Thursday, 21 September 2006

HP Unveils Storage Grid Architecture

Hewlett-Packard has unveiled a new type of data storage solution for small businesses, the StorageWorks Reference Information Storage System (RISS).

HP RISS is the archiving solution that exploits data by turning it into information. Application aware, content based indexing, and search tools ensure accessibility to information. The RISS is said to integrate the required hardware, software and services that deliver cost-effective, long-term storage of reference information. The solution architecture supports linear scalability without loss of performance by distributing terabytes of content across a grid of storage smart cells.

HP is hoping that its solution will be ideal for government and medical organisations that have strict regulations concerning citizens' and patients' electronic records. "Based on government regulations, our disaster recovery and backup policies must ensure accessibility to a patient's electronic records," said Bohnne Jones, an information technology director at Pekin Hospital.

HP's plans aren't limited to governments and hospitals, however. The company is banking on the ease of administration and scalability of the node storage system to gain inroads in the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector as well. "With these systems, HP is now the benchmark for storage solutions for SMEs," said Bob Schultz, senior vice president and general manager, StorageWorks Division, HP.