QLogic Unveils Adapter Technology for Server-Based SSD Caching

QLogic recently released a technology that unites the finest storage area network host bus adapter technology and the best-in-class, server-based, solid-state drive or SSD flash storage in a simplified manner. The latest technology, also known as the Mt. Rainier project, introduces server-based SSD caching performance to SAN storage. The Mt. Rainier project also offers scalable performance to applications with huge I/O requirements and running in solitary and clustered server environments, thereby guaranteeing easy implementation and administration.

In a release, Simon Biddiscombe, president and CEO of QLogic said, "Increased server performance, higher virtual machine density, growth in application clusters and more demanding business application workloads have created a critical I/O performance imbalance between servers, networks and storage subsystems. Mt. Rainier builds on our leading market position and unique expertise in high performance data center connectivity to bring a new category of scalable, performance-enhancing solutions that are easy to deploy and address some of the most performance-challenged environments in the data center."

According to Shishir Shah, Senior VP and GM for Storage Solutions Group at QLogic, separate device drivers for SAN HBAs, SSD cards are being used by existing caching offerings. These offerings also need extra caching filter drivers and software. The advantages of server-based SSD caching with SAN-based storage have been effortlessly merged by the flexible Mt. Rainier with the help of a standard QLogic driver. The best-in-class SSDs in the server, which utilize current SAN storage and infrastructure, are now offered a shared SAN resource model by QLogic.

Jeff Boles, senior analyst at Taneja Group said, "Storage performance has long been one of the most pervasive challenges in the data center. Over the past several decades, compute power has simply leapt past the ability of SAN storage to keep up. QLogic's Mt. Rainier defines a new technology category we call Server-based Storage Accelerators, in which HBAs cache SAN data on server-based SSD storage in a transparent, shared architecture. With QLogic's global presence and innovative architecture, Mt. Rainier could well become the de facto choice for solving I/O challenges in every data center."

In the beginning, Mt. Rainier technology will be implemented and administered as a conventional SAN HBA.

Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO West 2012, taking place Oct. 2-5, in Austin, TX.  Stay in touch with everything happening at ITEXPO (News - Alert). Follow us on Twitter.