News

posted on 08 April 2008 09:16

Fujitsu Computer Systems (FCS) has introduced a turnkey and downsized Eternus-based storage array with both file and block protocol support, the UDS 2000, for small and medium businesses.

FCS is a subsidiary of the Japanese Fujitsu company. It supplies enterprise-class Eternus drive arrays and other IT products. Now it has introduced a mid-range box offering both network-attached storage (NAS) and IP storage area network (SAN) access over Ethernet.

The embedded server runs the extremely clumsily-named WUDSS (Windows Data Storage Server) 2003 and supports iSCSI block access and SMB, NFS and CIFS file access. Management is through Microsoft's MMC.

It comes in a dual processor design, featuring clustered failover for high-availability. The storage uses Eternus technology and the drive options run to either 300 or 146GB SAS drives spinning at 15,000rpm, or 500 or 750GB SATA drives rotating at 7,200rpm. No 1TB drives are supported, suggesting that Fujitsu is using its own brand hard drives.

This is not a leading-edge product. Instead Fujitsu will be selling it on the basis of reliability, availability and price. Dave Egan, the storage SVP at Fujitsu, said: "The UDS 2000 offers SMBs that have standardized on a Windows environment the opportunity to deploy a highly reliable, highly available, and economical unified storage solution powered by ... Eternus storage technology,"

Fujitsu will be expanding its US channel to do so. Tech Data Director John O'Shea, said: "As the U.S. distributor for the Eternus storage systems, Tech Data will work closely with Fujitsu to recruit resellers and provide them with the support and expertise they need to profitably deploy the UDS 2000 to SMBs nationwide."

Reldata recently announced that its unified 9240 NAS/iSCSI storage product works with Fujitsu 10Gig Ethernet switches. Nimbus has also recently introduced its unified Breeze Hybrid NAS and iSCSI storage product.

The UDS 2000 will be available early next month in the USA and pricing wsn't disclosed.

^{[Paul Roberts, news editor.]}