I/O virtualization switch vendor VirtenSys has announced the general availability of the VirtenSys I/O (VIO) 4000 series, the company’s flagship line of PCI Express-based virtualization switches that pool I/O resources in virtual server environments.
The VirtenSys VIO 4000 series consists of top-of-rack I/O switches that eliminate the need for the layer of server adapter ports and LAN/SAN access switch from a rack of servers. The switches use a single PCI Express cable to provide Ethernet, Fibre Channel, SAS, and SATA connectivity to servers.
The VIO 4000 switches connect directly to multiple physical servers and support Intel 10 GE NICs, Neterion 10GE NICs, QLogic Fibre Channel HBAs and LSI SAS/SATA MegaRAID Controllers.
The switches are available in two models. The VIO-4001 delivers virtual I/O adapters for LAN, SAN and DAS connectivity, while the VIO-4008-HDD provides the same connectivity with the added benefit of shared SAS or SATA disk storage.
Bob Napaa, vice president of business development at VirtenSys, says the VIO switches will be available through channel and OEM partners later this year and in the early months of 2010.
The company plans to demonstrate the 4000 series at next week’s VMworld conference.
VirtenSys completed its third round of funding earlier this month, garnering $16 million to grow the company’s revenues and broaden its markets and operations worldwide.