The enhancements in StorNext release 5.4 include the ability to integrate existing public cloud storage accounts and third-party object storage — starting with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, NetApp StorageGRID, IBM Cleversafe and Scality RING — as tiers in a StorNext-unified namespace.
Quantum Corp has announced significant new enhancements to its award-winning StorNext scale-out file system that take unstructured data management to higher levels of efficiency and flexibility. Another new feature provides embedded application deployment in StorNext appliances, leveraging industry-standard virtualization technology to simplify integration with asset manager, data management and data sharing applications.
StorNext 5.4 is the latest example of the significant enhancements in Quantum’s scale-out storage portfolio over the past two years, as the company continues to focus on delivering high-performance, cost-effective, multi-tier solutions for managing unstructured data in highly demanding environments. During this time, Quantum has also built on its long-standing leadership in media and entertainment and expanded its market reach in areas such as video surveillance, genomics, academic research and government security. As a result, the company’s scale-out storage revenue has grown rapidly — 56 percent year-over-year in the most recently completed quarter, which represented the 21st consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth.
The massive growth in unstructured data continues unabated, driven by advances such as 4K video cameras and the proliferation of IoT sensor technology, and the ability to analyze and leverage this data is an increasingly critical component of an organization’s business or mission. IT professionals face an ongoing challenge of how to manage and retain this data — and make it readily accessible when needed — in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.
StorNext: Powerful File System and Multi-Tier Data Management
Long used for bandwidth-intensive video capture, production and distribution workflows, StorNext is increasingly being deployed by data-intensive enterprises around the globe for a broad range of use cases, including:
- Technical computing and big data analytics in imaging environments such as genomics, academic research and video surveillance.
- Real-time editing and manipulation of massive media datasets for entertainment.
- High-performance archive.
- Large-scale content repositories.
StorNext provides a unique combination of:
- The fastest streaming file system performance in the industry.
- Automated, policy-based data management through StorNext Storage Manager for cost-effective tiering across primary disk, object storage, tape and the cloud.
- Heterogeneous OS support (Windows, Linux, UNIX, MacOS).
- Multi-protocol support, including Fibre Channel, Ethernet, InfiniBand, iSCSI, NFS, SMB/CIFS and S3.
StorNext 5.4 Enhancements
StorNext 5.4 provides a number of new features and benefits, including:
- Seamless Cloud Integration — A new feature in StorNext Storage Manager enables users to move data into and out of their public cloud accounts and/or existing third-party object storage (private cloud), thereby extending their StorNext-managed, tiered storage environment, protecting prior investments and reducing the cost and complexity of cloud storage administration. StorNext 5.4 currently provides support for AWS (S3, Glacier, GovCloud, C2S) and Microsoft Azure and also offers a connection to the Google Cloud through standard S3 protocol. Augmenting Quantum’s own Lattus object storage, StorNext 5.4 includes support for NetApp StorageGRID, IBM Cleversafe and Scality RING, and Quantum plans to add integration for other object storage offerings.
- Embedded Applications — Dynamic Application Environment (DAE) is a virtual computing space on StorNext-powered Xcellis workflow storage appliances that enables applications to run within the high-performance, shared storage environment. By eliminating the need for dedicated servers and additional networking, the DAE reduces the time, cost and complexity of deploying and maintaining applications.
- Expanded SSD Options — A new Xcellis configuration includes SSD-based metadata storage at a lower price for smaller deployments with high-performance requirements.
StorNext 5.4 is currently shipping with all newly purchased Xcellis, StorNext M-Series and StorNext Pro Solutions offerings, as well as Artico archive appliances. It is available at no additional cost for StorNext 5 users under current support contracts.
