EqualLogic Unveils Breakthrough PeerStorage Architecture

At this week’s Server I/O conference, EqualLogic, Inc. unveiled its breakthrough PeerStorage(TM) architecture for powering modular, self-managing and affordable, enterprise class IP-based storage area networks (SANs). Eliminating complex, time-consuming manual tasks and enabling fast, flexible storage provisioning regardless of scale, PeerStorage solutions promise to reduce acquisition and operating costs up to 75 percent.

“Fortune 500 and mid-size enterprises are seeking simple, affordable SAN solutions that leverage existing skills and infrastructure. They need to free
staff to focus on more strategic assignments without sacrificing functionality,” said Robert Gray, research director of Worldwide Storage Systems Research at IDC. “The PeerStorage Architecture is well positioned to support enterprises wanting to remove the storage management cost and complexity barriers facing IT staffs. EqualLogic’s reception by several of the ‘who’s who’ of financial institutions confirms that PeerStorage technology satisfies their need for a SAN that is easy to use and affordable regardless of scale.”

Combining enterprise storage, networking and software technologies, the PeerStorage architecture revolutionizes shared storage by automating storage
management across multiple arrays and allowing for the easy expansion of the storage pool dynamically and online — reducing ongoing storage management
costs by up to 90 percent.

“Storage is not about capacity, speeds and feeds. It is about offering a comprehensive solution that operates efficiently in the customer’s environment
over the long-term,” said Peter Hayden, chief executive officer and co-founder of EqualLogic, Inc. “Our ability to eliminate complex, time-consuming, manual storage management tasks and dramatically reduce SAN acquisition and operating costs enables EqualLogic to satisfy the needs of Fortune 500 enterprises deploying mid-range SANs.”

Compatibility with Leading Component Vendors

EqualLogic has worked with leading storage and networking component vendors to ensure PeerStorage solutions are compatible with today’s environments. The PeerStorage architecture has undergone extensive testing at both the University of New Hampshire’s InterOperability Lab and within EqualLogic’s growing partner network, which includes Alacritech, QLogic and leading drive vendors.

“OEMs, resellers and integrators are constantly being challenged to deliver more efficient storage networks, whether within legacy environments
that have become unmanageable or growing enterprises where resources are limited,” explained Graeme Plant, director of iSCSI products, QLogic Corp.
“By interoperating with QLogic iSCSI SANblade host bus adapters, EqualLogic’s PeerStorage architecture solves this challenge with a reliable, affordable and interoperable standards-based offering.”

“As our solutions partner, EqualLogic presents a unique blend of storage, networking and enterprise expertise that is invaluable as we deliver specialized and proven solutions to our customers,” added Ronald Etlinger, vice president of Amherst Technologies, a national IT solution and services provider. “The PeerStorage architecture reduces the burden of establishing and maintaining shared storage.”

Back to Enterprise Storage Forum