SCIENCE

BlueArc will demonstrate an early version of its implementation of the parallel network file system (pNFS) standard at Supercomputing 2010 in New Orleans, La. from Nov. 15-18 in booth no. 2745. BlueArc is currently developing a pNFS solution that builds on the foundations of the BlueArc Mercury hybrid-core architecture and SiliconFS file system to enable multi-dimensional scalability in capacity, throughput and metadata performance for high performance computing (HPC) environments.

"BlueArc Customers turn to our NFS solutions for efficient storage that supports data growth and delivers reliable, predictable performance. This is also true for our valued HPC customers where their unique computing environments have the added demand for ultra-high performance," said Bridget Warwick, senior vice president of marketing at BlueArc. "By introducing pNFS into the BlueArc portfolio, we are further enhancing our scale up and scale out capabilities. 'Scale-right Storage' from BlueArc can improve IT management's ability to provide timely provisioning, greater resource utilization, performance, and higher levels of data and system availability without compromise."

The network file system (NFS) has served the industry well since its introduction and establishment as a standard in 1986, but as data demands continue to grow, some larger high-performance computing environments require throughput levels that can only be delivered on parallel file systems -- most of which have been largely non-standard and proprietary. BlueArc is currently developing a pNFS solution that supports the current NFS v4.1 industry standard, combining the benefits of parallel file systems with an open, standards based approach.

"A standards-based solution such as pNFS is necessary for wider adoption of parallel file system technology; there are actually several parallels to the adoption path that regular NFS took," said Bjorn Andersson, director of HPC product marketing for BlueArc. "As an innovator in high-performance and high-capacity storage products, with a history of providing record-setting performance through NFS, we're committed to the success of the pNFS standard and continue to work with industry partners and customers to bring our pNFS offering to market."

In addition to demonstrating pNFS at Supercomputing, BlueArc will host a Birds of a Feather session with industry affiliates at the event to examine "The State of pNFS." The panel discussion will be facilitated by BlueArc and include experts from BP, CITI, Intersect 360, Microsoft and Panasas. The session will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 5:30pm in room 390.

"pNFS as an industry standard is an exciting opportunity for HPC environments that are looking for increased throughput levels that only a parallel file system can provide," said Addison Snell, CEO of Intersect 360. "pNFS standard as a part of NFS v4.1 will open up new options for customers and will enable increased bandwidth and scalability that will certainly be an advantage in data intensive environments."

Additional BlueArc activities at Supercomputing 2010 include:

• BlueArc's Bjorn Andersson will present on "Data Intensive HPC" on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 2:30pm in room 280.
• BlueArc Mercury will be used as part of the DICE/Obsidian Strategics SCinet Sandbox Project; demonstrations will be at the Avetec and NASA/Goddard show booths