StarWind Offers Guide for SMBs to Build Simple SANs
StarWind Releases "The Essential Guide to Building a SAN"; Allows SMBs To Turn Any Windows Server into a SAN in Less than 20 minutes
BURLINGTON, Mass. - May 13, 2009 - StarWind Software, a global leader in storage virtualization solutions and open iSCSI SAN software, is providing a hands-on instructional guide that will offer easy steps for IT professionals at small and mid-size companies to quickly and easily build their own storage area networks (SANs) using industry-standard, off-the-shelf x86 hardware and freely available storage software. StarWind is making this "Essential Guide to Building a SAN" available to anyone that has always wanted to implement centralized, network storage but found that SAN products that are generally available for purchase are too expensive and too complex and are meant for larger companies.
Today nearly all small and mid-size companies are looking to move server data from direct attached storage to centralized, networked storage which makes the data easily available and significantly easier to manage and protect. But traditionally networked storage has been very expensive and only affordable to larger companies. With the advancement of technology which allows storage data to transfer over existing Ethernet network, now any SMB can easily build shared storage devices with industry-standard hardware including x86 servers and TCP/IP networking gear. Shared storage provides enormous benefits including enablement of high availability server clustering, protection of VMware, Hyper-V and XenServer virtual servers and SQL Server database files, central management, and simplified remote replication for disaster recovery. Using shared storage makes it significantly easier to manage, provision and protect virtual machines. Shared storage is also required to enable high availability and other advanced features of virtual machines such as VMware High Availability, VMotion, VCB, DRS or Hyper-V Live Migration.
“We are seeing a significant increase in SMBs looking to move from regular local storage to centralized storage on their networks,” said Zorian Rotenberg, StarWind president and CEO. He continued, “The Essential Guide to Building a SAN will show any network professional how to get a fully-functional SAN up and running in no time. Companies can even use the free version of StarWind to repurpose existing or old servers to function as a SAN.”
StarWind is dedicated to providing networked storage software to small and midsize companies to improve business reliability and reduce costs. The flagship product, StarWind Server 4.0, is an open iSCSI SAN software (Small Computer System Interface protocol that transmits storage data over IP network) that can install on any Windows server running 64-bit or 32-bit Windows, converting it into a reliable and scalable storage area network (SAN). It is designed to work with leading virtualization solutions such as VMware ESX and VMware ESXi, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V or Citrix XenServer. It also supports high availability cluster environments with Windows Server Clusters for application solutions such as Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Exchange Server. StarWind fully leverages iSCSI technology and all the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 capabilities to provide a robust storage platform for these applications.
The Essential Guide to Building a SAN is available here: How to Build a SAN Guide: Convert Any Windows Server Into Shared Storage. And trial software is available at https://www.starwindsoftware.com/starwind-virtual-san and takes less than 20 minutes to download and install. StarWind Software is available at authorized channel partners. For further information, please contact StarWind software at 617-449-7717 or visit the company's website www.starwindsoftware.com.
About StarWind Software Inc.
StarWind Software is a leading global provider of storage and iSCSI SAN software. StarWind Server converts any Windows server into a reliable, powerful and scalable SAN and is designed for use with solutions such as Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008, VMware ESX and VMware ESXi and Microsoft Windows Server clusters for database applications such as Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft SharePoint Server. StarWind is an affordable iSCSI SAN solution and combines ease of use with enterprise-class features such as Mirroring and Replication, CDP and Snapshots, Thin Provisioning and Virtual Tape Library (VTL). Since 2003, StarWind has pioneered the iSCSI SAN industry and has been the solution of choice for thousands of global customers in over 50 countries, from small and mid-size businesses, to governments, and Fortune 1000 clients.
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StarWind Software and the StarWind logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of StarWind Software Inc. or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Media Contact:
StarWind Software Inc.
John Welch, 1-617-449-7717
media@starwindsoftware.com