Panasas Looks to Unify Storage

As more data flows across multiple applications, IT organizations are looking for a unified approach to storing data that makes it easier to share information across multiple applications. That means that rather than tie a particular storage device to a specific application, IT organizations are looking for “storage operating systems” that make it easier to share a pool of data across multiple systems, said Bob Schoettle, Panasas vice president of marketing.

At the heart of the Panasas family of storage systems is a PanFS file system that is deployed on all Panasas storage systems. Capable of supporting up to speeds of up to 160GB per second, the PAS HC is not intended to compete against the bulk of NAS offerings on the market today, but rather primarily for applications where speedy access to files on a NAS system is a core customer requirement, said Schoettle.

As the need for data integration rises, multiple storage vendors are trying to position their approach to unifying the management of files as an answer to the problem. In terms of products, the Panasas family of storage products have their roots in high-performance computing environments. But as Schoettle notes, this is one area where the need to integrate data is most acute.

The PAS HC, which Schottle says can take as little as 15 minutes to configure, is scheduled to be available this summer.