Virtualization
Using affordable shared storage to maximize high availability and fault tolerance in VMware environments
Shared SAN enables all vSphere servers to see the same storage, enabling movement of VMs and applications across redundant infrastructure. This architecture opens up tremendous flexibility and IT managers can move applications without impacting user access or uptime. This is a lifesaver when it comes to maintenance; move a VM and application, perform maintenance, migrate back--without users even noticing.
Without SAN, VMs are limited to one physical server and direct-attached storage and are subject to downtime for maintenance or extended downtime in the event of a failure.
Multimedia
Using shared storage to maximize high availability and fault tolerance in VMWare environments
Case Studies
Digital Agency Discovers Creative Solution for its Data Storage Needs with DroboElite
San Francisco-based Cobra Creative is an eight-person boutique agency specializing in Internet marketing strategy and design, motion graphics, and websites. The firm works with many well-known companies like NFL Networks, Verizon, Clif Bar, and Autodesk to create compelling social experiences that merge broadcast and interactivity in entertaining ways.
"I'm an art director, not a network storage expert. The best thing about the DroboElite is the simplicity of it. It's basically plug and play. I don't have to worry about any of the technical issues that those other solutions have. I've activated the administrative alert feature that sends me an email when we're running out of room. And because it's connected directly to the Mac mini server with a static IP address, I can even manage it remotely from home."– Joe Csizmadi, Senior Art Director
Elite Storage for an Elite Company
Elite Brands was founded in 2000 with an initial vision of providing national food products to US military commissaries. Launched with Tropicana as its only brand, Elite Brands is now the primary supplier of over 40 brands and hundreds of products to commissaries and exchanges around the world. All of their IT data is stored locally in Massachusetts, however they have remote users who access information on a regular basis.
"What stood out the most was the BeyondRAID features. You don't have to take down an array for dual drive redundancy and the DroboElite array will build itself. You can access files during a rebuild – even Dells don't do that."– Dylan McCullough, IT Administrator
First Baptist Church Storage Serving a Higher Purpose
Founded in 1853, the First Baptist Church is located in Belton, Texas and has 1200 people attending worship services each Sunday. They offer a variety of services including a traditional worship service, small groups for all ages, contemporary worship and evening services. Their staff utilizes photos, videos and other multimedia images for a variety of projects.
"I don't have to worry about it – it just works. I plugged it in, put the drives in and it was a snap to get it up and running the way that I wanted. The entire setup including getting the backup working took under an hour. iSCSI connected exactly like it was supposed to – a lot of products aren't that easy to set up."– Matthew Irvine, Director of Communications and Technology
Network Consulting Firm Meets its VMware Data Storage Needs
Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, Innovative Storage Solutions is a premier consulting firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of storage, virtualization, and disaster recovery solutions to small/medium businesses, enterprise, healthcare, and government organizations.
"It was an iSCSI solution with a price point and performance level that fit our needs perfectly. After evaluating it in our demo lab we found it performed as well as an EqualLogic or NetApp iSCSI solution."– Eric Shannon, President and CEO
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Drobo announces availability of Drobo 5N, designed with one purpose in mind: to deliver the best ever experience sharing storage and accessing data!
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"It's a new Drobo from the ground up and includes USB 3.0 as all as a new and unique reliability feature normally found on much more expensive systems …"
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"Go home and come up with a backup system that you’ll actually keep current." advises David Pogue, NY Times
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Drobo B1200i Update Combines SSDs with High-Capacity Drives
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ZDNet gives Drobo B1200i a 9 point rating out of 10, "Network storage doesn't come much easier than this"