Silverback Systems has signed Bell Microproducts to distribute its line of iSnap-based host bus adapters (HBAs) in North America.

Silverback Systems has signed Bell Microproducts to distribute its line of iSnap-based host bus adapters (HBAs) in North America. This new distribution relationship enables Bell Microproducts to market Silverback iSCSI HBAs, which provide optimal price and performance to IP-based storage networks, to its extensive base of value-added resellers (VARs) and system integrators throughout the USA and Canada. Small and medium enterprise (SME) customers can now take advantage of Silverback's advanced, feature-rich TCP/iSCSI acceleration technology at very competitive price points.

'Bell Microproducts has consistently proven its unique ability to engauge and align its vast and proven distribution capabilities with innovative network-storage technology companies', said Phil Roussey, Executive Vice President of Enterprise Solutions at Bell Microproducts.

'The robust feature set, market-leading price/performance positioning and Silverback's vision to provide low-cost network acceleration for IP-based networks was a natural fit with our commitment to offer cost-effective, industry-leading solutions to its customers'.

'Bell Microproducts' outstanding reputation, wide market reach and focus on cutting-edge network storage solutions were key factors in making them the obvious choice as the lead partner in Silverback's aggressive market strategy for North America', said Ahmet Houssein, CEO and President of Silverback Systems.

'Their extensive storage programme offerings along with their proven background and expertise will enable Bell Microproducts and Silverback to accelerate the growth of the iSCSI market'.

Silverback HBA products are based on the company's patented iSnap technology, which accelerates the performance of servers, iSCSI storage devices, NAS appliances, blade servers, and multi-protocol storage and routers, while providing flexibility, scalability, resiliency, and high availability under the most extreme transaction-oriented traffic conditions.

The iSnap technology dramatically speeds access to IP storage in a variety of different configurations by offloading both networking and upper-layer protocols such as iSCSI and RDMA.

Silverback's dual-port gigabit HBA is capable of delivering up to 440Mbyte/s throughput and up to 250 iSCSI I/Os per second.

The iSnap 2110 HBA outperforms competing offerings (measured in throughput) by 100% and is priced 25% lower than current alternatives.

The iSnap 2110 HBA is the only solution with the underlying architecture and firmware scalable to 10Gbit/s and beyond, and the ability to support emerging storage and networking technologies and protocols as they become deployed.