Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2003/08/26/ibm_goes_turbo_with_midrange/

IBM goes turbo with midrange storage

Cache happy

By Ashlee Vance

Posted in Storage, 26th August 2003 17:32 GMT

IBM is prepping a "turbo" option for its midrange FastT 600 storage system that could boost the box's overall performance between 40 and 70 percent.

IBM will make the turbo add-on generally available in September, adding a host of improvements to the FastT kit. The turbo option gives customers a 2GB cache, a large boost in I/O performance and support for up to 112 Fibre Channel disk drives and eight partitions. This brings the system's overall capacity up to 16Tbytes from 6Tbytes with the original 42 drive FastT 600.

IBM rolled out the FastT 600 earlier this year in conjunction with LSI, which builds the box. The new turbo kit uses a revamped controller from LSI and supports an extra cabinent.

Along with the performance boost, IBM has added some new software pieces to the systems as well. IBM is shipping FlashCopy, VolumeCopy and version 8.4 of FastT Storage Manager for all of the FastT systems.

With all of these bits and pieces, IBM is giving customers a pretty hefty midrange box. IBM's focus on these systems should come as no surprise, as they fit into the company's larger storage management play.

The FastT 600 and FastT 700 are part of IBM's
SAN Integration Server, which is a pre-configured set of hardware meant to make building a SAN easier.

Customers can order the FastT 600 turbo for $36,569 or shell out $26,570 to upgrade an existing system. ®