Pioneer DRM-6NX User Manual

DRM-6NX

CD-ROM Network Cache Changer

Piecing together

the network puzzle

Caching In On Network
Attached Storage

Market Situation

In today’s dynamic marketplace, it is almost
impossible for companies to predict or plan further
than the current year when it comes to technological
infrastructure. The rate at which products, services
and trends change can make it confusing for IT
managers and companies when selecting the
appropriate equipment at the heart of their
existence. Just as the computer age has directly
affected the way and rate at which we do business, it
also has contributed to the drastic amount of data
produced. Thus, the industry now finds itself at
another vital crossroad. How can we best manage all
of the data and company resources to meet our
specific needs?

According to Strategic Research Corporation,
storage needs are doubling each year and spending

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One of the

for storage systems continues to rise.
greater concerns among companies is how to share
the pool of resources both effectively and efficiently,
without sacrificing performance. Today, more data is
scattered among desktops, on department servers,
or in notebooks out-in-the-field. It is estimated that
for every gigabyte at corporate, another two
gigabytes is scattered elsewhere.

This demand for greater use of shared resources
creates an increased need for network trafficking.
This has placed system reliability in question at many
companies, and has sent IT support costs spiraling.
The challenge also includes adding capacity and
system compatibility without having to reconfigure an
entire system.

As a result, users are making more storage
decisions independent of server decisions. Many are
focusing more towards newer options such as
Network Attached Storage (NAS). Storage
networking is the architectural separation of the
storage subsystem from the computer, placing
storage on the network as a shared resource.

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Strategic Research Corporation, Comparing
NAS & SAN Technology, February 1999

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International Data Corporation, March 1999 Special Report,
Network Attached Storage Opportunity

Source: GartnerGroup, 1999

Among several notable benefits, NAS can reduce
overall management costs while continuing to meet
needs for available data, maintaining interoperability
of applications, and providing no downtime.

It is estimated that about 60 per cent of server
capacity is applied towards storage versus
application usage, such as tape back-up. NAS
technology completely off-loads server storage
altogether. In addition, a NAS solution can be added
to a system and be up and running in a little as
fifteen minutes, allowing users to benefit immediately.

Also, NAS technology now offers users the ability to
easily localize applications, thereby customizing the
use of company material for optimal use. Businesses
can now easily segment or share data in smaller
workgroup applications. For example, confidential or
exclusive data can be segmented for Human
Resource or accounting departments with protected
use. Legal firms can segment use of specific case
information or share legal resources across a
network.

Whichever the case, network computing is forecast
to rise from less than 10 million users in 1990 to
over 100 million in 20003. In direct response, it is
no wonder NAS technology is becoming one of the
fastest emerging storage opportunities in terms of
market size and growth potential.

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A Driving Force Behind NAS

The Network Challenges

CD-ROM storage continues to be a popular storage
medium due to its low cost per megabyte and its
acceptance as a reliable distribution format. Until
recently, most CD-ROM networks relied on
centralized server architectures. Three essential
ways include accessing CD-ROM drives from another
workstation, connecting multiple CD-ROM drives to a
file server, or designating a PC as the CD-ROM
server. As networks and their number of users grow,
these architectures become much more impractical.
The cost of growing this “infrastructure” increases
with the need for additional hardware and software.
In addition to complex management, this type of
growth also places unnecessary burden on the
supporting system. There may also be incompatible
platforms and operating systems, which can further
limit data usage. (Diagram A)

Server Network
Configuration

Diagram A

So how can CD-ROM and NAS technology jointly
address the growing concerns of IT professionals
and companies today? The answer lies in an
understanding of the obstacles facing these
professionals in the following key areas:

• Cost

How can I minimize costs as related to initial
investment, expanding storage, manageability and
time-savings?

• Performance:

How can I ensure that all of our users have the
quickest access to the most important data needed?
How can I minimize down time or other system
failures and adverse effects to our users? Can it
minimize conflict between platforms and operating
systems?

• Storage capacity:

How can I increase storage capacity without having
to reinvest in costly new hardware and software?
How can we continue to add storage capacity at a
minimal cost? Can we grow and expand the system
easily, without time-consuming administration?

Through NAS technology, data can be attached to a
network in a less demanding, simple architecture.
NAS devices are data-storage thin servers with their
own processors and customized operating system
that plug directly into a local area network. Their all­encompassing units simplify the addition of storage
and offer optimized use of data across all platforms
and operating systems. Since they are independent
of core hardware, expanded CD-ROM storage can be
made at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems,
streamlining the shared use of data and eliminating
down time. (Diagram B)

Direct Network
Connection

• Space:

How can I provide expanded storage and availability
of data while keeping the need for equipment space
flexible and at a minimum?

• Efficiency:

Is there a storage solution that can streamline the
way we do business and contribute to increased
profitability?

• Manageability:

Can network storage be user-friendly, improve
application and server availability, and be less
demanding on the current system?

Diagram B

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