Networking
Cisco announces VFrame Data Centre to support application services
Cisco announced VFrame Data Centre (VFrame DC), an orchestration platform that leverages network intelligence to provision resources together as virtualized services. Further, VFrame DC includes an open API, and integrates with third party management applications, as well as best-of-breed server and storage virtualization offerings.
With VFrame DC, customers can now link their compute, networking and storage infrastructures together as a set of virtualized services. This services approach provides a way to view all the services configured at the application level. VFrame DC offers a policy engine for automating resource changes in response to infrastructure outages and performance changes. Additionally, these changes can be controlled by external monitoring systems via integration with the VFrame DC web services application programming interface (API).
The real time provisioning engine has a comprehensive view of compute, storage and network resources. This view enables VFrame DC to provision resources as virtualized services using graphical design templates. These design templates comprise one of four VFrame DC modular components: design, discovery, deploy, and operations.
Many application environments can benefit from VFrame DC including: Web Tier such as Apache and IIS, Oracle 11i application suite, SAP R3, BEA Weblogic, IBM Websphere, Oracle 10G RAC, multi-server clustered applications, grid based applications, and large dynamic development and test environments.
VFrame DC has been tested with server platforms including servers from Dell, HP, and IBM; storage platforms including products from EMC, HDS, HP, IBM, and NetApp; the two top data center operating systems including Linux and Microsoft Windows Server, and several business-level monitoring and middleware platforms including products from TIBCO and Cisco Application Networking Services (ANS).
Additional information and resources on Cisco VFrame DC can be found at http://newsroom.cisco.com/networkersUS/2007/
Storage
OWC delivers NAS solution for home or business networks
Other World Computing (OWC) announced the NASPerform fast 10/100BT Ethernet/USB 2.0 Network Attached Storage Solution for home or business networks. With a data storage capacity of up to 750GB, NASPerform connects to wired or wireless networks for file storage and sharing among multiple network users.
Available for Mac and Windows, NASPerform stores and shares photos, music, movies, and other data with up to 20 other network users. NASPerform works just like an internal hard drive. With its built-in USB 2.0 port, NASPerform can also be used as a portable external hard drive for personal file storage.
NASPerform connects directly to any wired or wireless Ethernet network switch or router and comes complete with Ethernet and USB 2.0 connecting cables for Plug N’ Play installation. In addition, NASPeform provides the ability to assign read/write privileges to each network user to prevent unwanted deletion or modification of valuable data. NASPerform’s innovative technology also protects data from external Internet security intrusions.
NASPerform technical highlights:
- Up to 750GB of bootable disk capacity
- 16MB of data cache
- Ximeta NDAS 2011 chipset
- One RJ-45 100Base-TX Auto MDI/MDI-X port
- One USB 2.0/1.1 5-pin port
- Up to 20 simultaneous connections
- Front panel LED status light: blue when powered on, red & flashing with read/write activity
- Dimensions of 5.2” x 8.7” x 1.8”, 3 lb weight
- External auto-switching 100-240V 50-60Hz 3 amp UL listed power supply included
- 36” double shielded USB 2.0/1.1 and 36” Ethernet RJ-45 connecting cables included
NASPerform is available in five pre-configured 7200RPM solutions, from 250GB to 750GB, priced starting at US$127.99 MSRP.
For more information on NASPerform, see http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/Network-Attached-Storage/NDAS/
Infrastructure
HP drives data center energy-efficiency with thermal services and Dynamic Smart Cooling
HP announced enhancements to its energy-efficiency portfolio for the enterprise, including a thermal zone map for data centers and customers and partners of the HP Dynamic Smart Cooling solution.
HP Thermal Zone Mapping enables customers to see a three-dimensional model of exactly how much and where data center air conditioners are cooling. The Dynamic Smart Cooling (DSC) solution is based on real-time air temperature measurements from a network of sensors deployed on IT racks. HP is using Thermal Zone Mapping and DSC for its own data center consolidation project.
HP offers three levels of Thermal Assessment Services:
- HP Thermal Quick Assessment Service – an entry-level assessment of the data center cooling based on interviews with staff and HP observations of the data center cooling environment;
- HP Thermal Intermediate Assessment Service – includes the service features plus two-dimensional thermal modeling of below-floor thermal conditions; and,
- HP Thermal Comprehensive Assessment Service with three-dimensional Thermal Zone Mapping – includes features of intermediate service plus observations, thermal modeling results and recommendations.
More information on HP Thermal Assessment and data center services is available at http://h20219.www2.hp.com/services/cache/114078-0-0-225-121.html. More information on HP Dynamic Smart Cooling is available at www.hp.com/go/dsc.
NTI releases Backup Now 5
NTI has announced Backup Now 5. It enables individual file/folder backup to virtually any system-attached drive including USB flash, mobile storage devices (micro drives), internal and external hard drives, NAS devices and more.
Using the software’s wizard-driven interface and on-the-fly data compression capabilities, users of all four editions can store up to 1.4GB of vital data on a single CD or up to 9.4GB on a single-sided DVD disc. The software also enables automatic media spanning over multiple CDs or DVDs and drive spanning over multiple target drives for a backup of the system’s hard drive.
Users have a complete solution for file-based and drive-based backup as well as continuous and open file backup. A test drive utility and a label maker with LightScribe and LabelFlash support are also included.