Adaptec Launches Storage Architecture

Adaptec is taking advantage of its storage technology portfolio by launching a new solution called the Adaptec Flexible Storage Architecture (FSA). FSA provides the company's channel partners and OEMs easy access to modular, predeveloped, interoperable components, software, and systems. OEMs can combine the modules to deliver customized storage solutions ranging from simple arrays to highly available enterprise systems. IBM, the first major vendor to market an FSA-based solution, will ship new two FSA-based entry-level storage systems: the TotalStorage DS300 Internet SCSI (iSCSI) and TotalStorage DS400 Fibre Channel storage systems. Adaptec hopes that FSA's modular approach will lead to its inclusion in many additional products in the future. "Adaptec has successfully integrated industry-proven components and software for designing purpose-built storage systems. The Adaptec FSA development platform provides customers with a powerful partner in the industry," said Ahmet Houssein, vice president and general manager of Adaptec's Storage Solutions Group.
   FSA offerings fall into four categories: components, systems, storage software, and management software. The component offerings span a range of technologies, including Fibre Channel-, iSCSI-, SCSI-, Serial ATA (SATA)-, and Serial Attached SCSI–based (SAS) application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and RAID boards, chips, and controllers. In the system category, Adaptec offers predeveloped systems that use all the major storage connectivity standards, including Fibre Channel, iSCSI, SCSI, SAS, and SATA. FSA software includes RAID data protection, virtualization, mirroring, snapshot, and backup and recovery software. The company plans to offer Snap Appliance software in the near future as part of the architecture. The management software category consists of Adaptec's storage management software, which gives IT administrators a graphical interface for managing Adaptec-powered storage infrastructures.