, energy efficiency, administrator productivity, availability, and scalability of critical applications.

    It is intended to significantly improve the flexibility and responsiveness of IT infrastructures by creating consolidated, virtual pools of information.

    This is seen as a key issue for SMBs with exploding volumes of data that are looking to control costs while also responding to the changing business environment.

    Barry Rudolph, vice president, IBM System Storage, said the company had been the leader in storage virtualization since SVC was introduced five years ago.

    “By incorporating a more accessible and affordable product through our IBM Business Partners we are giving clients what they have been asking for – a way to incorporate green and efficient technologies into their information infrastructures to manage the data center crisis of today."

    SVC Entry Edition is planned to be generally available on November 21.

  • JOBS: Manager of Hardware Engineering with consumer video electronics experience


    Cisco’s Emerging Technologies Group (ETG) focuses on creating solutions in new and adjacent technology markets, and is looking for high energy, high impact individuals who want to help shape Cisco’s future by building our next USD $1B business.

    Consumer TelePresence is a new Business Unit being incubated in ETG, and we are currently seeking a Manager of Hardware Engineering to help lead this incubation through to a significant business. Leveraging technology developed for our enterprise TelePresence product, the fastest growing product in Cisco’s history, CTBU will bring to market a breakthrough, consumer version of TelePresence which will provide a unique, in-person experience when communicating with friends and relatives over the internet.

    Job Description:

    Reporting to the Director of Hardware of TSBU, the Manager of Hardware Engineering will be responsible for the following:

    • Build world-class engineering team
    • Work with product management, market development, and customers to develop, refine, validate, and prioritize product requirements and product roadmaps
    •Work with industrial design team to ensure constraints are met in developing compelling consumer designs.
    • Define product hardware architecture and system level designs based on product requirements and business model.
    • Work with director of software to ensure a complete system and make appropriate trade offs as a team
    • Develop product hardware functional specifications
    • Develop product prototype
    • Make strategic trade-offs in make-buy-partner technology decisions
    • Drive to develop and protect intellectual property for market leadership.
    • Lead development, launch and successful revenue growth of the product(s)
    • Develop, and adhere to, resource plans, schedule, and budget

    Requirements:
    • Previous multiple year experience in the consumer electronics market, bringing multiple successful products to market.
    • Experience with video, audio products and solutions.
    • Track record of developing “disruptive” products and bringing them to market
    • Very high technical competence, individual technical accomplishments with repeated, proven track record for product delivery
    • Entrepreneurial drive, demonstrated ability to achieve stretch goals in an innovative and fast paced environment
    • Strong leadership and management skills, ability to deliver results with a small, fast-paced teams, and ability to work across teams
    • Strong ability to stay in sync with key customer requirements and deliver products to meet the requirements, making appropriate trade-offs
    • Experience in building high performing engineering teams
    • Strong inter-personal skills and teamwork
    • Ability to work and thrive in a true “startup” mode

    Other desired qualifications include:
    • Work experience with successful startups
    • Brought products to market with cameras or displays
    • Experience with visual communications systems.

    This position is located in San Jose, CA, US

    Please click here for more information.

  • IT Managers Pushed To Cut Carbon Emissions


    Almost two-thirds of IT managers are being pressured to reduce their carbon footprints, according to a survey.

    The results show that 61 per cent are being directed to cut down on their energy usage and 60 per cent plan to reduce their carbon footprint within the next 18 months.

    The poll, commissioned by VAR Zycko among IT managers in the UK, also found that 70 per cent already have some green measures in place.

    These range from measures such as remote working and video conferencing facilities to reducing the need for employees to travel.

    The survey into green IT issues currently faced by medium to large UK businesses also identified major hurdles on the way to reducing carbon emissions.

    Almost two thirds (67%) of IT managers are unaware of how much power their data centre draws and less than half (45%) currently enforce shutting down of computers at night and on weekends.

    Six per cent have no policies in place at all.

    Lack of IT resources and cost were cited as the biggest barriers to becoming green (52%), with 23 per cent claiming they simply do not know what their options are. When asked where they get their information on environmental issues, 39 per cent claimed they rely on their suppliers.

  • HP Boosts Virtualization Options With Purchase Of LeftHand Networks


    Hewlett-Packard is to spend USD $360 million in cash to buy storage virtualization company LeftHand Networks.

    The company covers two areas currently receiving a lot of attention – allocating storage for virtualized servers and the using Ethernet for storage networks.

    LeftHand Networks’ solutions enable midsize companies and remote offices or branches of large corporations to easily and cost-effectively protect critical business data.

    The company’s software allows a user to create a storage “cloud” connected via iSCSI, an Ethernet standard rather than the proprietary Fibre Channel networking that dominates the storage industry.

    The software could run on IBM and HP servers.

    Founded in 1999, LeftHand Networks is privately held and headquartered in Boulder, Colorado.

    It has 215 employees and more than 500 resellers and distributors worldwide. The company has more than 11,000 installations across 3,000 different customers.

    Dave Roberson, senior vice president and general manager, StorageWorks Division, HP, said the acquisition of LeftHand Networks significantly expanded HP’s storage portfolio.

    "Customers need a faster, less complex and more economical route to storage networking to better protect their critical business data,” he said.

    The transaction is subject to certain closing conditions and is expected to be completed in HP’s first fiscal quarter of 2009.

    Following completion, the business will be integrated into the HP StorageWorks division within the Technology Solutions Group at HP.

  • Sony Expands Memory Stick Line


    Sony is expanding its Memory Stick media with new products that include features such as USB connectivity and pre-bundled movie content.

    The latest addition is the HX series of Memory Stick media, which comes in either 4 or 8 GB capacities and has high transfer rates – especially for large capacity files.

    Shane Higby, director of marketing for Sony Electronics’ consumer media group, said new digital SLR cameras and HD camcorders were driving the demand for higher capacity storage with greater connectivity and faster transfer speed.

    “With the included USB adaptor, the new HX series gives users the convenience of transferring pictures and video to their PC faster and easier,” he said.

    The new HX series has a 20 MB/s read speed and 15 MB/s write speed, about three times faster than regular Memory Stick PRO-Duo media.

    Sony is also introducing a new version of its Memory Stick Entertainment Pack, which lets users choose one of four movies from Sony Pictures Entertainment.

    The featured titles, which have a combined box office total of more than USD $1 billion worldwide, include: Surf’s Up, The Da Vinci Code, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and Benchwarmers.

    This pack includes a launcher DVD featuring the four movies, and users can unlock the title of their choice using a provided code and transfer it to the Memory Stick media.

    Each movie is optimized for playback on Sony’s PlayStation3 or PlayStation Portable systems.

    Sony is also is also releasing a new line of Memory Stick Micro media, designed for use with compatible Sony Ericsson multimedia phones.

    The new models are available in one, two, four and eight GB capacities, and come with a USB adaptor.

    This allows users to copy data to their M2 media and then transfer it to a PC with USB port.

  • SanDisk Announces 16GB Mobile Phone Memory Card


    SanDisk is to launch what it claims is the world’s largest removable storage capacity for mobile phones – a 16GB microSDHC and Memory Stick Micro mobile memory card.

    The fingernail-sized memory cards are aimed at consumers wanting to get the most out of the many storage-intensive features in today’s portable handsets.

    These include music and video playback, high-definition digital camera functions, gaming and GPS applications.

    The 16GB card can also be used in other devices, including video cameras, GPS receivers or MP3 players with microSD slots.

    MicroSD cards are designed for slot-equipped legacy mobile phones and can hold a maximum capacity of 2GB. Current MicroSDHC cards are available in 4GB and 8GB.

    Avi Greengart, research director for mobile devices at Current Analysis, said there was an acute need for more mobile storage capacity.

    He said 16GB gave consumers the ability to carry their digital content with them and still have room to do more with their mobile phones.

    “Handsets have become far more than just phones – they’ve become mobile jukeboxes, mobile offices, even mobile movie theaters,” he said.

    “Flash memory cards have increased in storage capacity, but even an 8GB card may be too small for anyone with GPS map data, a few movies, a game or two, a presentation file and other applications.”

    SanDisk’s 16GB microSDHC card will be available in the US in November.