Cambex Adds Fibre Channel Connectivity to Centurion Open Systems Disk Arrays.WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 29, 1998--New Centurion 2000(tm) storage subsystems add Fibre Channel interfaces as well as hardware and software RAID to interconnect IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) , HP, Sun and Windows NT (Windows New Technology) A 32-bit operating system from Microsoft for Intel x86 CPUs. NT is the core technology in Windows 2000 and Windows XP (see Windows). Available in separate client and server versions, it includes built-in networking and preemptive multitasking. platforms Cambex Corporation (CBEX CBEX China Beijing Equity Exchange ) introduced today two new models of its Centurion 2000(tm) disk array subsystem that substantially expand the size, speed and scalability of storage solutions used with the most popular computing platforms. The new Centurion 2000 Model FM and Model FJ provide Fibre Channel connectivity -- and from 21 Gigabytes to 3.6 Terabytes of storage per subsystem -- to improve the information sharing See data conferencing. and management, data protection and multi-host interconnection capabilities of leading UNIX UNIX Operating system for digital computers, developed by Ken Thompson of Bell Laboratories in 1969. It was initially designed for a single user (the name was a pun on the earlier operating system Multics). platforms from IBM, Sun Microsystems Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAVA[3]) is an American vendor of computers, computer components, computer software, and information-technology services, founded on 24 February 1982. and Hewlett Packard as well as of Windows NT platforms from a variety of suppliers. The addition of Fibre Channel capability to Centurion disk arrays increases the versatility of these storage subsystems in most processing environments. With a 100 megabyte-per-second data rate, the Fibre Channel interface is from two- to five-times faster than the Ultra SCSI The designation for various high-speed SCSI interfaces. The original specification was Ultra SCSI, followed by Ultra2, Ultra3, etc. For details, see SCSI. and Fast-Wide SCSI interfaces currently in use. The new interface also expands cabling distances, device attachment options, capacity upgrading, systems reliability and large-scale deployment alternatives available to enterprise IT users. "Fibre Channel technology not only improves performance, but adds a strategic dimension to the ways in which users plan, organize and deliver information solutions that are increasingly storage-centric and reliable," noted Joseph F. Kruy, Chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Cambex Corporation. "Such features support the transformation of modern information systems by enabling storage systems to keep pace with processor speeds, deliver higher data access rates and assure continuous availability," he said. Ideal For Bandwidth-Intensive Applications The Centurion 2000 product family is a series of high-performance RAID disk array storage subsystems. The three-year-old product line is used in hundreds of large enterprises where information consolidation, data warehousing See data warehouse. data warehousing - data warehouse , online transaction processing See transaction processing and OLCP. and datasharing among a variety of interconnected mainframes, UNIX-based servers and NT platforms is common. The Model FM delivers hardware-based RAID protection and Fibre Channel interfaces, while the Model FJ offers a software-based RAID solution, Fibre Channel interfaces and utilizes Fiber Channel disks. The Model FM also offers Ultra SCSI and Fast Wide SCSI A SCSI interface that transfers 16 bits in parallel rather than 8 bits. See SCSI. (hardware, standard) Wide SCSI - A variant on the SCSI-2 interface. It uses a 16-bit bus - double the width of the original SCSI-1 - and therefore cannot be connected to a SCSI-1 bus. interfaces as well. The availability of a Fibre Channel interface enables Centurion disk arrays to be used in the highest performance multi-host or multi-server clusters in which extremely high bandwidth, complex interconnection among platform types and unusual topology is required. Unlike SCSI interfaces, which have distance, wiring and upgrade limitations, Fibre Channel allows thousands of devices to be attached at distances up to 10 kilometers using highly reliable copper or fiber optic cabling that can be directly connected to hubs, switches, disk arrays, hosts or servers quickly and easily. Fibre Channel's 100 MB/sec data rate -- when combined with Centurion's dual controllers and up to 2 GB of cache memory per subsystem -- provides an effective data rate of up to 200 MB/sec and facilitates the development and modification of very high performance multi-terabyte, multi-platform systems. Exceptional Data Protection Features Data is protected in all Centurion models by an industry-leading suite of reliability features. Dual redundant RAID controllers provide striped (RAID 0), mirrored (RAID 1) or parity (RAID 5) redundancy. Cambex's proprietary alternate channel failover (ACF (Advanced Communications Function) An earlier official product line name for IBM SNA programs, such as VTAM (ACF/VTAM) and NCP (ACF/NCP). ACF - Advanced Communications Function ) software, coupled with disk hot sparing and redundant internal bus architecture, fans, power supplies and environmental sensor systems eliminates all single points of failure. Dual Fibre Channel loops, protected by ACF software, also introduce a higher level of cabling, connector and electrical isolation protection. Furthermore, each hot-swappable Fibre Channel disk drive has a port bypass circuit that prevents interruption of other drives during reconfiguration. Hot swappable power supplies and fans permit zero downtime maintenance, and audible and visual indicators signal loop, disk, power supply, fan or interface module failures. Each Centurion disk drive also uses highly reliable SCA (Single Connector Attachment) An 80-pin plug and socket used to connect peripherals. With a SCSI drive, it rolls three cables (power, data channel and ID configuration) into one connector for fast installation and removal. connectors rather than internal cables, a major advantage since up to half of all disk array service problems are caused by such cables. Highly Scalable In Any Environment Modular design greatly broadens the scalability of Centurion 2000 Models FM and FJ. Each model can be readily scaled from 21 Gigabytes up to 3.6 Terabytes in a single subsystem based on basic customer removable unit (CRUs) modules. Up to ten hot-swappable disk drives, from 4.3 GB to 18 GB in capacity, are stored in each CRU, which fit in either deskside or rackmount frames. Redundant components in each CRU are supported by dual redundant controllers, up to 32 multiple logical units, comprehensive controller software and battery back-up features. Centurion 2000 models are installed and managed by Cambex's Centurion Storage Manager(tm), a graphical user interface graphical user interface (GUI) Computer display format that allows the user to select commands, call up files, start programs, and do other routine tasks by using a mouse to point to pictorial symbols (icons) or lists of menu choices on the screen as opposed to having to that enables users to configure disk arrays quickly to meet changing workloads on heterogeneous platforms. The Motif-based manager can monitor storage operations, initiate dual simultaneous controller paths, establish active-active controller modes, and provide a variety of administration and notification functions. Centurion Storage Manager is available for IBM, SUN, HP, NT and NCR (NCR Corporation, Dayton, OH, www.ncr.com) A technology company specializing in financial terminal transactions, retail systems and data warehousing. Until the late 1990s, NCR was heavily invested in the hardware side of the industry, known worldwide as a major manufacturer of computers computers. Pricing for Centurion Models FM and FJ depends upon capacity and configuration. An entry level Centurion 2000 Model FM array with 91 Gigabytes of disk storage has a list price of approximately $49,500. A fully redundant, highly cached subsystem with one 1.8 Terabytes of disk storage has a list price of approximately $485,000; or $0.27 per MB. Both the Model FM and FJ are shipping now, and are available 30 days ARO. Centurion disk arrays come with all hardware, software, documentation and support including a variety of 7x24 service plans. Cambex, headquartered in Waltham, MA, has been a leader for nearly 30 years in the design and manufacture of memory and direct access storage systems for IBM and other computer processors. Its products today include memory, cache controllers, DASD (Direct Access Storage Device) Pronounced "daz-dee." A peripheral device that is directly addressable, such as a disk or drum. The term is used in the mainframe world. DASD - Direct-Access Storage Device and disk array systems for IBM, SUN, HP and Windows NT environments. Cambex's products are installed in over 800 mainframe and open systems data centers worldwide. Cambex can be reached at 781-890-6000, or on the World Wide Web at www.cambex.com. CONTACT: Cambex Corporation Peter Kruy, 781-890-6000 x 367 |
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