ersaCache as a SAN Cache
As a SAN cache, VersaCache improves application performance by
automatically caching all blocks of data going to and from any Fibre
Channel attached storage, including RAID arrays and JBOD. Installation
is transparent - simply attach it between servers and storage and it
automatically caches all host accessed data dramatically improving
application performance by reducing access time to the storage. Its
predictive caching is designed to improve both read and write
performance by increasing the chance that read data will be in the cache
when needed, and through buffered destaging of write data. The system’s
caching algorithms are built into firmware and are designed to overcome
the high overhead associated with slow read/write performance across a
large segment of data. Caching methods supported include write-through,
write-back, and read-ahead. The caching methods are user configurable
per subsystem or per LUN.
VersaCache as a File Cache
VersaCache’s high-performance, solid state disk architecture is ideal
for storing performance-demanding data and accelerating application
performance. VersaCache is able to support dozens of servers while
providing up to a 500x reduction in I/O response time when compared with
the best mechanical disks. Reduced I/O response times translate to
higher I/O rates and increased accessibility to critical data and hot
files.
VersaCache appears as a Fibre Channel compatible disk to the host
server(s) facilitating plug-and-play installation. The unit is
compatible and interoperable with virtually every host operating system
including IBM AIX, Sun Solaris, HP-UX, Linux, Windows, and Apple OS X.
It is also fully tested and compatible with Fibre Channel host bus
adapters and switches from QLogic, Emulex, LSI Logic, Cambex, Brocade,
Cisco, and McData.
When the appropriate ‘hot’ files are placed on the appliance, VersaCache
can accelerate numerous applications across many industries. Real-world
application performance improvements of up to 25-times can be achieved
by VersaCache users when running on-line transaction processing (OLTP),
batch processing, e-mail, database, and other I/O and
bandwidth-intensive operations.
Performance
VersaCache’s state-of-the-art architecture and DDR RAM memory are
optimized for I/O intensive applications. Built for speed, VersaCache is
capable of delivering up to 400,000 I/Os per second (IOPS).
Each VersaCache subsystem supports up to 8 high-speed 4Gb/s Fibre
Channel ports. All ports can serve data simultaneously without any
performance degradation.
RAS Features
To ensure the highest level of reliability, all critical components
within the VersaCache subsystem are redundant. In addition, power
supplies and back-up disk drives are hot-swappable.
Internal memory used for data storage is protected by ECC memory error
correction which corrects single-bit data errors in the memory chips.
Host-based failover software is available to provide full data
availability in the event of an HBA, cable, switch, or other storage
path failure in high-availability configurations.
Manageability
VersaCache can be monitored, managed and configured remotely and locally
via an intuitive browser interface.
Protecting your IT Investment
By accelerating application performance through intelligent caching,
VersaCache increases the useful life of existing server and storage
infrastructures.
In many instances, IT organizations have been forced to deploy
additional server and storage resources to achieve acceptable
application response times. Deploying VersaCache in a storage network
environment dramatically increases the number of simultaneous users that
can access mission-critical data without experiencing unacceptable wait
times.
In addition, customers can fully utilize their existing disk storage
capacities without application performance degradation. Striping data
over many disk drives to boost performance is no longer necessary - a
method that often left up to 50% of the disk storage capacity unused.
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