Sun focuses on flash based storage

Storage technology

Sun Microsystems is bringing high-performance flash storage arrays to market this week.

The Sun Storage F5100 Flash Array has integrated flash-based storage and optimised software to speed up database processes for MySQL and Oracle.

Offering up to 2TB of solid state flash capacity, Sun claims the array has green credentials, saying it can perform 1.6 million read and 1.2 million write IOPS in a single rack for just 300 watts.

The device is a single rack but can be connected to up to 16 separate hosts to run multiple applications.

It also comes with management and monitoring software and is compatible with a wide range of operating systems.

Sun is pushing ahead with new products alongside prospective parent company Oracle while questions still hang over whether the acquisition offer will get the go ahead.

Oracle first made a bid of $7.4 billion for the company back in April, which Sun soon accepted.

Even though US officials gave the deal the go ahead in August, the European Commission is conducting an antitrust probe into the transaction to decide whether it is fair for Oracle to own both its own database and MySQL.

A decision on the acquisition is expected on 19 January 2010.

Jennifer Scott

Jennifer Scott is a former freelance journalist and currently political reporter for Sky News. She has a varied writing history, having started her career at Dennis Publishing, working in various roles across its business technology titles, including ITPro. Jennifer has specialised in a number of areas over the years and has produced a wealth of content for ITPro, focusing largely on data storage, networking, cloud computing, and telecommunications.

Most recently Jennifer has turned her skills to the political sphere and broadcast journalism, where she has worked for the BBC as a political reporter, before moving to Sky News.