IBM has announced the System Storage DS3300, a new entry-level disk array featuring integrated management software, for the SMBs.

"SMBs continue to face the same issues that large enterprises are dealing with when it comes to the deluge of data -- they are seeing an ever-increasing amount of feature-rich documents, limitless e-mails, audio and video files, data-intensive new applications, and a slew of government regulations by which they must abide," said Charlie Andrews, director, IBM System Storage Product Marketing. "The DS3300 storage system provides an unprecedented solution to these issues, helping even the smallest of businesses to easily upgrade their infrastructures and better manage their data, without putting a strain on the IT administrator's time."

The DS3300 storage system is the newest addition to the IBM System Storage DS3000 product series and is designed to meet the consolidation needs for a wide range of users. It features iSCSI interfaces, next-generation Serial-attached SCSI (SAS) back-end technology, and DS3000 management software.

The DS3300 is designed to provide as an IP SAN (iSCSI storage area network) solution for SMB customers looking for an alternative to a Fibre Channel SAN as they transition from a DAS environment. The DS3300 may be shared between applications, servers, computer rooms and remote locations for increased efficiencies across a company's IT environment.