The new system extends Sun's portfolio of world-class, advanced functionality storage systems, and furthers Sun's strategy of making it easier for customers to migrate from proprietary technology, protect existing storage investments and simplify data management. Today's news strengthens the Sun StorEdge portfolio of storage and data management platforms, which includes the Sun StorEdge 6920 system, the industry's first modular storage array to bring virtualization capabilities and data services to the midrange market at a very competitive price.

"Serving a broad range of customers and applications requires a broad range of solutions", stated John McArthur, Group Vice President and General Manager of Information Infrastructure Research at IDC. "Modular solutions, like the Sun StorEdge 9985 system, that offer enterprise-class data availability features and connectivity for both mainframe and open systems servers, deliver the mission-critical application-support capabilities of the Sun StorEdge 9990 at a price point more appropriate for smaller installations."

The Sun StorEdge 9985 system, a follow-on to the existing Sun StorEdge 9970 system, runs the same software and microcode as the Sun StorEdge 9990 system, ensuring full compatibility and simple integration. The system is ideal for Sun StorEdge 9900 customers who are implementing large-scale consolidation projects, disaster recovery plans, business continuity initiatives and information lifecycle management strategies, as it provides features like heterogeneous storage management and mainframe connectivity.

"Customers want choice and flexibility at the right prices, that's why we offer the Sun StorEdge 9990 and 9985 for large enterprises, and the Sun StorEdge 6920 as the low-cost, scalable platform of choice for the midrange market", stated James Whitemore, vice president of Marketing for Network Storage at Sun. "The Sun StorEdge 9985 is a great addition to Sun's storage portfolio and rounds out our high-end offering, bolstering Sun's emergence as one of the world's leading storage companies. Plus, with our systems approach to solving IT problems, the combination of the Solaris 10 Operating System and advanced virtualization products like the Sun StorEdge 9985 and 6920 offer customers the unrivaled ability to virtualize and consolidate their infrastructures."

The new Sun StorEdge 9985 system is available immediately through Sun and its iForce partners. This announcement is being made concurrently with Hitachi Data Systems' announcement of the Hitachi TagmaStore Network Storage Controller model NSC55, which Sun offers as the Sun StorEdge 9985 system.