KUALA LUMPUR: NetApp has unveiled its latest operating system — the Data Open Network Technology for Appliance Products 8 (or Data Ontap 8).

The OS is aimed at helping businesses build an efficient cloud computing infrastructure for the enterprise environment.

“We deliver the enterprise cloud today. Data Ontap 8 provides users with a platform that meets stringent cloud requirements and addresses challenges in deploying a cloud storage infrastructure,” said Sathish Murthy, technology consultant at NetApp Singapore Pte Ltd.

Besides offering better storage efficiency and better data protection, the OS offers two features called secure multitenancy and transparent data motion.

Secure multitenancy allows users to deploy a shared, cost-effective infrastructure across separate user groups or enterprise customers.

“Transparent data motion, meanwhile, is a new technology that enables seamless data migration across storage systems,” Sathish said.

With this feature, users can achieve non-disruptive data access during mandatory shutdowns or upgrades. They can also respond quickly within single site or across multisite distributed deployments.

The cloud, as NetApp defines it, is information technology as a service. Cloud computing, on the other hand, is defined by the vendor as a business model for delivering IT as a service.

There are two types of clouds — public and private. Examples of public clouds are Facebook, iTunes, Yahoo! e-mail and Google Apps. The last two offer software as a service (SaaS).

Applications based on public clouds offer general access to users, but with limited security features.

Private clouds offer limited access to users. This kind of cloud incorporates security features and firewalls to protect against intrusions. An example of a private cloud is Oracle’s SaaS.

“There are many variations of cloud services. These are infrastructure as a service, platform as a service, SaaS, and storage as a service (STaaS),” Sathish explained.

Other products

During the media briefing, NetApp also unveiled its Performance Acceleration Module II and DS4243 disk shelf.

The module is a family of Flash technology-based caching devices, which are available in 256GB and 512GB capacities.

Its DS4243 is a SAS/SATA (Serial Attached SCSI/Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) disk subsystem that enables users to streamline their data infrastructure footprint. The device comprises 24 drives in a 4U rack and can store up to 48 terrbytes of data.

Sathish said that in order to serve its customers better, the company has introduced a dynamic datacentre solution.

This comprises NetApp technologies, best practices and processes to enable IT as a service (ITaaS), as well as features to maximise on the efficiency of a cloud infrastructure.

It is a proven and tested solution for delivering ITaaS, he claimed.

NetApp holds a workshop for customers of this solution, to help it evaluate the user’s business needs, identify the projects necessary to address those needs, and to plan for maximum agility and datacentre cost savings.

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www.netapp.com