Pillar Unveils Next-Gen Storage System

Pillar Data Systems on Tuesday launched its next-generation Axiom storage system, which includes better support for applications commonly used with the technology, including VMware, Oracle, Microsoft Exchange, and SQL database.

The Axiom 600 and 600MC, which stands for mission critical, comes with new application profiles to better optimize the system to supported software. Pillar describes the Axiom system as "application aware," which means it's configured to meet the storage and speed requirements of individual applications.

Along with the application profiles, the Axiom system boosts utilization rates in comparison with other systems by providing up to eight RAID controllers per storage pool. A RAID controller is a device that manages the physical disk drives in a RAID, which is a system of multiple hard drives for sharing or replicating data.

As a result, customers can support more applications on a single storage system, according to Pillar. For example, the Axiom 600 can support 50% more virtual machines than competitors' products.

"By deploying Pillar Axiom, customers can now derive maximum performance, functionality, and industry-leading utilization rates -- and we're the only ones in the industry to guarantee it," Mike Workman, chairman and chief executive of Pillar, said in a statement.

The profiles that ship with the 600 systems are preconfigured and can be selected from a pull-down menu in the management graphical user interface. Profiles are preconfigured and customizable. Pillar's policy-based management capabilities also make it possible to integrate storage area networks and network-attached storage into a centrally managed storage platform.

Pillar is privately funded by Tako Ventures, which is the investment arm of Oracle chief executive and founder Larry Ellison. Therefore, it's no surprise that the Axiom is billed as an "optimal storage platform" for Oracle applications. Axiom offers tight integration with Oracle databases running Automatic Storage Management technology.

The Axiom 600 and 600MC are available through Pillar and channel partners. Pricing was not disclosed. Pillar competitors include BlueArc, Compellent, EMC, Hitachi Data Systems, Isilon, NetApp, and 3PAR.