RevStor revs grid storage engines

Start-up puts an interesting spin on grid computing

Developments of the week in storage

A storage start-up is launching this week that has put an interesting spin on grid computing and existing direct-attached storage.

RevStor, based in Schaumsberg, Ill., has taken commodity x86-based hardware and pooled its storage resources. The company’s product, SANware, groups the direct-attached storage from servers, laptops and desktops and makes their unused storage capacity available to users on the network.

In SANware, a software agent is installed on each machine in the grid. The software agent controls the node and allows it to take part in the grid. A node called a SuperNode controls the storing and retrieval of data for each group of 10 nodes.

To continue reading, register here and become an Insider. You'll get free access to premium content from CIO, Computerworld, CSO, InfoWorld, and Network World. See more Insider content or sign in.

A storage start-up is launching this week that has put an interesting spin on grid computing and existing direct-attached storage.

RevStor, based in Schaumsberg, Ill., has taken commodity x86-based hardware and pooled its storage resources. The company’s product, SANware, groups the direct-attached storage from servers, laptops and desktops and makes their unused storage capacity available to users on the network.

In SANware, a software agent is installed on each machine in the grid. The software agent controls the node and allows it to take part in the grid. A node called a SuperNode controls the storing and retrieval of data for each group of 10 nodes.

While at present, RevStor only backs up file-based data to the grid of computers, a storage-area networking version will be available in the future. Network drives can also be added to the grid workgroup. As nodes leave the grid, their data is distributed to other nodes. As data changes, only the delta changes are added to the grid. Additionally to maximize disk space, compression is built in.

RevStor’s product looks similar to that of Seanodes, a company that also launched last week. 

SANware runs on Windows, Linux, Unix or Solaris servers and is available for $3,500 per terabyte of storage. A Mac version is in the works. The company is self-funded.

Editor's note: Starting the week of Nov. 12, you will notice a number of enhancements to Network World newsletters that will provide you with more resources and more news links relevant to the newsletter's subject. Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 13, the Storage in the Enterprise Newsletter, written by Network World Senior Editor Deni Connor, will be merged with the Storage News Alert and will be named the Storage Alert. You'll get Deni's analysis of the storage market, which you will be able to read in full at NetworkWorld.com, plus links to the day's storage news and other relevant resources. This Alert will be mailed on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We hope you will enjoy the enhancements and we thank you for reading Network World newsletters.

Read more about data center in Network World's Data Center section.

Deni Connor is principal analyst for Storage Strategies NOW and host of both the Masters of Storage and Masters of Servers Solution Centers.