IBM upgrades lower-end storage

IBM announced a new lower-end storage array, the DS4200 Express, with faster networking and more capacity than its DS4100 predecessor. The DS4200 uses as many as sixteen 500GB SATA-2 drives, which transfer data faster and have more capacity than the 400GB SATA-1 drives in the DS4100. In addition, the DS4200 uses 4-gigabit-per-second Fibre Channel networking compared to 2Gbps for the DS4100, IBM said. More storage can be added by attaching as many as six expansion units, each accommodating 16 more drives and costing about 20 to 30 percent less than the DS4100's expansion units.

The DS4200 Express will be available on Aug. 25 with an entry price of $11,474, IBM said. The faster drives also are available on higher-end DS4700 and DS4800 models.