IBM today introduced the ProFibre Storage Array DF4000J, the first in a series of 2-Gigabit (Gb) Fibre Channel subsystem enclosures. Targeted at system integrators, OEMs and value-added resellers, the JBOD is among the first low profile, high-density 2Gb enclosures and offers 50 percent more capacity and double the bandwidth over the 1Gb model.
The 3U-high, 15-bay ProFibre DF4000J, IBM says, is ideally suited for use in racks of storage where square footage is at a premium, such as disk farms for Internet and Storage Service Providers. It is designed to ensure high availability by utilizing fully redundant, hot-swappable components, including disk drives, Fibre Channel interface modules, power supplies and fan assemblies. The enclosure is constructed with vibration dampening material, provides multiple configuration flexibility options, and can hold up to fifteen 73GB disk drives, or 1.095 terabytes. Simply by connecting one JBOD to another, an additional 1.095TB of storage may be added to the storage subsystem configuration. It supports 2Gb Fibre Channel drives and is backward-compatible with 1Gb Fibre Channel drives, allowing companies to protect their 1Gb investments.
The ProFibre DF4000J will begin shipping in volume during the third quarter to server and storage OEMs and the IBM Technology Group (TG) worldwide sales and channel network, which includes distributors, resellers and system integrators.
