ClearSight Introduces Long-Term Network Recorder Based on 6Gb SAS

ClearSight Networks, provider of application and analysis tools for dynamic networks, announced the industry’s first long-term network recorder based on 6 Gb/s (Gigabit per second) SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) drive technology, the fastest mechanical disk technology available in the industry. The ClearSight Network Time Machine (NTM) has always been designed around the RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) standard to maximize capture performance; now using 6 Gb/s SAS drive components, ClearSight’s network recorders are now able to capture and warehouse massive amounts of network data faster and more securely than any other solution in the marketplace.

As network traffic volumes continue to escalate, the disk technologies that have traditionally been used to store captured network information are being pushed closer to their capacity and speed limits. With enterprise deployments increasing the speed and volume of data they can transfer, it becomes critical for network and application management tools to support these data-intensive, highly-demanding environments. By transitioning to 6 Gb/s SAS storage technology well before market adoption of this specification takes place, ClearSight enables the highest network performance.

“The ClearSight 6 Gb/s SAS-based NTM delivers unparalleled performance, security and reliability,” said Andrew Armstrong, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Spirent Communications. “Using Spirent TestCenter, the industry-leading test solution for performance benchmarking, we were able to validate that this new ClearSight NTM is able to deliver capture performance substantially higher than the current generations of network recorders built around the slower 3 Gb/s SAS or Serial ATA (SATA) drive standards. This represents a remarkable achievement.”

ClearSight’s NTM provides support for all deployed Ethernet data rates, including 10 Gb/s, which further enables data center consolidation and virtualization. Now, with the use of 6 Gb/s SAS technology, the high capture rates and large storage capability of the NTM product will continue to keep pace with these newer networks. This new NTM will also leverage the encryption capabilities of 6 Gb/s SAS drive technology that uses the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). Customers that use the NTM will be reassured to know that even the most sensitive of captured network data is guarded against theft and unauthorized access.

“Leveraging our extensive network recorder experience, ClearSight continues to push the limits of high-speed network capture and stream-to-disk technology – such as 6 Gb/s SAS – and we are pleased to provide our customers and the marketplace with the highest performing network recorder available today,” said Steve Wong, VP of Marketing, ClearSight Networks. “Offering unprecedented new capabilities, the new 6 Gb/s SAS-based NTM raises the bar for next generation network recorders with the Data at Rest (DAR) hardware encryption feature representing another industry first for a product in this category.”

General product availability is scheduled for the second half of 2009. Early adopter versions are also available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis.