NetApp vends $3k iSCSI storage array

NetApp is launching a smaller iSCSI storage box for its StoreVault line.

The S300 flirts with the "S" side of the SMB (small and medium business)-oriented StoreVault line. The new gear lacks the scale and some features of its older sister, the StoreVault S500 — but it's a cheaper date.

Starting at $3,000, the S300 scales to 4TB, as opposed to the S500's 6TB capacity. The S300 also does without the Fibre Channel option found on the S500. The S300 has a 4U design, holding up to eight 250GB or 500GB SATA II drives.

Both StoreVault boxes run a scaled version of the ONTAP operating system, with software supporting simultaneous SAN and NAS, up to 255 snapshots per volume, thin provisioning and asynchronous replication.

The company tells us the S300 is currently VMware-capable, but not certified yet. They expect that to roll out in the next few months.

NetApp is eyeballing smaller companies with about five to 15 servers using a Windows environment for its latest offering. That's the usual gamut of dentist and realtor firms, as well as remote offices of larger businesses.

The box has plenty of competition in the SMB iSCSI storage market, fighting the likes of HP's StorageWorks, EMC's Insignia gear, IBM's DS3300 and the MD3000i system.

The StoreVault S300 specifications are available here. The device itself is available now through NetApp channels, starting at $3000 with 1TB.

Year of carbon credit

NetApp is also experimenting with a new eco-conscious program for the StoreVault line.

Starting today, when you buy a system, NetApp will buy a year's worth of carbon credit equal to the power used by the device during that time.

When the year is up, customers can continue to purchase carbon credits through NetApp, or the traditional way. NetApp may expand its reach if it catches on with customers. ®