Bobcat Makes NAS Consolidation Simpler

Enter the Bobcat NAS Gateway from ONStor, which offers solution providers a tool for consolidating storage arrays, regardless of size, while introducing better management features.

ONStor product managers say Bobcat has found a particular following among solution providers interested in consolidating Windows file servers. Often the cost of managing several different Windows servers can mushroom quickly, epecially when it comes to providing support staff and round-the-clock attention. Bobcat offers a way of managing both storage and bandwidth utilization evenly from server to server. ONStor pegs the average cost of managing a Windows server at approximately $5,400 per year, per server. While that doesn't sound like a lot when you&re talking about one or even two servers, when companies need to manage double-digit numbers of servers, it can get rather expensive.

The company said the Bobcat NAS Gateway has frequently found a home in vertical applications for universities and health-care environments. The gateway only makes sense if customers have 10 to 12 servers that need to be consolidated or 2 to 3 Tbytes of storage that need to be better managed. Pricing for Bobcat starts at $25,000, although some configurations may cost up to $100,000, according to the company.

The Bobcat is a complete NAS gateway appliance that sits in front of a storage array and offers native Common Internet File Systems (CIFS) and Network File Systems (NFS) protocol support. CIFS allows users with different platforms and computers to share files without having to install new software. NFS is a client/server application designed by Sun Microsystems that allows all network users to access shared files stored on computers of different types.

The plug-and-play appliance supports backup and restore operations through a third party and does not include backup and restore software. Moreover, the Bobcat appliance does not supply server-based antivirus utilities; it does support both Symantec and McAfee antivirus products.

ONStor does not sell disks or storage; it only provides the NAS gateway. The Bobcat comes in three different models, all based on the 1U form factor.

Bobcat&s key differentiator is its ability to provide resellers with an open storage forum. The device is able to support products from multiple vendors including Hitachi Data Systems, IBM and 3PAR, to name just a few. Indeed, the company claims to support up to 30 different storage array vendors. CRN Test Center engineers believe that flexibility should allow customers to have freedom of storage on the back end.

Besides the open storage interoperability, scalability is the second major selling point when it comes to NAS gateways. The Bobcat device gives VARs the ability to visit the customer six months after the initial implemention, examine bandwidth and/or disk capacity and add more disks without disrupting the solution.

The device is somewhat complex to install, and requires technicians to have some knowledge of network appliances. Since the product is an enterprise-level technology, it also requires a lot of administrator interaction both on the storage side and the network side.

ONStor provides training services for its channel partners that supports its certification program. Among the benefits it provides to authorized solution providers is dedicated, partner-specific support, in addition to 24x7x365 support that can be accessed on behalf of customer installations. Partners are required to employ technically skilled personnel who have completed the ONStor NAS Advisor accreditation program, and the solution provider must maintain excellent customer-satisfaction levels.

Solution providers can resell ONStor&s own installation services or deliver their own custom services locally upon receiving the installation accreditation training. Because ONStor solution providers already have experience selling and installing disk array subsystems, they can easily integrate the full NAS solution upon learning about the ONStor NAS Gateway. ONStor provides solution providers with the product and technical expertise to integrate the solution for their customers.

Average reseller margins for the ONStor Bobcat appliance are approximately 20 percent, although that doesn&t take into account post-sales support contracts that may be offered by the solution provider.