Storage Area Networks are quite expensive due to the cost intensive special server and switch components as well as the required fiber glass cables. LINBIT has developed a cost effective alternative that allows using COTS hardware and conventional Ethernet. This IP-based iSCSI Storage Area Network has first been used at Salinen Austria AG.
Salinen Austria AG has its servers installed at two different sites, located 20 kilometers apart from each other. The storage capacity of the company’s IT infrastructure has been designed for 2 TB net data, which, given the annual increase in data volume of 30 percent, will be sufficient until 2009. After that, the servers will have to be upgraded again. Thanks to LINBIT’s solution, this can be done any time with any hardware, and, even more important, without interruption of service. This holds true for any maintenance work. LINBIT’s iSCSI Storage Area Network allows maintenance and upgrade activities during operation.
“In order to consolidate dozens of hard disks in one single SAN storage box, you up to now had to invest a lot into hardware and to ensure a failsafe solution. With iSCSI and DRBD, LINBIT offers an attractive alternative at ten times lower cost,” summarizes Volkmar Ruzicka, head of IT at Salinen Austria AG.
"Thanks to LINBIT, the total costs for a period of three years are significantly lower than those of any other storage specialists, who in addition have relatively high rates for maintenance,” Ruzicka adds.
