The Internet small computer system interface (iSCSI) protocol, one of the two main approaches to storage data transmission over Internet protocol (IP) networks, has a key role in managing storage over long distances. It also helps in increasing the capabilities and performance of storage data transmission, which in turn will benefit the market for storage area network (SAN).

Cashing in on the benefits offered by iSCSI, Winchester Systems Inc. – a provider of data storage solutions – has incorporated new connectivity options, such as connectivity via 10-Gigabit and 1-Gigabit iSCSI, as well as simultaneous access via combinations of host interconnects, into its FlashDisk high-performance storage arrays.

Winchester’s FlashDisk is a purpose-built storage solution designed for demanding and high-performance workloads. Apart from featuring a purpose-built modular controller design, it integrates embedded-systems architecture, streamlined firmware and hardware-acceleration ASICs.

The FlashDisk system can deliver up to 1.2 million I/O operations per second (IOPS) and 5,500 MB/second data throughput. It houses hot-swappable controller modules and each such module plugs into the back of a purpose-built storage shelf and presents up to four Fibre Channel, 4 SAS (News - Alert), or 6 iSCSI host ports.

According to Winchester, by plugging two controllers into the same shelf creates an active-active redundant configuration. This configuration eliminates single points of failure and doubles the number of active host ports (8 FC/SAS, 12 iSCSI), thereby enhancing the performance of the system.

In addition, the purpose-built modular approach also enables entry-level FlashDisk systems to deliver the same top-end performance as their large-scale siblings.

Winchester has been offering both FC-host RAID arrays and iSCSI RAID arrays to support SAN in VMware virtualized environments. In one of its whitepapers titled “Deploying FlashDisk Data Storage with VMware,” the company indicates that its FlashDisk arrays’ features of centralized management and configuration platform, redundancy designs, and smart scalability provide many benefits to the virtualized environments.

Winchester Systems’ proprietary management suite, FlashDisk Global Manager, has been facilitating system managers to configure, administer and monitor multiple FlashDisk arrays locally or remotely through a user-friendly graphic interface.