Based on EMC's leading CLARiiON RAID (redundant array of independent disk) architecture, the CLARiiON AX150, for Fibre Channel connectivity, and CLARiiON AX150i, for iSCSI connectivity, deliver new advances in performance, ease-of-use, data protection and availability in a compact and cost-effective system. Each model is user installable and can support up to 10 host servers and scale from 750 gigabytes to six terabytes of capacity. New features include:
- Support for Serial ATA (SATA) II disk drives: This latest disk drive technology provides higher capacities, cost-effective performance, advanced data integrity features and faster data transfers. SATA II drives leverage Native Command Queuing (NCQ) for enhanced performance and scalability. NCQ streamlines sequential data transfers and, with SATA II disk drives, results in significantly improved performance for I/O-intensive applications such as messaging, file serving and databases.
- iSCSI Installation Wizard: This new easy-to-use tool facilitates fast, simple installation through an enhanced Web-based wizard and comprehensive online-support features.
- Improved Data Protection Features: The CLARiiON AX150 systems are capable of supporting up to eight concurrent array-based data snapshots for improved backup and recovery operations.
- Improved Availability Features: Available with a dual controller option and redundant power supplies, the CLARiiON AX150 systems provide the highest levels of information availability.
³The EMC CLARiiON AX150 and AX150i are designed with ease of use in mind,² said Tony Asaro, senior analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG). ³ESG was able to get a CLARiiON AX150i installed and running in less than 30 minutes and we expect that to be typical for the average customer. Both models fit in a class of storage for SMB customers, departmental and remote offices that cost effectively provide the necessary performance, functionality and reliability.²
David Donatelli, EMC Executive Vice President of Storage Platform Operations, added ³EMC sets the standard for affordable, high-quality and easy-to-use networked storage solutions. The native iSCSI capabilities of EMC's CLARiiON AX technology have been a key driver of its success. Whether an SMB is transitioning from direct-attached storage to networked storage, or a company is extending their information infrastructure into branch offices, the new EMC CLARiiON AX150 and AX150i provide customers with simple, reliable and cost-effective networked storage solutions to help them consolidate, automate and protect information crucial to their businesses.²
Qualified Components and Operating System Support
EMC has qualified the CLARiiON AX150 systems with the Brocade Silkworm 3250 VL2E and Q-Logic 3050 8-port Fibre Channel switches, the Emulex LP101-E and LP982-E and QLogic QLA200-E and QLA2340-E HBAs. The CLARiiON AX150 Fibre Channel system supports Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Linux, NetWare, Solaris as well as VMware ESX. The CLARiiON AX150i system supports Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003 and Linux.
Pricing and Availability
The new CLARiiON AX systems are part of the EMC Insignia line of products and are available today from authorized EMC resellers and EMC Velocity SMB partners. The systems are also available from Dell. Pricing for the EMC CLARiiON AX150 systems are expected to start at $5,600. Specific pricing is available from EMC partners and Dell.
For more information about the EMC Insignia line of hardware and software products visit www.emcinsignia.com.
EMC Channel Partners on the EMC CLARiiON AX150
³We're pleased to be able to offer the EMC Insignia portfolio of products because it expands our storage offering for SMB resellers,² said Jay Miley, vice president, vendor management, Ingram Micro. ³The new EMC CLARiiON AX150 and AX150i supplement our EMC software applications to provide the SMB market with high performance and high availability storage systems at a competitive price point.²
³The EMC CLARiiON AX150 systems strengthen the EMC Insignia line of products by offering the performance and value SMB resellers can leverage to help their customers more efficiently manage information assets,² said Pete Peterson, Tech Data's vice president, Systems Product Marketing. ³At Tech Data, our dedicated storage specialists are working closely with EMC to ensure our customers have access to the latest network storage solutions like the CLARiiON AX150i.²
³A vast majority of our small and medium business customers are looking to improve their backup to disc solutions. We are excited to be offering the new EMC CLARiiON AX150 systems that have enhanced performance and simplicity at an extremely competitive price point to the first generation AX systems,² said Frank Mann, CTO, Bayshore Technologies Inc.
³Small businesses today demand the same benefits from technology as their larger competitors,² said Adam Reiter, Senior Director of Small Business Sales at CDW Corporation, a leading provider of information technology solutions and advice for businesses, government agencies, and educational institutions. ³The simplicity and affordability of the EMC CLARiiON AX150 and AX150i offer SMBs a selection of big business benefits on a small business budget.²