LeftHand Networks Virtual SAN Appliance to Extend Virtualization Across the Data Center

BOULDER, Colo., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- LeftHand Networks(R) today unveiled the LeftHand Networks Virtual SAN Appliance (VSA) for VMware ESX Server. The VSA clusters the internal storage within multiple x86 server hosts running VMware ESX Server to create a full-featured SAN enabling advanced high-availability of data and applications in VMware Infrastructure environments. The powerful, yet cost-effective solution provides a completely fault-tolerant SAN without requiring the purchase of additional hardware, additional costs for power and cooling or additional footprint within the data center.

Customers are realizing tremendous benefits from server virtualization. But with more applications running on a physical server, more applications fail if that server fails. As a result, customers require highly available virtual infrastructure for their applications, which in turn requires shared storage. In many cases, this is not an option due to the cost of physical shared storage. Even so, when shared storage is an option, the storage local to the server is not fully utilized. The VSA provides a cost effective shared storage solution via a redundant SAN with automated failover. The combination of the VSA and VMware Infrastructure provides an automated, high-availability solution for both application servers and storage with failover and failback between physical machines.

The VSA empowers businesses to further realize the benefits of server and desktop consolidation, centralized management and backup, and disaster recovery solutions across the data center as well as remote and branch offices. By implementing the VSA, businesses can reduce data storage costs and management fees while increasing storage utilization and improving data availability within a VMware Infrastructure environment.

"LeftHand Networks' open iSCSI SAN approach, which integrates SAN/iQ with enterprise-class x86 servers, makes the addition of a Virtual SAN Appliance a natural step forward," said John Humphreys, program director for IDC. "The Virtual SAN Appliance concept is truly unique in the Virtual Appliance Marketplace and is indicative of the continued innovation in the server virtualization marketplace."

The LeftHand Networks Virtual SAN Appliance for VMware ESX Server

The LeftHand Networks Virtual SAN Appliance enables the full possibilities of VMware Infrastructure in areas of the organization where it was previously not considered. With the VSA, customers can deploy a highly available virtualized environment in a remote/branch office for less than 50 percent of the cost for a physical SAN. LeftHand is the first SAN vendor to deliver a product that virtualizes and optimizes internal storage disks within a server and across servers to create a Virtual SAN. The LeftHand Networks Virtual SAN Appliance for VMware ESX Server works within a VMware ESX Server host alongside other virtual machines/applications to optimize the virtualized infrastructure. The virtual SAN is a full-featured SAN that can be used to provide storage to both virtual and non-virtual applications, without the additional hardware costs associated with a traditional SAN.

"Virtual SANs represent a natural progression for virtualized environments. With a virtual SAN appliance, customers can deploy a SAN in their environment, enabling them to take advantage of the high availability capabilities of VMware Infrastructure," said Parag Patel, Vice President, Alliances at VMware.

The LeftHand Networks Virtual Storage Appliance for VMware ESX Server is the latest offering in the open iSCSI SAN family of products from LeftHand Networks and complements the company's physical SAN offerings. LeftHand's patented software platform, SAN/iQ, will run within a VMware virtual machine and carry the same capabilities and features made available in the physical storage systems built on LeftHand Networks, HP ProLiant DL320s and IBM x3650 servers.

"LeftHand Networks' flexible, open iSCSI SAN approach provides choice to our customers and is very attractive from a partner perspective," said Mike Duhaime, Direct Systems Supports. "The addition of the LeftHand Networks Virtual SAN Appliance for VMware ESX expands our offering beyond physical IBM x3650-based SANs to virtualize disks drives within IBM Blade Centers and servers within remote office location to deliver a complete VMware(R) Infrastructure 3 and LeftHand SAN infrastructure."

Powered by SAN/iQ, the Virtual SAN Appliance allows customers to take advantage of a wide range of enterprise-class features, such as snapshots, thin provisioning, synchronous and asynchronous replication, automatic failover and failback, and management through a single pane of glass.

Pricing and Availability

LeftHand Networks Virtual SAN Appliance for VMware(R) ESX Server is available for demo and evaluation today at the VMware Virtual Appliance Marketplace at http://www.vmware.com/appliances/ as well as at LeftHand Networks Web site at http://www.lefthandnetworks.com. A production release will be made available in November 2007 through authorized LeftHand Networks Advantage partners. For additional information, please contact LeftHand Networks at 1.866.4.IPSANS (866.447.7267).

About LeftHand Networks

LeftHand Networks pioneered IP-based storage area networks (SAN) in 2001. SANs built using LeftHand's SAN/iQ(R) software are uniquely able to distribute and protect data across a cluster of industry-standard storage servers. The company's patented architecture increases data availability, allows users to start small and grow the SAN seamlessly, and simplifies management. The LeftHand SAN is ideal for storage and server consolidation, campus SANs, and disaster recovery. For more information, contact LeftHand at info@lefthandnetworks.com.