AUGUST 8, 2008 -- MRV Communications Inc. (search for MRV) has announced two new Serial Attached SCSI (SAS)/Serial ATA (SATA) storage interface modules for its Media Cross Connect (MCC) physical layer switch, to enable "wire-once" test lab automation of storage area network (SAN) test lab environments.
The protocol-specific SFP modules come in 3-Gbit/sec host-connection and drive-connection versions that are backward compatible to 1.5 Gbits/sec. The new SAS/SATA SFPs round out MRV's test lab offerings for SANs, which already include support for Fibre Channel and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE).
The Media Cross Connect from MRV offers the ability to implement a "wire-once" physical layer switch in a test lab and manage all testing dynamically through software, rather than manually reconfigured test topologies. By minimizing the number of physical reconnections required for test set up, storage labs can avoid connector wear and tear and inconvenient cable length issues that are common in the SAS/SATA environment, MRV asserts.
"Test lab automation is entering the mainstream phase of its development, which is marked by more industry players, a wider range of solutions, broad industry coalitions, and wider acceptance by network equipment manufacturers," says Frost & Sullivan Industry Manager Jessy Cavazos. "MRV's announcement of its SAS/SATA solutions shows that the company is one of the leaders of this evolution because it is adding the flexibility to deliver the benefits of test lab automation to storage vendors."
"Storage networking vendors are facing a significant technology evolution that will put pressure on their test labs to increase efficiency and throughput in order to meet product shipment goals. By continuing to expand our TAP solutions, we are showing our customers that MRV will be there with them through this transition," said Noam Lotan, president and CEO of MRV Communications.
The SFP-SATA-SAS-DR (drive version) and SFP-SATA-SAS-HT (host version) pluggable interfaces enable test lab administrators to tailor their connections on a per-port basis, connecting storage equipment of various types and protocols in a single blade or chassis, providing greater flexibility and efficiency in the storage test lab.
The SFP-SATA-SAS-DR and SFP-SATA-SAS-HT interfaces are available immediately.
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