Quantum has released StorNext 4.0, highlighting the following new features:

• Replication; protecting business critical data off site, as well as furthering data distribution globally for improved workflows
• File System Deduplication; improving storage optimization, significantly reducing costs and management overhead
• High Availability (HA) enhancements; deliver the highest level of availability for increased uptime and business continuity
• Distributed Data Movers (DDM); eliminate I/O bottlenecks by acting as a conduit for passing data to and from storage tiers and archives
• Partial File Retrieval (PFR); streamline workflow in media asset management applications with timecode-based file retrieval

While Xsan shares much of its DNA with StorNext and can be used to make Macs into StorNext clients, many of the existing features in StorNext like the ability to manage tiered storage with Xsan metadata controllers or the Distributed LAN Client (which essentially delivers the SAN via ethernet alone) are absent from and unsupported for Xsan clients. However, the features that are particular to a StorNext metadata controller or Storage Manager environment can often be leveraged in StorNext environments that include Xsan clients. Apple tends to lag Quantum in issuing compatibility guidelines for Xsan and StorNext, so stay tuned and respect your version dependencies.