STORAGE

SAN JOSE, Calif.-- Extending its reach in delivering solutions that change the economics of networked storage, BlueArc(TM) Corporation has enabled Sanborn, a geographic information system (GIS) and photogrammetry industry leader, to centralize the storage operation at its primary data site in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Using BlueArc's high-performance SiliconServer, Sanborn is now able to keep its most critical information online and immediately accessible to production staff, in turn delivering a nearly 50 percent increase in productivity while significantly reducing the firm's cost structure. "The performance, ease-of-use and reliability of the BlueArc SiliconServer has accelerated our time table for mapping projects, which translates into higher revenue for us and lower cost for our customers," said Stephen Rochford, Director of Information Technology at Sanborn. "To date, we haven't found the top-end on the SiliconServer so, as we continue to expand our storage environment, we're looking very closely at implementing BlueArc's Multi-Tier Storage system. We see the ability to mix and manage various storage media within our existing SiliconServer subsystem as yet another way to extract additional value and competitive advantage from our storage infrastructure." Sanborn, which provides a full complement of GIS and photogrammetric mapping services to both government agencies and private businesses such as engineering and utility companies, typically generates more than 30 terabytes (TB) of data per project. Prior to implementing the BlueArc SiliconServer, the 120 members of Sanborn's production staff divided project data among numerous workstations and tape storage, meaning they needed to physically track down each specific piece of the project for processing. By replacing this "sneaker net" with a centralized storage system based on the BlueArc SiliconServer, Sanborn was able to maintain current projects online and promote a more real-time processing environment. This not only simplified the transfer of information, but reduced file load times from as much as 4 minutes to as little as 30 seconds. Having realized such tremendous advantages in efficiency as a result of its BlueArc SiliconServer, Sanborn is now examining the possibilities for BlueArc's Multi-Tier Storage (MTS) system to extend those advantages with an infinitely flexible and upgradeable storage infrastructure. "BlueArc recognizes that customer value transcends superior performance; it is more precisely an ability to deliver storage solutions that meet the specific challenges posed by each customer's unique requirements," said Jeff Allen, senior vice president of Marketing for BlueArc. "Our focus on delivering customer-centric innovations puts BlueArc in the distinctive position of helping companies such as Sanborn enhance business productivity, effectively amplifying the value of their business data. This is why we say, and our customers agree, that BlueArc changes the economics of network storage."