Prostor and Glovirt 3.0 - New Products from UTINET

At the event, we will:

  • Introduce participants to the new UTINET Prostor storage system: its characteristics, distinctive features, and implementation timelines;
  • Share everything about the updated functionality of UTINET Glovirt 3.0;
  • Show the UTINET development roadmap for 2023-2024.

In 2023, we were mainly engaged in developing solutions. Our products are currently not in the Russian registry; they are in the process of registration because there will be new, stricter rules in 2024, so we prepared our products for these new rules.

Our company plans to launch many server solutions in the 1st and 2nd quarters. Ranging from one to four units (Utinet Corenetic 1,2,3,4 Units servers). And data storage systems (Utinet Prostor 6000 / 8000), which are built, like some elements of server solutions, using components from Chinese manufacturers. But the internal components are exclusively of Russian production.

Server solutions are currently in the Registry for registration as both the old second generation and the newer third generation. The lineup will include old second-generation motherboards. This lineup will most likely remain for 2024; we won't change anything in it. The only thing is that some innovations will be implemented in the device's case and the platform itself to individualize the platform on the market for clients. We are already moving to the third generation. Some of our competitors have already entered the market with these servers. But we concentrated on entering the market in 2024 because the scoring system is becoming stricter, the minimum number of points for entering the Ministry of Industry and Trade is increasing, and we have to make some decisions. Because it is no longer possible to include power supply modules without management, i.e., just connectors, in the Registry. And we have to take a more comprehensive approach to the issue of collecting these points.

Returning to the lineup. Our motherboards will be of the third generation in two formats. These are 16-slot EATX, simple budget-class servers, and E-SHAPE servers with 32 memory slots. Intel format motherboards will not differ much. AMD format motherboards of the second and third generations (EPIC processors). In the third or fourth quarter of 2024, we expect a fourth-generation motherboard, which will be single-processor; it will be released exclusively for the data storage system. Because the current generation of our second-generation Intel motherboard is limited by the number of PCI lines, since we are launching NVME solutions, we need a large number of PCI lines both for the disk shelf and for additional solutions, for additional cards installed in the data storage system.

The next slide provides information on when we plan to fully complete the launch of solutions on the market; registration will be in the first quarter for models that were created by us in 2022 and 2023.

This is the 2nd generation of the Intel vendor - the first quarter of 2024, then the 3rd generation of the Intel manufacturer - the second quarter of 2024. And for AMD, the 3rd generation is also the second quarter of 2024. We plan to borrow only motherboards and bring them completely up to par, and the cases will be of Chinese production. This solution is currently in the registration stage. The third generation will also use Chinese cases, apply Chinese backplanes, using hybrid NVME-baskets, with the possibility of replacing the disk basket, and so on. The 3rd generation will use from 2 motherboards.

The AMD 3rd generation motherboard will be on one and two units. There will be two servers in total, possible expansion for the lineup and case capabilities; such devices are currently in the preparation stage.

In 2023, we were mainly engaged in data storage systems; they will be in two variations, two Utinet Prostor 6000 / 8000 lines. The six-thousandth is currently fully ready; in November-December 2023, demo equipment will be prepared; remote access will be provided, and some customers can be provided with a fully equipped storage system for testing. The motherboard used in it is developed by our company. Second-generation Intel processors, operating systems will currently be used with them by Power Storage and RAIDIX.

But due to the fact that these operating systems belong to our competitors, we are preparing to launch our own operating system for 2024 in order not to limit our lineup, not to limit its functionality, but to untie our hands and use it to the maximum. The six-thousandth model is fully ready. It will be entered into the Registry in four versions with different operating systems, i.e., you can choose any of them. The first version will be on 24 disks, this is a completely front basket. And the subsequent three versions are systems with G-bods, i.e., with the ability to install 48 disks, 84 and 132 disks. I.e., with G-slots - this is a completely comprehensive solution that will be entered into the Registry. The customer can actually get a data storage system, the dual-controller "head" itself with an active G-bod, also dual-controller.

In the six-thousandth version, each controller will have 4 expansion slots. This is the assembly blank of the controller itself. Plus, a separate PCI Express slot is used inside, if we are talking about the six-thousandth, which uses SSD HDD. Additionally, the system has a board installed, the so-called network interconnect system BMC. This system is self-written, it is our development based on Open Source. This module will use the Russian Milandr chipset (two pieces). This is not a soldering that is used to get points. This is a really working system, a really functioning instance that will be exclusively engaged in working with network adapters and with the interconnect system. I.e., external cables, network expansion cards, while it will not be necessary to be friends with two controllers. This will all be inside the system itself, separate proprietary ports that will combine and balance the load between NODs within the "box" itself. If we talk about expanding the cluster of a multi-controller system, the operating system allows you to combine up to 8 controllers. External combiners, external ports will be required; they will occupy separate slots and PCI Express expansions.

Dual-controller system, everything is inside here, everything is ready, everything is configured. The customer will only need to install an expansion card Fibre Channet, some Ethernet network cards, in order to already output the storage system to the network switch. And then distribute access by NODs.

Connection of external G-pot systems is carried out by external ports. There are two of them on each controller. They will also be connected to internal controllers, i.e., no additional cards will be required. External NODs will be output to 4 slots, which can be replaced by any cards, and an RJ-45 management port for connecting to the controller of subsequent additional ports, which will not be in the controller itself.

At the beginning of next year, we plan to release our main development - the 8-thousandth Prostor system. This is a completely NVME storage system, i.e., it is not a hybrid solution, but a completely NVME. As the basket in the head itself uses exclusively NVME-disks, it is also possible to connect external devices. Now we are testing this option on the BAUM STORAGE operating system, and the RAIDIX OS is functionally limited here. The only thing that can be done with RAIDIX is to use exclusively the "head" in the construction. I.e., we do not plan any additional external devices with this OS at the moment. Prostor 8000 will be in 2 versions - this is 8024, i.e., exclusively a dual-controller "head", and 8048, i.e., this will be a head plus a two-unit G-slot also for 24 disks, which will be connected via the NVME of Ethernet protocol. This solution will appear in the 1-2 quarter of 2024. Approximately in January-February 2024, we plan to start distributing demo versions and provide access to this system. Now it is in a deep stage of testing with us.

If we talk about the scoring system, all this in aggregate, each solution, regardless of whether it is 8-thousandth or 6-thousandth, it currently, for the current realities of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the decree, scores 222 points with us. And if we move on to the story that the Ministry of Industry and Trade is going to transfer the system from 44-FZ to "whoever has more points is cooler", then here we occupy a leading position.