Oxford Magnet Technology wished to avoid the first, more traditional method of reducing storage load, while the second option would require buying more servers, further compounding the management problems already being experienced.
Oxford Magnet Technology's purchase of BlueArc's SiliconServer reduced the number of servers needed to manage the data from five to one, while providing the performance and capacity to scale to multiple terabytes. Each BlueArc system is based on the unique SiliconServer Architecture, which transports data through hardware rather than software, removing the network-to-disk transfer bottlenecks associated with traditional servers.
Oxford Magnet Technology now has responsive and easily managed storage, based on an architecture that will meet the future needs of the fast-growing business, while delivering simple management.
"For us, using and testing the BlueArc system in our network made the decision easy, and it performed as promised," said Chris Farmer, NT systems engineer for Oxford Magnet Technology. "We see the BlueArc system as a long-term strategic storage resource for the future."
"It's every IT manager's nightmare to have to juggle an ever-increasing user base with storage spread across multiple server platforms," said Geoff Barrall, founder and CTO of BlueArc. "This project has proven BlueArc's storage systems as a strategic long-term answer to the needs of a growing business, revealing the strong role of the SiliconServer in enterprise as well as high performance computing."
About BlueArc Corporation
BlueArc Corporation and its SiliconServer Architecture deliver the world's only file server designed to scale beyond today's 1 Gbps networks toward tomorrow's 10 Gbps networks. BlueArc's SiliconServer Architecture moves software into programmable hardware and removes the bottlenecks that limit performance in other NAS systems on the market today. BlueArc SiliconServers deliver groundbreaking speed and scalability, simplifying the way our customers design and build their storage infrastructures. The company's headquarters are in San Jose, California with UK operations based in Bracknell, England. More information on BlueArc is available on the Internet at www.bluearc.com.
About Oxford Magnet Technology
Since its establishment in 1982, Oxford Magnet Technology (OMT) has become the world leader in the development and production of superconducting magnets for magnet resonance imaging (MRI) and has contributed to its acceptance as the leading diagnostic imaging modality with the installation of almost 7000 magnets in more than 100 countries.
200,000 sq ft dedicated factory in Oxfordshire. Current production run rate in excess of 700 systems per year. Over 650 employees, with 90 employed in research and development.
Originally established as a subsidiary of Oxford Instruments plc, OMT became a joint venture between Oxford Instruments and Siemens Medical in 1989 and since that time has experienced a four-fold growth in the volume of magnets delivered to customers each year.
OMT is unique in having received six Queen's awards: for Technology in 1985, 1991 and 1996 and for Export Achievement and Commerce in 1985, 1992 and 2000.
With over 97 percent of its products exported, OMT's customer base is drawn from some of the largest and best known healthcare companies in the world, including Siemens, Philips and Toshiba and we work closely with these companies in the development of new products and markets and to enable new applications for MRI.
