Quantum launches StorNext 4.0 software

CALIFORNIA, USA: Quantum Corp., a provider of back-up, recovery and archive solutions, announced the release of StorNext data management software, StorNext 4.0.

StorNext 4.0 provides data sharing and management capabilities to combat growth in unstructured data, rich file formats resulting from advancements in digital technologies, and extended life expectancy of digital assets can strain existing storage infrastructures. 

New features include integrated file system deduplication, a flexible replication engine and distributed data tiering, as well as timecode-based partial file retrieval and a web services-based management console.

StorNext provides data deduplication natively in the file system for nearline data and multi-site environments. This new capability is ideally suited for high data growth enterprises where a massive amount of data is continually processed, stored and accessed.

Quantum's patented variable-length deduplication technology finds redundant data blocks across files and stores only unique data. Previously applied only to Quantum's back-up solutions, this technology is leveraged in StorNext 4.0 to enable even greater cost savings and better storage management.

In addition, with its deduplication functionality, StorNext 4.0 can intelligently replicate only unique data, thereby significantly reducing network bandwidth requirements.

Additional features in StorNext 4.0 include:
Timecode-based Partial File Retrieval (PFR): Streamlines workflow in media asset management applications so that segments of large media files -- rather than the entire file -- can be quickly retrieved and utilized based on timecode parameters.

Web services-based management Console: Improves integration and streamlines management and monitoring through an XML-based graphical user interface (GUI).

StorNext is comprised of two core software components: StorNext File System and StorNext Storage Manager. The StorNext File System enables companies to share files easily and preserve investments by giving applications running on UNIX, Linux, Windows and/or Macintosh operating systems concurrent access to a common file store.

Its open architecture makes StorNext highly scalable and allows data sharing by both SAN- and LAN-based clients. StorNext is also storage vendor agnostic, enabling users to leverage any mix of disk and tape. StorNext Storage Manager provides automated movement of data between different storage tiers based on user-defined policies and file access requirements.

Combined with DDM, StorNext Storage Manager is ideal for large-scale storage environments. In addition, because it integrates with the virtualization capabilities of the StorNext File System, Storage Manager makes files accessible to client applications regardless of whether they are stored onsite or offsite.

Janae Lee, senior vice president, marketing, Quantum, said: "We have over 50,000 StorNext File System licenses, hundreds of petabytes of data under management, and a customer base that includes many of the world's top media and high-performance computing organizations."