Pillar Data Systems, the leading provider of Application-Aware storage systems, today unveiled the Pillar Axiom 300™. Ideally suited for small-to-medium size enterprises (SME’s), the Axiom 300 drives down infrastructure and operational costs, while reducing business risk and complexity of data storage. The Axiom 300 is exceptionally easy and quick to configure and deploy into existing storage environments. Ongoing management and maintenance are streamlined with Pillar’s clean, intuitive user interface and unique Guided Maintenance functionality.

The Axiom 300 enables Pillar channel and reseller partners the opportunity to offer a storage system with enterprise capabilities priced for midsized organizations. Some of the unique features include:

• Eighty percent disk utilization: the highest in the industry
• Costs are reduced and utilization rates increase when multiple applications and tiers of storage are consolidated into one single platform, while maintaining effective Quality of Service (QoS) for each;
• Pre-configured and user-customizable profiles: allowing administrators to optimize the arrays for specific applications;
• Thin Provisioning: increasing utilization of storage hardware and easier provisioning with less disruption to users/applications, and when combined with QoS provides the highest utilization rates in the industry.

“For small to mid-sized customers looking to drive down infrastructure and operational costs while reducing their business risk, the Pillar Axiom 300 offers a very interesting and viable solution as it reduces storage management complexity and Application-Aware visibility within their storage systems,” said Janet Waxman, vice president, hardware channels research, IDC.

Pillar channel partners in the Emerald Partner program that are selling the Axiom 300 will benefit from investment components that allow greater partner profitability, professional services enablement and joint strategic sales of the Axiom. Additionally, accredited Pillar partners that are Registered Service Providers can now provide professional services for the Axiom 300, increasing service margins and overall profitability.

“Pillar’s approach to the channel has fostered strong relationships with resellers who continue to embrace the company’s innovative products and channel selling strategies,” said Paul Myerson, senior channel analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group. “These new partner program enhancements, coupled with a product introduction geared primarily towards the channel, reinforce Pillar’s commitment to the solution provider community.”

Pillar Axiom 300 continues the company’s leadership in Application-Aware storage by bringing additional application profiles into the Axiom management framework. The Pillar Axiom 300 also comes with additional Application-Aware Storage profiles to meet the changing demands of the data center today and of the future, including:

• Oracle Optimization: Pillar is the optimal storage platform for Oracle-based applications. Oracle databases running Automatic Storage Manager (ASM) and Axiom storage deliver leading performance while providing an easy-to-use management environment.
• Exchange Optimization: Pillar addresses common challenges around Microsoft Exchange. Whether it is Exchange Mailbox growth, increase in users, backup, archive or compliance, the Axiom 300 is one platform that supports all these challenges without the need for disparate, multiple platforms.
• Virtualization Optimization: Pillar’s unique architecture helps facilitate 50% more virtual machines than any other storage system in this price band. With easy to use and manage AxiomONE software, the Axiom 300 helps provision virtual machines with superior flexibility and ease.

The Pillar Axiom 300 builds upon the launch of the Pillar Axiom 600/600MC, continuing the company’s legacy of innovation, including storage QoS, native NAS and SAN, distributed RAID, Guided Maintenance, and leading storage efficiency.

“The Axiom 300 delivers enterprise class performance, availability and functionality at an entry level price. We’re confident no other storage system on the market today rivals the Axiom 300 in terms of value, performance, functionality and efficiency,” said Curt Wittich, vice president of worldwide sales, Pillar Data Systems. “We listened to what our VAR partners were asking of us, and the Axiom 300 is an answer to their requests. This is an ideal platform for the SME customer, and we look forward to working with our VARs and channel partners to offer this robust, Application-Aware enterprise array for smaller companies with enterprise needs.”

The Axiom 300 is currently available worldwide, through both Pillar and authorized channel partners.

Pillar Axiom Storage Systems Certified for Windows 2008

In related news, the Pillar Axiom family, including the Axiom 300, recently received the Certified for Windows Server 2008 designation, demonstrating Pillar's continued leadership as an early supporter of the latest Microsoft technologies. The Axiom 300 is now certified for Windows Server 2008 x64, Windows Server 2008 x86, and Windows Server 2008 IA64 Certified for Windows.

Pillar Data Systems offers a compelling SAN (Storage Area Network) solution as compared to both DAS (Direct-Attached Storage) and traditional SAN solutions for Microsoft Exchange environments. The Pillar Axiom system simplifies management, consolidates resources, and saves time, money, and space in overcrowded and fragmented data centers. It delivers high reliability and performance, while allowing for flexibility, capacity, and rapid archive access.

What the Channel Community is Saying About the Pillar Axiom 300:

“Pillar continues to offer high standards and incentive programs for their partners to take advantage of,” said Victor Villegas, VP of Business Development at Adeara. “We are excited to provide the Axiom 300 to SME customers and we look forward to furthering our partnership with Pillar. We have already seen accelerated sales because of Pillar’s unique Application Aware storage offering, and the Axiom 300 will allow us to build on that success.”

“Like any company, we are constantly looking for ways to increase our opportunities for success,” said Sandy Flynn, Vice President of Marketing for BMC Solutions. “Pillar gives us that ability to continue meeting our goals. By remaining focused on architecting quality storage solutions, Pillar allows us the option to offer true Application-Aware storage services. This applies not only to the enterprise, but to the SME market as well.”

“We are constantly looking for visionary products to bring additional value to our customers,” said Jim Steinlage, President of Choice Solutions. “Pillar gives us that ability to continue to meet our mission statement which is “Increasing Our Clients’ Efficiency Through Innovative Technology.”

“We have continued to expand and capitalize on our partnership with Pillar over the years,” said Steve Kaplan of INX. “As a leader in its industry, we rest assured that Pillar is providing us with excellent products as well as added partner incentives, including enhanced deal protection and better margins through its industry award-winning partner programs.”

“We are committed to servicing all of our customers’ needs,” said John Bettenburg, VP Solutions Group at NASI. “As part of our goal to deliver quality Application-Aware storage solutions, we choose the best providers in the business. Pillar gives us that competitive advantage by allowing us to offer superior products for customers of all sizes.”