The Storage Area Network (SAN)
  Enterprise Solution

The National Information Technology Center (NITC) is announcing an enterprise Storage Area Network (SAN). The SAN is comprised of intelligent networks and multimedia storage devices. The scope of the SAN enterprise capabilities supports open system platforms that require on-demand storage, disaster recovery and continuity of operation (COOP) solutions, and high-end disk storage data integrity features. The NITC's Centers of Excellence provide geographically dispersed data replication and mirroring functionality with state-of-the-art technology to meet these requirements.

The NITC supports many customers with national information technology (IT) programs and services that are mission critical. The IT infrastructure consists of redundant facility components, a professional staff with diverse skills, and an enterprise storage subsystem designed to satisfy file restoration, disaster recovery, and continuity of operation business objectives requirements. Key Features of the SAN follow:

Key Features

• Geographically dispersed data replication and mirroring.
• Storage management dashboard tools.
• High-end disk storage.
• High-end tape storage.
• Dual disk storage fibre network segments.
• Stand alone fibre network segment for tape service.
• Director class Brocade switches.
• Brocade edge topology with limited class switches.
• Data restoration from tape.
• Off site data tape backup rotation cycles.
• Off site data tape archive.
• Tape inventory management.

NITC open system customers have reported improved efficiency in processing and database performance after connecting to the NITC SAN. Before investing in an IT infrastructure with a SAN solution, a viable alternative is to consider the NITC SAN as part of your data life cycle management solution.

Please contact Bruce A. Pacot, Marketing Program Manager, at 888-USE-NITC or send an email to nitc.san@usda.gov for additional information requests and inquiries. The NITC enterprise solution Storage Area Network (SAN) topology diagram and presentation is available at the NITC website, www.ocio.usda.gov/nitc, under Product Announcements. NITC is prepared to support your IT business needs and requirements for today, tomorrow, and the future.

http://www.ocio.usda.gov/nitc/san_es.html | Last Modified: 09/14/2007