Special Section: SNW, Fall 2004 - More News From SNW:

Spectra Logic Introduces TOE Libraries

Spectra Logic introduced the first storage automation product line with performance-boosting TCP/IP off-load engine (TOE) technology. TOE is tightly integrated with the libraries' Gb Ethernet controllers, which enable iSCSI. Libraries, with TOE, process TCP/IP packets, removing that burden from the network, so that data transfer can take advantage of greater network bandwidth.

"With this new technology, enterprise customers can leverage existing Ethernet infrastructures even more efficiently," said Frank Berry, vice president of marketing at QLogic Corp. "Spectra Logic's integration of TOE lets customers attach libraries directly to the network, without requiring a bridge, and also offloads the network through the addition of CPU."

The mid-range market is beginning to embrace iSCSI as a low-cost alternative to Fibre Channel. By making use of protocols already widely in use in most data centers -- that is, Ethernet and SCSI -- the technology requires little hardware change and minimal learning curve compared to time-consuming and expensive data center conversions to Fibre Channel. Some predict iSCSI will dominate the mid-range storage market by the end of 2006. Spectra Logic libraries already support iSCSI, and with TOE, continue to affordably enable storage speeds data centers need to keep up with data growth.

"We selected the QLogic TOE chip because of the ASIC's high-level design strategy and sophisticated customization processes," said Hossein ZiaShakeri, Spectra Logic's senior vice president of strategic marketing and business development. "The T-series product line, T120 and T950, is the storage industry's first libraries that natively incorporate this exciting technology."