Dell, Hitachi Data Systems, Nishan Systems, QLogic, and Qwest Communications Establish Transcontinental IP Storage Records
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 2001--
Wire-Speed Throughput of 215 Megabytes per second and One Terabyte Coast-to-Coast Data Mirror with Internet Fibre Channel Protocol (iFCP)
Capitalizing on the successful deployment of the Promontory Project in September, Dell (Nasdaq:DELL), Hitachi Data Systems (NYSE:HIT), Nishan Systems, QLogic (Nasdaq:QLGC), and Qwest Communications International, Inc. (NYSE:Q) today announced the transmission of IP Storage data at a peak throughput of 215 Megabytes per second (MBps), and a sustained throughput of over 200MBps between Sunnyvale, California, and Newark, New Jersey, using the Internet Fibre Channel Protocol (iFCP).
The data is being transmitted at wire speed over a single Gigabit Ethernet port on a pair of standard IP routers connected by OC-48 (2.5Gbps) WAN links. The companies also announced the successful mirroring of a terabyte of data, coast to coast. These tests further demonstrate the viability of IP Storage networking for mission-critical on-line remote replication across virtually any geographic distance.
The Promontory Project test bed has been in continuous operation through September and October. The equipment includes best-in-class servers, Fibre Channel host bus adapters, Fibre Channel storage devices and IP Storage switches from the project participants. The IP Storage protocol, Internet Fibre Channel Protocol (iFCP), is used to integrate Fibre Channel end systems natively with IP networks. IP Storage switches provide the wire-speed conversion between Fibre Channel and IP. Prior testing for the Promontory Project also included iSCSI adapters and storage devices operating from coast to coast.
The first phase of the Promontory Project demonstrated that multiple ports on a Nishan IP Storage switch could collectively process IP Storage data from Fibre Channel and iSCSI end systems at a rate sufficient to completely saturate the OC-48 (2.5Gbps) channels on an OC-192 (10Gbps) coast-to-coast WAN link. This second phase is even more rigorous. It demonstrates the ability of a pair of Nishan IP Storage switches, linked by a single transcontinental full-duplex Gigabit Ethernet connection, to convert between Fibre Channel and native IP Storage data at wire speed (215MBps), simultaneously in both directions.
"When we submitted iFCP to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), we knew that it would support sustained wire-speed throughput across standard IP networks," said Franco Travostino, IETF technical coordinator for iFCP. "Today's announcement showcases a real-world demonstration of iFCP's capabilities over extraordinary distances."
Comments by Participants
"Working with Nishan Systems and the other members of the Promontory group has provided valuable information for Hitachi Data Systems and its customers," said Hu Yoshida, chief technology officer, Hitachi Data Systems. "We now have concrete data to support the ability of our Freedom Storage Lightning 9900 to transfer data at high speed over IP networks. This will accelerate our ability to offer solutions that meet customers' needs in critical areas such as disaster recovery and data streaming."
"As IP and Ethernet protocols begin to standardize, many Dell customers are beginning to look for simple implementations of remote storage over cost-effective IP networks," said Bruce Kornfeld, director of product marketing, Dell Enterprise Systems Group. "To assist our customers as they evaluate this new technology, Dell now includes Nishan's Multiprotocol IP storage switches through our Software and Peripherals Business."
"QLogic is focused on providing a complete range of storage network connectivity options," said Frank Berry, vice president of corporate marketing at QLogic Corporation. "Nishan's products help us leverage our strength in the host bus adapter market by giving our customers IP Storage networks that use our proven Fibre Channel adapters today, and the freedom to shift at any time to our iSCSI adapters without having to replace their storage switches."
Additional Details
Network transmission facilities provided by Qwest Communications for the Promontory Project also included networking equipment from Cisco Systems and Ciena. Cisco's Catalyst 6500 Series Switches and 12000 Series Internet Routers powered the link between the co-location facilities. Ciena's dense wave division multiplexing systems provided long-haul optical transport.
Dell
Dell Computer Corporation (Nasdaq:DELL) is the world's number-one computer systems company and is a premier provider of products and services required for customers to build their information-technology and Internet infrastructures. The company's revenue for the past four quarters totaled $32.6 billion. Dell ranks No. 48 on the Fortune 500, No. 154 on the Fortune Global 500, and No. 7 on the Fortune Global "most admired" lists of companies. Dell, through its direct business model, designs, manufactures, and customizes products and services to customer requirements, and offers an extensive selection of software and peripherals. Information on Dell and its products can be obtained on the World Wide Web at www.dell.com. Dell is a trademark of Dell Computer Corporation.
Hitachi Data Systems
Hitachi Data Systems is a leading supplier of storage hardware, software, solutions, and services. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT), Japan's largest electronics company, HDS is committed to providing the technological infrastructure for the world's most information-intensive corporations. With an employee base of 2800, Hitachi Data Systems does business in the public and private sectors in 46 countries on six continents, including the rapidly emerging economies in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. Its customers include more than 50 percent of Fortune 100 companies, and all of the major Storage Service Providers (SSPs). For more information, please visit the company's Website at www.hds.com.
Nishan Systems
Nishan Systems, the world's first supplier of native IP Storage solutions, builds open storage networking products based on IP and Ethernet, the international networking standards. Nishan's Multiprotocol Storage framework supports iSCSI, iFCP, FCIP, iSNS, Fibre Channel, SCSI, and all types of Network-Attached Storage (NAS) interfaces. The highly reliable and manageable IP Storage fabric extends seamlessly from the data center to the metro area and beyond. Nishan's products are fully compatible with the millions of LAN, MAN, and WAN routers and switches already installed and mastered by IT professionals. Nishan Systems has been named to top company rankings in Computerworld, Red Herring Magazine, and the San Francisco Chronicle, and Nishan's IP Storage switches recently received the InfoWorld Readers' Choice Award for best new storage products. Nishan Systems, a full voting member of the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA), is based in San Jose, California, and can be reached at www.NishanSystems.com, and at 408/519-3700.
QLogic Corporation
QLogic Corporation (Nasdaq:QLGC) is changing the way the world views Storage Area Networks (SANs), serving OEMs, VARs, and system integrators with the only end-to-end SAN infrastructure in the industry. With over 15 years of enterprise storage experience, the company delivers a full range of Fibre Channel switches, PCI host bus adapters, controller silicon, and management chips for systems and peripherals, as well as the QLogic Management Suite of SAN management software solutions. A member of the S&P 500 Index, QLogic was ranked fourth on Forbes's Best 200 Small Companies and number 22 on Fortune's 100 Fastest Growing Companies. QLogic is integrated in over 200 OEM solutions, including: AMI, Compaq, Computer Associates, DataCore, Dell, EMC, FalconStor, Fujitsu, Hitachi, HP, IBM, INRANGE, Iwill, MTI Technology Corp., Quantum, Raidtec, Siemens, Sony, Sun, Unisys, VERITAS, and XIOtech. For more information about QLogic and its products, contact QLogic, 26600 Laguna Hills Drive, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656; telephone: 800/662-4471 (sales); 949/389-6000 (corporate); fax: 949/389-6126; home page www.qlogic.com.
Qwest Communications
Qwest Communications International (NYSE:Q) is a leader in reliable, scalable, and secure broadband Internet-based data, voice and image communications for businesses and consumers. The Qwest Macro Capacity Fiber Network, designed with the newest optical networking equipment for speed and efficiency, spans more than 113,000 miles globally. For more information, please visit the Qwest web site at www.qwest.com.
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