Tegile supports SMB 3.0

Tegile Systems has announced its support for the Microsoft Server Message Block (SMB) 3.0 network storage protocol with plans to develop storage systems leveraging several of the technology’s key features.

Microsoft SMB is a network file-sharing protocol implemented in Microsoft Windows that allows applications on a computer to read and write to files and to request services from server programmes in a computer network. The latest version of this protocol provides customers with fast and efficient file servers for server applications, such as Hyper-V, resulting in increased throughput, lower latency and improved CPU utilisation. Tegile will deliver systems supporting SMB 3.0 by September this year.

“SMB 3.0 is a transformative technology that makes Hyper-V a more viable alternative to VMware,” said Eric Burgener, Research Director for IDC's Storage Practice. “With its SMB support, Tegile offers a flash-optimised, unified storage solution for Hyper-V customers, better enabling the mixed workload consolidation that wrings the most value out of flash-based arrays.” In addition to the SMB 3.0 protocol support, other new features of most interest to Tegile customers include:
· Offloaded Data Transfer (ODX) - functionality that will allow Zebi arrays to directly transfer data within or between compatible storage devices without having to first pass through a host computer. This feature significantly frees up server resources while speeding up the process of moving or copying files.
· SCVMM Integration – Tegile arrays can connect with the Virtual Machine Manager within the Microsoft Operations Console to monitor the health and availability of virtual machines through a central location, as well as gaining an overall view of an enterprise’s virtualised environment and servers.
· Multichannel – increases the network performance and availability for file servers through simultaneous dynamic network connections to provide increased throughput, network fault tolerance and massive data bandwidth with low overhead.

“SMB 3.0 looks to be a viable option that will provide us functionality at a more attractive price point. Tegile’s support of SMB 3.0 ensures that we will still be able to leverage the reliability, scalability and cost-effectiveness of our Zebi arrays while gaining the benefits of improved utilisation and efficiency of our network resources.” said Clayton Haywood, Senior Network Administrator of Johns Hopkins University.

Tegile Zebi arrays are designed to make server virtualisation easier, faster, more reliable, more scalable and less expensive than standard hard disk-based arrays. By combining Tegile’s MASS technology with high-performance DRAM, solid-state flash, Intel Xeon processors and high-speed Ethernet or Fibre Channel, Zebi arrays enable higher capacity and significantly higher performance so customers can manage more machines without sacrificing capacity, reduce or manage costs, and eliminate wear leveling problems and data integrity issues while delivering five time more IOPS with considerably lower latency.

“Customers are excited about the new and improved functionality the SMB 3.0 protocol provides for their Windows-based network storage infrastructures and Hyper-V deployments,” said Brian Hillger, Director Server and Tools Marketing, Microsoft. “Windows Server with SMB 3.0 enables Tegile to develop interoperable solutions that take advantage of many features that help enable a breadth of implementation options.”

“Tegile is all about helping organisations solve their storage challenges, whether in virtual server, database or VDI environments,” said Rob Commins, vice president of marketing at Tegile. “By supporting new storage protocols like Microsoft SMB 3.0, we ensure that our customers have the greatest number of ways to balance performance, capacity, features and price of their network storage infrastructure through the deployment of hybrid Zebi arrays. We look forward to delivering systems with support for SMB 3.0 later this year.”