Auspex Systems Inc, Santa Clara, California, has introduced a new model in its Network File System server line, the NS 6000, claiming it supports database or back-up applications running alongside Network File System input-output operations without one activity impacting the performance of another. The NS 6000 can support up to 200 workstation users and replaces the existing NS 5500. It runs version 1.5 of the company’s NetServer System software, which includes on-line back-up, partition support and performance management. The NS systems, which separate network input-output processing from Unix processing, use an Mbus-to-VMEbus interface controller chip to provide direct memory access to the host 40MHz Sparc CPU. Auspex says the NS 6000 functional multiprocessing architecture eliminates input-output bottlenecks by separating network, file and disk management functions ususally performed by the host CPU. The controller chip, co-designed with Fujitsu Ltd, can access the host CPU at 40Mbps compared with the 5Mbps to 10Mbps of a Sun Sparcserver 690MP, Auspex claims. The system supp orts Delta Microsystems Inc’s FreezeFrame back-up software, which can load up to 120Gb data using standard Unix utilities. Version 1.5 of the Auspex software supports the export of tertiary file systems and connection, via the host processor, to mass storage subsystems. The NS 6000 supports up to eight Ethernet ports and delivers a claimed 1,703 SPECnfs operations per second while maintaining a performance rate of 20 SPECint92 for applications. Running Solaris, the NS 6000 comes with up to 640Mb RAM, 120Gb disk, one or two file processors and three storage processors and five SCSI-2 drives. Auspex says it will upgrade the box to higher performance Sparc Mbus modules over time. Prices start at $140,000 and a base configuration is bundled with $25,000 of software. The existing NS 3000 and NS 5500 systems can be upgraded to a 40MHz Sparc and MVIC processor for $20,000.
