High Availabiity SAN Appliance for Xsan-compatible Storage Systems
Built for 8-Gbit per-second performance, Vmirror 8G is a high-availability appliance built for enterprise-grade protection of Apple video and IT systems. Vmirror appliances add continuous, high-availability access and data protection to large-scale, Xsan-compatible storage systems: key requirements for many digital video post-production, broadcast, and creative workgroup applications.
Vmirror appliances are easily inserted into Xsan 2 storage systems. To connected hosts, Vmirror-protected Xsan-compatible RAID storage appears as an unbreakable volume, impervious to component outages that also supports "hot" SAN/storage maintenance without requiring host downtime. Mirroring, failover, and failback are managed automatically by Vmirror, and are transparent to host system operations. Vmirror operates independently of attached servers and workstations and has no impact on application performance. No host software or drivers are required, simplifying both installation and administration.
Proven Applications
Broadcast, advertising, and publishing organizations from large to small use Vmirror to protect and guarantee access to their data. Today, NFL Films, Korea Broadcasting, Associated Press, the Richards Group, Transcontinental, the New York Times, and local television stations use Vmirror in a variety of applications that include post-production, business-critical file server, and broadcast operations.
Key Benefits
Continuous, uninterruptible data access. Vmirror 8G is an easy way to create continuous, high-availability, data protection for Xsan-compatible SANs. Used with Apple Xsan, the Vmirror appliance quickly transforms RAID-based storage into a cost-effective, redundant storage system.
Failover and failback. Instantaneous, hardware-based failover and failback of storage system access compliments high-availability, Xserve host operation and uninterrupted video streaming.
Performance acceleration. Vmirror's 8GB/second throughput and embedded, dual-path hardware mirroring deliver exceptional streaming performance for both video and IT applications.
Centralized administration. All data protection and availability administration is centralized one Vmirror appliance.
Heterogeneous host and storage support. Vmirror supports up to 96 host systems (8Gbit) and up to 16 Xsan-compatible RAID systems with no software, host agents, or specialized drivers. Supported host systems include OSX, Windows, Linux, and VMware.
How Vmirror Works
Vmirror is designed for easy operation with Xsan-compatible storage. Each Vmirror appliance uses SAN-attached, mirroring engine clusters to provide high availability and continuous data protection while also creating redundant paths between host and storage system. Should outage occur anywhere on one of the data paths, one of two hardware mirroring engines fails over instantly to alternate data path and storage without host interruption --- a key requirement for availability-critical environments like HD video broadcast and video post-production.
Mirroring and failover is managed automatically by Vmirror, which is made transparent to system and storage via built-in SAN virtualization. To connected Xserve host systems, Vmirror-protected RAID appears as an "unbreakable" volume that is impervious to component outages. Data is also mirrored synchronously, ensuring continuous protection of data. No host software or drivers are needed for host systems, simplifying administration and eliminating CPU overhead.
Vmirror Operation
As viewed from the host system over a FC connection, a dual-engine engine Vmirror appliance connects to two sets of Xsan-compatible RAID systems to create a single, active-active storage system. From a physical standpoint, Vmirror-protected RAID arrays can also be placed in different physical locations, providing additional an added benefit of disaster protection. In the unlikely event a storage volume fails, failover from primary to mirrored storage volume proceeds by reading from the alternate data path. Failover is nearly instantaneous and, with appropriately configured systems, happens without video frame drops.
Performance-wise, Vmirror dramatically raises streaming rates by alternately reading from each data path (yellow and blue above). Vmirror reads from both mirrored disk sets and effectively doubles sustained throughput.
Technology: Vmirror Appliance
Vmirror mirroring appliance solutions are built around the Vicom engine, a high-speed, independent, SAN data mover. A patented design combines real-time OS, embedded hardware, and proprietary drivers to create an enterprise-hardened SAN appliance offering scalability, high-speed, and low-latency in a single SAN device. To achieve seamless interoperability, Vicom's block-level virtualization technology creates a SAN connection platform that transparently mirrors stored data regardless of make, model or version of storage system, attached hosts, or operating system platform and drivers. This all-hardware hardware design also enables Vicom appliances to protect and move SAN data at up to 8Gb/second (1400MB/second sustained) without affecting server or storage performance.
1-U Rackmount Vmirror Appliance with dual mirroring engines
Fabric-Based Appliance: Vicom appliances use clustered engine pairs to form an "unbreakable," high-availability SAN device to deliver either data migration or mirroring services. Built-in block-level virtualization enables seamless connection of systems and storage of any make. No agents, additional software, or system changes are needed, greatly simplifying appliance installation and usage. All-Vicom Design:
Interoperability among different SAN components requires the ability to handle subtle differences in communication protocols, timing, and device behavior from countless combinations of vendors and versions – one of the reasons that most high-performance SAN solutions come from a single, rather than multiple vendors.
With mirroring, failover between different RAID systems can be complicated by incompatible behavior and timing – often introduced by new drivers and software. Not only does this complicate installation and operation, but it also makes the maintenance task more difficult. Vicom has developed software, drivers, and hardware for the Vicom engine that have undergone years of testing and operation in the field. The result: Vicom delivers proven open-SAN interoperability that has withstood the test of years of different software and system releases from established vendors to startups. Bottom line: transparent, problem-free appliance operation with XSAN storage and host systems.
Built for Enterprise Applications:
Clustering and modular redundancy create an appliance that delivers high availability with no single point of failure. In the event of power outage, the Vicom engine re-boots in ten seconds or less. Mirroring engines are clustered to provide high-performance, enterprise-level availability, and optional disaster-recovery configuration. Embedded, all-hardware mirroring design also offers significantly higher reliability than software mirroring and RAID-based appliances.
Vmirror ES Specifications
Market Technology/HDDISK is a direct Reseller for Vicom Products for the United States and Mexico, Central and South America Distributor, for domestic technical or sales questions contact us at 909-574-1352 or emails us at info@hddisk.us.com, If you are a reseller and are interested in partnert with us and Vicom please email nmzeledon@hddisk.us.com
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