HP's StoreVirtual gets a bit older, decides it needs some Fibre

HP is adding Fibre Channel connectivity to its previously iSCSI access-only StoreVirtual range of arrays.

These are the re-branded LeftHand Networks iSCSI arrays and HP is introducing a new mid-range product as well as adding Fibre Channel access.

The new StoreVirtual models are:

• 4630 for the mid-range with 6Gbit/s SAS, a ProLiant Gen8 server and 11.25TB/rack capacity
• 4330 with Fibre Cannel connectivity as well as 10GbitE
• 4730 with Fibre Channel as well as 10GbitE

HP says the 4630 has half the footprint of the previous, second, generation of the LeftHand storage platform, and a 40 per cent lower $/GB cost. It can scale to 180TB within its BladeSystem chassis and 720TB within a management group.

The introduction of Fibre Channel to the StoreVirtual range is a new departure and enables the StoreVirtual products to satisfy both iSCSI and FC SAN requirements from a single pool of block storage. It provides existing HP EVA users with an alternative to StoreServ (3PAR) migration should they wish.

There is a software-only version of the StoreVirtual product, termed a VSA (for Virtual Storage Appliance), and this turns its host server's storage into a networked SAN storage resource. HP has announced a StoreVirtual VSA bundle, consisting of the VSA plus a D2220sb storage blade, for an iSCSI SAN within an HP BladeSystem chassis. Meg Whitman's company says users get up to a 50 per cent boost in app performance with its Smart Array controller.

It also says that drive removal from carriers is prevented when data on the drives is being accessed.

These four new systems are available from HP and its channel partners now. A 4330 with Fibre Channel supports costs from $28,000, a 4730 with Fibre Channel starts from $63,000 and the 4630 costs from $64,000.

The D2220sb Storage Blade with StoreVirtual VSA software is priced at $5,999. All prices are estimated US list prices. ®