Falcon Systems introduces new file servers to accommodate enterprise- and workgroup-level data access needs.SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 7, 1997--FastfilePro product line additions exceed market requirements for high-performance, scalable data access Falcon Systems Inc.'s Server Development Division (SDD (Software Design Description) The architecture of an information system. See IDD. ) has introduced and is now shipping the FastfilePro 5000 and Fastfile Pro 9000, two new data access servers that deliver the industry's fastest and most scalable network storage solutions in their respective classes. By adding workgroup and enterprise models to the FastfilePro series, Falcon is broadening its spectrum of file access and configurable storage solutions to a wider variety of computing computing - computer applications while maintaining an industry-leading price/performance ratio In economics and engineering, the price/performance ratio refers to a product's ability to deliver performance, of any sort, for its price. For instance, if you have a whole day to travel 100 km, spending $50 to do the journey in two hours is a better price/performance ratio than . The new 5000 and 9000 models operate with all of the custom-designed Falcon features that have propelled the FastfilePro brand to an industry-leading position in the specialized spe·cial·ize v. spe·cial·ized, spe·cial·iz·ing, spe·cial·iz·es v.intr. 1. To pursue a special activity, occupation, or field of study. 2. server market. The 5000 and 9000 incorporate features such as a hardware-based RAID architecture, the AerREAL operating system operating system (OS) Software that controls the operation of a computer, directs the input and output of data, keeps track of files, and controls the processing of computer programs. and implementation of the SMB (1) (Small to Medium-sized Business) Also called "SME" (small to medium-sized enterprise), it refers to companies that are larger than the small office/home office (SOHO), but not huge. protocol, all of which contribute to reliable and simultaneous file access for heterogeneous workgroups (NFS/UNIX, WindowsNT, Windows 95 and HTTP HTTP in full HyperText Transfer Protocol Standard application-level protocol used for exchanging files on the World Wide Web. HTTP runs on top of the TCP/IP protocol. read-only clients) that vary in size and complexity. The FastfilePro 500 is a departmental server designed for smaller workgroups that are specifically looking to significantly improve local file-access time while eliminating the bottlenecks of company wide network access. It contains 64MB of standard RAM that can be upgraded to 256MB. The 9000 model is an enterprise-level server designed for the high-volume, file-access demands of larger departmental groups that require network speed and mission-critical reliability for up to hundreds of clients. Powered with the 200MHz (MegaHertZ) One million cycles per second. It is used to measure the transmission speed of electronic devices, including channels, buses and the computer's internal clock. A one-megahertz clock (1 MHz) means some number of bits (16, 32, 64, etc. PentiumPro microprocessor, the FastfilePro 9000 can be configured con·fig·ure tr.v. con·fig·ured, con·fig·ur·ing, con·fig·ures To design, arrange, set up, or shape with a view to specific applications or uses: with up to 3.1 terabytes (TB) of addressable Reachable. When something is addressable, it can be identified and manipulated independently of its surroundings. For example, screen pixels and RAM memory are addressable. Each of the screen's picture elements can be individually turned on and off, and each of the memory's bytes can be disk storage in a RAID 0 format. "The addition of the 5000 and 9000 models represents our continuing commitment to provide high-performance servers that can grow with our customers as their computing applications needs expand in size and complexity," said Alvin Lehman, vice president of technology for Falcon Systems SDD. "The 5000 and 9000 servers will help answer those market needs by producing deliverable technology configurable to customer needs and compatible with both their existing and future storage investments." Exclusive Falcon Features Provide Industry-Leading Performance, Reliability The FastfilePro 5000 and 9000 servers support Falcon's competitive strategy to utilize non-proprietary hardware and software configurations specifically optimized for network file transfer at the best price/performance ratio in the market. Falcon's own AerREAL operating system (OS), for example, is completely dedicated to rapid data transfer between disk storage and the network. Unburdened by the overhead of additional 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). code required to run applications, AerREAL is streamlined to provide I/O (Input/Output) The transfer of data between the CPU and a peripheral device. Every transfer is an output from one device and an input to another. See PC input/output. I/O - Input/Output clustering algorithms and network caching operations. Both new models also extend Falcon's performance advantages over competing systems by attaining LADDIS benchmark speeds of up to 2,733 operations per second with 8.6 msec access times using RAID level 0. When using 362GB of usable RAID level 5 storage, the FastfilePro can achieve up to 2,392 operations per second with access times of 6.1 msecs. Exclusive, Falcon-designed features, such as an open, multi-processing architecture (MPA MPA medroxyprogesterone acetate. ) and hardware-based RAID, prevent file service performance from being impeded im·pede tr.v. im·ped·ed, im·ped·ing, im·pedes To retard or obstruct the progress of. See Synonyms at hinder1. [Latin imped -- or even affected by -- the use of RAID. Workgroup- and Enterprise-End FastfilePro Servers Offer HA Option As today's files grow in size and complexity, the specialized server marketplace requires an equal -- if not superior -- measure of reliability for every msec of file-access speed. Falcon's new 9000 series, along with the previously introduced 7000 servers, can each have a high-availability (HA) model configured with options for environments that are highly mission critical. These servers provide complete data protection by utilizing hardware architecture that eliminates any single point of failure. With the FastfilePro 7000-HA and FastfilePro 9000-HA, 99.99+ percent uptime can be achieved without a dramatic loss of access speed due to its leveraging of its AerRAID and JAS JAS James JAS Journal of Animal Science JAS Jamaica AIDS Support JAS Journal Abbreviation Sources JAS Japan Air System JAS Just A Second JAS Japanese Agricultural Standard JAS Jordanian Astronomical Society (Amman, Jordan) (TM) file system capability. JAS Provides Consistent File Volumes While Doubling Write Speeds The FastfilePro 5000 and 9000 models feature Falcon's custom Journaling Automation System (JAS). JAS ensures data integrity of a disk volume by maintaining real-time journaled records of all file operations on disk. In the event of a power failure, the file volumes on a FastfilePro RAID drive are always available in a consistent and current state in less than 60 seconds, compared to hours with competing systems. Large, write-intensive environments, such as graphics and video applications, will benefit from the speed advantages offered by the optional JAS Write Accelerator. It increases speeds for write operations on the server so that they closely match those of the read operations (in typical RAID 5 applications, writes are 50 to 100 percent slower than reads), and extends the upper end of the server to accommodate up the 20 percent more operations. Never before has this level of write performance attained these speeds while using RAID 5. Pricing for the FastfilePro data access server line depends on the configuration. The price for a FastfilePro 5000 tower system with 64MB of RAM; a 20GB of RAID 5 storage; 10- or 100-base-T network interface card; 1/2-inch floppy drive See floppy disk. floppy drive - disk drive for updates; monitor; keyboard; redundant power; a menu and command line user interface; and all the necessary software including the AerREAL operating system and JAS filing system is $37,500. The same unit with 32GB of storage capacity is $51,950. The price for a FAstfilePro 9000 in a rack-mount configuration with 168GB of storage capacity; 128MB of ECC RAM See ECC memory. ; 1GB mirrored boot drive The disk drive that contains the operating system. Most personal computers are configured to look for the OS in the CD-ROM drive first and then the hard disk. In the past, the floppy drive was first on the list. See bootable disk and BIOS. ; 10- of 100-Base-T network interface card and 1/2-inch floppy drive for updates is $175,600. Pricing for optional upgrades vary depending on features selected. Falcon Systems' Server Development Division (SDD) was created to fill a market need for high-speed, competitively priced and highly configurable specialized file servers based on industry-standard hardware and software technologies. Backed by extensive experience in both systems integration and RAID technology, SDD is uniquely qualified to understand the demands of the UNIX and Windows-based file server marketplace. SDD is a division of Falcon Systems and a leading provider of network and workstation storage. For more information, contact Falcon Systems Inc., Server Development Division, 3951 Performance Dr., Sacramento, CA 95838. Phone: 800/782-2330. Fax: 916/641-7204. info@falcons.com. Home page: http://www.falcons.com . -0- FastfilePro, AerRAID, JAS and JAS Write Accelerator are trademarks of Falcon Systems Inc. All other brand or product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. CONTACT: Falcon Systems Lianne Morgan, 916/641-7200 lianne@falcons.com or Cooper/Iverson Marketing Zachary Shess, 707/996-8580 cimnorth@ix.netcom.com |
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