DALLAS, Oct. 13 -- LSI Corp. today announced the latest release of its LSI StoreAge SVM (Storage Virtualization Manager) software suite, an advanced services platform that enables centralized storage management and multi-level data protection for distributed, heterogeneous storage environments.

Based on industry-proven, fifth-generation architecture, the SVM software suite includes centralized volume management, storage pooling, snapshot, volume copy, data migration and mirroring applications. The new architecture is designed to deliver greater scalability for up to a 10X increase in the number of snapshots and replication tasks per volume, and incorporates new features such as thin provisioning to help simplify virtualized infrastructure management and dramatically increase storage capacity utilization. The software also delivers green benefits by allowing storage platform consolidation, which reduces datacenter power consumption for improved energy efficiency.

"Large-scale consolidation is the economic imperative of the twenty-first century datacenter," said Phil Bullinger, executive vice president and general manager of the Engenio Storage Group at LSI. "By complementing server virtualization with StoreAge SVM, customers can regain control of their data and dramatically increase capacity utilization."

SVM software's dynamic thin provisioning feature enables users to allocate virtual capacity to meet the relentless data growth demands triggered by today's applications. This eliminates the need to over-allocate large amounts of real capacity to individual applications, reducing the amount of physical storage and allowing up to a 2X improvement in capacity utilization. It also improves application availability by eliminating disruptions caused by everyday data management tasks like increasing file allocations or expanding volumes to meet constantly changing requirements.

"What will encourage more users to make the move to fully virtualized environments is knowing that they have overall control and management of what is a highly complex and dynamic infrastructure," said Mark Peters, senior analyst with Enterprise Strategy Group. "In combination with the major server virtualization platforms (such as VMware), SVM software from LSI can offer the overall storage infrastructure that users seek."

Another new feature called "My SVM" is designed to improve productivity and security by allowing storage administrators to create secure user domains, and to then allocate capacity and define specific functions that individual users will be allowed to perform. This feature offers a best of both worlds approach by centralizing management, while enabling de-centralized, role-based administration.

Working in conjunction with the LSI 8400 Data Path Module (DPM), SVM multiMirror synchronous mirroring performance has been significantly enhanced by offloading resource-intensive data replication tasks from servers and storage controllers. The DPM is a high-performance SAN appliance that greatly accelerates data movement between source and target volumes. Additional enhancements to SVM allow SAN administrators to conveniently manage all forms of data protection and mobility through a single, consistent user interface.

"The new SVM features are impressive," said Tad Martin, database administrator at Iridium Satellite LLC. "In particular, the thin provisioning feature and the new GUI will make SAN administration easier all around. Thin provisioning will allow me to plan for expansion without having to purchase the hardware up front, while the new GUI allows me to view all our storage objects quickly and easily. We can also pinpoint any possible problems with the environment more efficiently. We're looking forward to transitioning to the latest SVM release in the near future and taking advantage of all it has to offer."

In addition, the complete line of LSI Engenio Fibre Channel-based storage systems, including the newly announced 7900 storage system, now provide support for advanced replication and management services offered by the latest release of SVM software. The SVM software suite provides Engenio system users with an advanced services platform for centralized storage management and multi-level data protection. Engenio system users can also benefit from SVM software's thin provisioning and storage pooling capabilities which are designed to simplify virtualized infrastructure management and dramatically increase storage capacity utilization.

LSI is also announcing an inaugural StoreAge SVM professional certification program. LSI channel partners and customers will be offered both instructor-led and online courses conducted at Prometric testing centers worldwide. The professional certification program will validate individual skills for implementing and configuring SVM in new or existing environments. More information is available at www.lsi.com/storeagecertification.

About LSI

LSI Corp. is a leading provider of innovative silicon, systems and software technologies that enable products, which seamlessly bring people, information and digital content together. The company offers a broad portfolio of capabilities and services including custom and standard product ICs, adapters, systems and software that are trusted by the world's best known brands to power leading solutions in the Storage and Networking markets. More information is available at www.lsi.com.