Microchip: Adaptec Smart Storage Include Open Source Toolkit for Managing Data Center Storage

Public and private cloud infrastructure suppliers are turning to open-source tools to simplify the configuration, deployment and management of their server storage platforms.

Until now, companies were faced with the challenge of creating their own tools to manage their storage adapters and embedded solutions for these platforms.

Microchip Technology Inc. is a provider to address this need by offering production-ready open source tools for managing its Adaptec Smart Storage HBA, SmartHBA and SmartRAID offerings in OpenStack data centers.

By investing in and offering readily deployable open source tools and plug-ins, the company removes complexity for customers that are connecting storage resources to its Adaptec lineup of storage controller solutions in heterogeneous data centers powered by OpenStack. The prequalified and tested ‘Smart Storage tools’ are scalable and customizable, simplifying management of large networks of cloud servers within enterprise infrastructures.

The Adaptec Smart Storage OpenStack tools include three components:

• 1) a plug-in for Metal as a Service (MaaS), a bare-metal deployment tool from cloud industry and Ubuntu creator Canonical Ltd.;
• 2) a scripted service formula, or ‘charm’, created with Canonical’s Juju modelling tool that allows users to remotely deploy Adaptec ARCCONF in any type of cloud environment so the adapters and attached devices can be configured and managed remotely using the Juju dashboard; and
• 3) a plug-in for the OpenStack Horizon GUI that allows users to discover, configure and conveniently manage both Adaptec Smart Storage standard adapters and custom embedded solutions.

SmartRAID 3162 8i HBA

“Microchip is excited to deliver new open source tools that ease the integration of our Adaptec Smart Storage solutions used in OpenStack software-defined infrastructure,” said Andrew Dieckmann, associate VP, marketing, data center solutions (DCS) business unit, Microchip. “This unique offering will improve our customers’ ability to rapidly and efficiently deploy new storage assets within OpenStack’s market-leading open source cloud server management framework.“

“The $6.1 billion market for OpenStack continues to post double-digit growth rates globally, across public and private clouds in nearly every conceivable use case, including containers, VMs and bare metal,” said Danny Carreno, senior manager, ecosystem development and operations, OpenStack Foundation. “The open infrastructure community driving this growth is itself growing, with companies like Microchip integrating projects like the OpenStack Horizon Dashboard to support Microchip’s Adaptec lineup of storage controller solutions. Their investment in the open infrastructure community can make it easier for operators to rapidly configure, deploy and manage storage resources in data centers powered by OpenStack.“

Adaptec storage adapters have been trusted solutions for 30 years. The company’ Smart Storage lineup of products includes a family of Adaptec SAS/SATA adapters and IC solutions providing enterprise-grade reliability, performance, feature-rich management and compelling TCO.

The Adaptec Smart Storage open source tools and documentation including a manual and spec details are available. Technical support is also available, unless the tool code is changed by the customer.

Resource:
Video: Open Source Tools Manage the Data Center