Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) is already paving the way for next-generation enterprise storage systems just as data center operators are come to grips with today’s SSD-packed arrays.
It wasn’t that long ago that flash storage, with speeds that leave traditional disk-based systems in the dust, was considered disruptive. Now, with technologies like NVMe and storage-class memory making waves, HPE is futureproofing its all-flash storage portfolio with “most significant feature release” ever to come to the company’s 3PAR line of arrays.
Updates to 3PAR OS (version 3.3.1) include the new 3PAR Adaptive Data Reduction (ADR), which HPE claims can lower capacity requirements by 75 percent and deliver 4:1 data compression.
“One of the most notable elements of ADR is a unique capability called Data Packing, a feature that picks up where other data reduction technologies leave off,” explained HPE in a blog post. “By assuring that individually compressed blocks of data are organized and written to disk in the most efficient and performant way possible, it’s the key to optimizing data reduction not just today but on an ongoing basis.”
New iSCSI updates include new multi-tenant IP networking and host connectivity options, as well as a 3PAR Express Writes optimization feature the reduces latency on applications delivered over iSCSI by up to 40 percent. The 3PAR File Persona now supports cross-protocol file sharing and features automated provisioning and scalability-enhancing capabilities.
3PAR OS 3.3.1 will be available at no cost to current customers in the first quarter of 2017.
In terms of storage systems management, the HPE 3PAR StoreServ Management Console (SSMC) now supports automated and scheduled data migrations involving up to 24 storage systems (3PAR and supported third-party storage hardware). A one-click SAN zoning capability for Fibre Channel (FC) deployments can cut fabric provisioning overhead by up to 90 percent, claims HP.
On the data protection front, the announced that the latest version of HPE Recovery Manager Central (RMC) delivers faster performance at lower CPU utilization. HPE StoreOnce VSA (Virtual Storage Appliance) for Microsoft Azure, provides data replication services to the cloud. The new Peer Copy feature in RMC allows snapshot data to move bi-directionally between 3PAR arrays and StoreVirtual VSA.
HPE StoreOnce VSA for Azure starts at $1,400 and will be available this quarter. HPE Recovery Manager Central and Peer Copy ship in the second quarter at no cost for current 3PAR and StoreVirtual VSA customers.
Pedro Hernandez is a contributing editor at InfoStor. Follow him on Twitter @ecoINSITE.