Wasabi Storage Builder^TM for iSCSI Appliances is a compact flash based solution that enables OEMs to produce high-performance native iSCSI target appliances. Modular, scalable, and able to run on off-the-shelf components, Storage Builder is the industry-leading operating platform for creating advanced, iSCSI-enabled networked storage devices.

The iSCSI Protocol: Revolutionizing Storage

iSCSI is a new technology that connects computers to SCSI devices over a TCP/IP network. iSCSI allows system administrators and integrators to develop Storage Area Networks (SANs) using cost-effective Gigabit Ethernet Networks in the data center. iSCSI's TCP/IP underpinnings will also allow the easy extension of SANs over much greater distances than was previously possible, including extending SANs over the public internet. iSCSI includes built-in security features that make it possible to control which systems may gain access a given device. These features taken together make iSCSI an effective new technology for data transfer.

Storage Builder for iSCSI helps OEMs create a low cost IP-enabled SAN, disk-based backup and near-line storage appliances in business continuation and recovery devices. iSCSI target appliances created with Storage Builder are the perfect companion to Microsoft's Storage Server 2003 acting as a NAS gateway to high capacity, low cost serial ATA based arrays with full RAID support for mirroring, striping, parity and virtualization.

Storage in a Flash

Wasabi's innovative Flashware™ software delivery mechanism encapsulates the entire operating system, iSCSI stack, and management software inside inexpensive, off-the-shelf CompactFlash cards, eliminating the need to waste a hard drive slot for the operating system. Flashware™ images are also field-upgradable using Storage Builder's web-based management interface.

In one CompactFlash card, Storage Builder includes all of the necessary software components you need to create a native iSCSI target solution, including the Wasabi Network OS, iSCSI protocol stack, web-based storage manager, storage software and security protocols. Simply plug it in and turn the system on.

With SoftwareSAN™, there is no need for custom hardware.

Storage Builder's unique SoftwareSAN™ technology is designed to work with off-the-shelf components, minimizing OEM development time and, most importantly, cost. With current cost levels making SAN appliances out of reach of most small and medium businesses (see related article from Network World Fusion), the ability to run on non-custom, standard hardware is a tremendous advantage of SAN OEMs. Everything you need resides in the software layer.

Wasabi pre-tests and certifies standard off the shelf components from leading manufacturers like Intel, Seagate and 3Ware. This includes RAID controllers, network adaptors, server motherboards, microprocessors and disk drives that are verified in an extensive performance characterization test harness to ensure proper functionality, compatibility and overall performance. OEMs can quickly create a native iSCSI target solution using these components or have Wasabi certify their own custom engineered solutions.

Scalability and Performance Advantages

SAN devices require scalability and advanced network support. Storage Builder delivers support for very large volumes and offers unmatched advanced network support and security through Ipv6, Ipsec, Kerberos and CHAP. Additionally, Wasabi has optimized the network and disk controller drivers for optimum performance and wire-speed throughput rates.

In addition, Storage Builder offers:

• Support for all drive types including SCSI, IDE, Serial ATA and RAID
• Fully protected, performance-optimized virtual memory system and iSCSI volume block cache
• TCP/IP optimizations such as zero-copy and checksum offload
• Support for unlimited number of RAID cards
• Multiple connections per session
• Compatible with all leading iSCSI initiators
• Ongoing Maintenance and Upgrades. Storage Builder's flash upgrade feature will permit end users to take advantage of security updates and optional version upgrades by allowing the administrator to simply upload and install a single image in the device's flash memory.