Iomega Launches New Storage Array

Network Attached Storage (NAS) is usually, inexpensive and easy to install; Storage Area Networks (SANs) cost more, can be more difficult to connect, but offer sophisticated data protection features. Iomega has tried to bridge the gaps between the two with the introduction of its StorCenter ix12-300r Network Storage array.The StorCenter ix12-300r is a rackmounted storage device designed to support groups of up to 250 users. The storage system can be mounted in an EIA-310 rack and starts with 4T bytes of memory that can be expanded up to 24T bytes. The device works with production file (NAS) and block (SAN) data and supports online disk backups. The product includes four Gigabit Ethernet network connections and three USB 2.0 ports for connections to items, such as an Uninterruptible Power Supply. Redundant hot-swap fans and power supplies are designed to maximize system availability.

The ix12 can be configured with different levels of RAID support: RAID 5 (pre-configured), RAID 6, RAID1 and RAID 10 (all with automatic RAID rebuild), as well as JBOD (a single volume of storage). The ix12 supports storage pools, which enable RAID drives inside an array to be grouped together by size or for data protection. The storage solution supports online RAID type migration from RAID 1 to RAID 5 to RAID 6. Pricing for the system starts at $4,999.

EMC, which has been successful in delivering sophisticated storage systems to large enterprises, purchased Iomega in April 2008 to expand its reach into the small and medium business market. The new product was designed to fill a void between the top of Iomegas line and the bottom of EMCs storage systems. Competition is intense in this market sector. Vendors, such as NetApp and Netgear, have carved out successful niches in the SMB space. In addition, hardware suppliers often bundle storage into their system sales. Also, vendors have been pushing companies away from premises based storage solutions to cloud based services. So time will tell whether EMC is able to leverage its brand and technology and increase its storage system market share among small and medium businesses.