Top Storage Products of 2007

There are lots of reasons to take stock during the holidays, not the least of which is to plan for the new year. In this month of "budget flushing," we at Byte and Switch think it's time to look back at the products we've covered in 2007 that have had -- or could have -- the biggest impact on our readers.

Any list like this is highly subjective, and we're pretty sure we'll generate some controversy with the picks that follow. But in our view, the products we've chosen to profile deserve to be thought of as "disruptive" to the status quo.

Our listees have three things in common: First, they were introduced in 2007, even if they're not yet shipping; second, they're concrete entities, not architectures or strategies like data center automation or FCoE; and third, each item has changed or has the potential to change the everyday lives of storage managers.

Our list is presented in alphabetical order by vendor name. In the two instances where we've opted to allocate one spot to two vendors at once, the listing of one's name first is strictly arbitrary.

Please note: We haven't picked a magic number like 10. We can't even pretend to be comprehensive. Instead, we've opted for a sampling of what we think are leading product offerings. We know that some of you would make this list longer or shorter, and we welcome your views.So read on and enjoy. And as ever, feel free to agree, disagree, or add your own ideas on the board below.

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Date announced: July 31, 2007.Read about it here.Description: Asigra added 64-bit capability to its agentless software last summer, making it possible for service providers and enterprises using Asigra's platform to apply backup and recovery features to virtual machines. This entails things like backing up one virtual machine to another virtual machine; backing up data from one vendor's server and restoring that data on another vendor's hardware; and selectively restoring individual virtual machines without restoring an entire server or servers.

Why It's Hot: With the addition of 64-bit capability, Asigra became the first provider of agentless backup services software to operate within virtualized environments. Given the momentum of virtualization in large networks, we think that's a significant milestone.

Next page Date announced: On or about August 8, 2007.Read about it here.Description: Both Emulex and QLogic are offering 8-Gbit/s products for sampling by OEMs. Emulex offers a series of PCI Express-based HBAs, mezzanine adapters for blade server cards, and embedded I/O controller. QLogic has PCIe HBAs, mezzanine server cards, core and stackable switches, and an iSCSI-to-8-Gbit/s Fibre Channel router. Both vendors insist the 8-Gbit/s products will use the same drivers and management software offered for each vendor's previously released 2- and 4-Gbit/s kit.Why It's Hot: Enterprise customers show no sign of backing off of Fibre Channel, and the growth of data and increased complexity of data protection calls for faster storage networks. As the next generation of Fibre Channel, 8-Gbit/s wares are in the vanguard of tomorrow's SANs, and QLogic and Emulex are there first.

Next page Date announced: October 29, 2007.Read about it here.Description: IBM struck first with an LTO-4 library that self-encrypts. But HP claims its standalone appliance is an approach more suited to the emerging trend toward devices that handle encryption keys from multiple devices. On the downside, the SKM is expensive ($100,000 to start), and it only supports HP's enterprise tape libraries so far.

Why It's Hot: HP's been raising the momentum of its storage lineup. If this product pans out as HP says it will, customers could have their first multidevice key management appliance from a major supplier. That could be life-changing for sure.

Next page Date announced: September 24, 2007.Read about it here.Description: This technique, which HDS argues vehemently is not MAID, powers down disks in HDS's midrange RAID arrays when they're not in use. PSSS is offered on HDS's Adaptable Modular Storage (AMS) and Workgroup Modular Storage (WMS) systems. HDS claims PSSS can reduce storage array energy costs by up to 20 percent.

Why It's Hot: HDS, already a midrange favorite for enterprise customers, has managed to create a concrete energy-saving technology without modifying its arrays. The result is green savings from a mainstream storage supplier. What's not to love?Next page Date announced: Debatable.Read about it here.Description: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (HGST) and Seagate both introduced 1-Tbyte hard drives early this year, and both claimed to be "first" in some way. It really doesn't matter, they were neck in neck. HGST was first to ship a consumer version of a 1-Tbyte hard disk drive, but Seagate wasn't far behind. And now, both vendors are shipping enterprise-level 1-Tbyte drives, namely Seagate's Barracuda ES and HGST's Ultrastar A7K1000. Neither drive has yet taken off briskly with OEMs, but we think it's just a matter of time before pricing and still-to-come modifications like SAS compatibility start ramping.

Why It's Hot: Data growth makes the use of larger drives a necessity for energy and cost savings. It's not an overstatement to say the future of storage depends on these drives, and both of these key suppliers are on the case.

Next page Date announced: September 5, 2007.Read about it here.Description: Nirvanix, which was incorporated this year, was born out of a research project at California State Polytechnic University. The result of the research, an "Isilon-style" software-based file system, is now at the heart of Nirvanix's Storage Delivery Network (SDN) offering, a 2-Pbyte storage cluster linking the startup's network of Dell servers and Seagate storage across three "nodes" housed in U.S. colocation facilities.

Like rival Amazon's S3 service, Nirvanix charges a set monthly fee for the amount of data stored on its hardware, which can be accessed via the Web by customers. But unlike Amazon S3, Nirvanix offers SLAs, which accounts for its slightly higher pricing of 18 cents per Gbyte per month for stored data, compared with Amazon's 15 cents per Gbyte.

Why It's Hot: Nirvanix recognizes the need for a media-friendly storage network service geared to resale by providers of hosted services. The SLA capability is a clear winner for companies pursuing this model -- and their customers, particularly in the entertainment and media fields. (Marketspeak translation: "storage as a service for Web 2.0 providers.")A fresh investment from Intel shows that at least one major player shares this assessment.

Next page Date announced: June 25, 2007.Read about it here.Description: Quantum's DXi7500 is a 12-rack-unit-high disk backup system the vendor claims can scale from 24 Tbytes to 240 Tbytes. The system combines two versions of de-duplication, in-line and post-processing.

Why It's Hot: Sure, the religious wars over de-duplication techniques are filled with FUD and fuzz. Still, de-duplication is one of the hottest topics in the storage universe, and Quantum's approach gives customers the flexibility to deploy two different approaches. In the future, this kind of platform is more likely to serve customers who are weary of pitches on in- or out-of-band technobabble and ready to deploy de-duplication in a variety of ways.

Next page Date announced: September 10, 2007.Read about it here.Description: ESX Server 3i is a hypervisor for server motherboards. It is aimed for integration with servers from Dell, Fujitsu, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, HP, IBM, and NEC, among others.

Why It's Hot: By embedding the hypervisor in servers instead of relegating it to specific operating systems, VMware is taking the next step in virtualization. This approach will make it commonplace to save money by deploying virtualization. Bravo!Next page Date announced: September 10, 2007.Read about it here.Description: The VP780 is a rackmount appliance that virtualizes server I/O for both networking and storage purposes. Accompanying software creates virtual NICs and HBAs for servers and storage arrays, allowing "on the fly" setup and/or transfer of applications.

Xsigo isn't the only vendor seeking fame and fortune in virtualized I/O. Competition from 3Leaf and others (IBM and HP are rumored to be working in this area) validates demand for products that tap underused processing power in data center machinery.

Why It's Hot: Virtualizing I/O is another step in spreading the "v" technique for widespread savings and data center streamlining. While several companies also are doing this, Xsigo shows a promising focus on processor independence. It doesn't hurt that the company has an all-star management team that includes founding CEO and chairman Ashok Krishnamurthi, formerly the VP of infrastructure products at Juniper Networks Inc.; and his brother, S.K. Vinod, vice president of business development. Directors include the legendary Vinod Khosla, who helped found Sun Microsystems; Ray Lane, a former Oracle Corp. bigwig; and Mark Leslie, a founder of Veritas Software, which is now part of Symantec. We'll be watching!

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