Other World Computing announced today its new OWC Jupiter mini-SAS scalable storage solution for small businesses and enterprises utilizing mission critical and creative applications. Built upon the proven mini-SAS interface for speeds up to 24Gb/s using just a single cable connection, the Jupiter family of racks, towers, and hubs combine the highest levels of data sharing performance with the simplicity of direct attached storage (DAS) at up to 5x lower cost of fibre channel infrastructures. The OWC Jupiter mini-SAS will be available by the end of March in a variety of configurations with 8TB Enterprise solution pricing starting at $3,995.00. During the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which begins tomorrow in Las Vegas, Nevada, OWC will demonstrate the high performance of the Jupiter mini-SAS in its booth #5231 in the LVCC North Hall.
Centralized Storage = Higher Productivity
Jupiter mini-SAS is a centralized storage solution, which means data is stored in a single location and can be accessed by multiple workstations simultaneously. Sharing content streamlines workflows, eliminates bottlenecks, and the need to duplicate files. By eliminating the need to copy data to multiple users on DAS solutions or searching for files in multiple locations, Jupiter mini-SAS can dramatically increase productivity. Additionally, Jupiter mini-SAS can be configured to provide zoned/allocated drive access privileges so specific workstations and/or servers have exclusive access to specific drives or sets of drives.
Easy Configuration Options
Jupiter mini-SAS makes sharing data far easier compared to traditional SAN solutions. At the heart of the Jupiter mini-SAS is the Jupiter Hub, which provides a super-fast connection to workstations, Jupiter expanders or RAID boxes and connects to each device via a single 24Gb/s cable. For increased user access and configuration options, the Jupiter Hub can then connect to an LSISAS6160 Switch.
Unsurpassed Speed for Even HD Video Editing
Jupiter mini-SAS incorporates mini-SAS technology for up to an unsurpassed 24Gb/s data rate—3x faster than 8Gb/s fibre channel. Files accessed over mini-SAS open and save as if saved locally, which increases productivity and cuts time cost associated with copying files to each workstation. This ultra-fast interface is ideal for professional video environments that depend on constant and consistent data access performance to prevent dropped frames. For example, uncompressed 1080p HD video my need an average constant speed of 165MB/s. If that speed can’t be reached, frames may be dropped as the bandwidth drops in order to keep up. With the data rate speed of Jupiter mini-SAS, dropped frames are nearly eliminated.
Multiple RAID Levels Supported
Beyond implementing Jupiter mini-SAS as a standard storage solution, it is also available as a RAID storage subsystem offering multiple RAID configurations to provide speed, performance fault tolerance, or a combination of both. For maximum flexibility, Jupiter mini-SAS supports RAID configurations 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60 and JBOD, all managed from a user-friendly application that allows for straightforward configuration of all pooled storage as well as connected workstations.
Storage That Grows with Company Needs
Jupiter mini-SAS easily provides a shared storage environment by using a centralized pooled storage model. Small companies with as few as two employees can start with a single tower used as direct attached storage with 4TB of space. Then, as the company grows, users simply add storage to the pool with Jupiter expander units, hubs and switches to accommodate up to 3600TB (3.6 Petabytes). Adding to a Jupiter mini-SAS data storage pool is easier and more efficient than deploying additional DAS solutions for individual users. Plus, the high speeds of mini-SAS and the collaborative nature of Jupiter makes it fast and easy for connected users to share and access files without waiting.
Efficient Collaboration for Creative Industries
Creative professionals require shared data access to streamline workflow and processes such as editing, compositing, and audio mastering. Jupiter mini-SAS allows open collaboration to take place simultaneously and efficiently without hindering creativity, while at the same time reducing post-production time.
Grows Your Business, Not Your Budget
Integrating Jupiter mini-SAS into a business offers up to 5x lower cost compared to the cost of implementing a fibre channel infrastructure. A four-workstation, 24Gb/s Jupiter mini-SAS setup consisting of the Jupiter nine port hub, four PCIe cards, and 10 meter active cabling has infrastructure costs starting around $5,000 vs. $25,000 for 8Gb/s fibre channel.
Flexible and Adaptable for Any Infrastructure
The Jupiter mini-SAS is easy to install, and flexible enough to integrate into an existing IT infrastructure, or lay the foundation upon which to build a new infrastructure. And because Jupiter works on a pooled storage model, allocating storage to specific workstations is simple and can be done on the fly. This not only ensures power users have all the space they need, it also means less wasted storage space on those who don’t need it. An included, user-friendly management and monitoring application keeps tabs on Jupiter’s overall system health, performance, maintenance and diagnostics. Plus, it can be configured to alert the system administrator via email or text message should any issues or warnings arise.
The OWC Support Difference
OWC has been a leader in the storage and computer upgrades industry for more than 24 years, and its 24/7 free lifetime US-based support has been praised by users around the world. Further instilling confidence in Jupiter mini-SAS is an OWC 5-year warranty and an expert support staff trained specifically on the Jupiter family of storage. Unlike other piecemeal SAN systems that require multiple vendor support, all the components of Jupiter mini-SAS come from OWC and are engineered to work seamlessly together.
“With Jupiter mini-SAS, we’re capitalizing on our expertise in direct attached storage to bring simplicity and affordability to SAN, but with much higher performance that the leading standard of fibre channel,” said Larry O’Connor, Founder and CEO, Other World Computing. “With its scalability for users, flexibility in implementation, and single contact support, Jupiter mini-SAS represents the best shared storage solution for small companies to enterprise level deployment.”
Jupiter mini-SAS Key Features:
• Scalable pooled (shared) storage solution combines the simplicity of direct attached storage (DAS) and the performance of mini-SAS with a cost up to 5x less than fibre channel
• mini-SAS interface for speeds up to 24Gb/s—up to 3x faster than fibre channel
• Enterprise-level 3600TB (3.6 Petabytes) capacity with Enterprise-class drives and expander units
• Connects to a server or workstations using a single 24Gb/s cable
• Available in 4 and 8 bay towers; 8 and 16 bay racks
• Available as a standalone storage solution and as a RAID storage subsystem supporting RAID configurations 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60 and JBOD
• Hot-swappable redundant power supplies can be replaced without shutting down or restarting
• User-friendly management and monitoring application for checking Jupiter’s overall system status, performance, maintenance, and diagnostics
• Five-year warranty
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Any updates on when this will actually launch? 9 months later and still nothing.
The first of the Jupiter line products should be shipping by the beginning of 4th quarter. In bringing new products to market sometimes delays that outside our control occur and it is as frustrating to us as it is to our customers.
We thank all of you waiting for this release for your patience. Fortunately, we’re really close now. ;-)
Michael,
Any news on when you’ll start shipping Jupiter? … it’s now nearly November.
Also, can you run MetaSan or XSAN on top of the boxes? i.e., SAN or is Jupiter purely a DAS approach?
Thanks,
Luma
We plan to support both metaSAN and XSAN at launch (or can be configured as a DAS device), which at this point we’re expecting to be by the end of November or early December.
I love the look of this, working as a Digital Imaging Technician, D.I.T. for short, on commercials and music promos I often need to share the files that I have downloaded from camera, reviewed and transcoded with an editor on set. SAN has been too bulky and prohibitively expensive to invest in just for these occasional requirements and clients would be unlikely to pay the extra to cover the increased equipment costs even when they would help with workflow and efficiency on set. The form factor of the 8 bay looks attractive from the front (weight and portability are a key concern as I work on location often moving locations during a day and sometimes flightcasing for work abroad) and the pricing mentioned makes it more of a feasible option.
I note with interest that you also have a thunderbolt Pcie expansion box on the way. A lightweight, flight carry on sized system has been a key desire of mine for a long time. My ideal design would be an eight bay rack with 2,4 or even 6 PCie slots at the rear and 2x Thunderbolt inputs and possibly 2x Thunderbolt pass troughs. Basically a combination rack like the one Netstor have announced (http://www.netstor.com.tw/_03/products_Thunderbolt.htm) but designed for lightweight and portability in an 8 bay version and with a second thunderbolt channel in to support more PCie cards at full speed – a fantastic option with the new Retina MacBook Pro and it’s two Thunderbolt ports. If it had a footprint that meant it could be cased up and fit in a flight carry on it would be my ideal solution, and I imagine a very popular product with other D.I.T.’s and people with similar needs. Any chance you guys at OWC have something like this in the works or might at least combine an 8 bay rack with some Pcie thunderbolt expansion in the future?
I’m loving all the new product releases for 2012, but where are the Thunderbolt goodies?