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EMC is preparing to roll out the second generation of its VNX storage array, the VNX2, which will feature new multicore processing technology and a rewrite of its software for increased performance, according to channel sources.
The VNX2 also will focus on 2.5-inch form-factor drives as a way to reduce the storage footprint in the data center while making it easier to integrate more SSDs to increase performance.
The VNX2 is slated to be launched Sept. 4 in Milan, Italy, said sources, who added that they expect EMC to use Formula 1 racing as a theme for the event; the Formula 1 Gran Premio D'Italia 2013 begins Sept. 6.
[Related: EMC Product Road Map: Updates On XtremIO, VNX 2 And ViPR]
EMC, Hopkinton, Mass., began hinting about the upcoming release of the VNX2 in May at EMC World, and in July provided the most recent update during its second fiscal quarter conference call.
EMC did not respond to requests for further information on the VNX2.
Jamie Shepard, regional vice president of Lumenate, a Dallas-based solution provider and longtime EMC partner, said the VNX2 promises a significant step up in performance, virtualization, and features over the VNX.
"I can't wait," Shepard said. "We've got a customer in the health-care space with meaty requirements. We had quoted them a VNX. But we'll be requoting them using VNX2."
On the hardware side, EMC is introducing new multicore processing, or MCx, technology to increase performance. A slide at an EMC World session showed MCx reaching more than 1 million IOPs, nearly five times the IOPs of the current VNX.
MCx also features dynamic core utilization, leveling the various tasks of the VNX, including RAID, I/O, cache, data services, and management across the multiple processor codes rather than running each task in its own core to increase performance.
NEXT: MCx And The New EMC VNX2 Software
