Summary
The Sint-Jan General Hospital (Algemeen Ziekenhuis, AZ ) in Brugge (Bruges), Belgium, has chosen the StorageTek D178 disk subsystem in mirror configuration to provide the foundations for its SAN system.

This open-ended solution provides rapid and permanent access to the enormous quantity of information linked to the different hospital departments. StorageTek implemented and configured the server connection and the hospital's storage system on the SAN. This solution allowed the AZ Sint-Jan Hospital to perform a seamless data migration.

Anticipating a PACS system
One of the main reasons for choosing a SAN solution was that, eventually, AZ Sint-Jan Hospital plans to implement a PACS system (Picture Archiving and Communication System). This system dispatches and backs up medical imaging data (CT scans, radiographs, etc.) in digital form. Once it is installed, the PACS will generate an annual total of approximately 4 terabytes o back up data and other information such as medical records, patient records, and laboratory, logistics and administrative information. To process all of this information, a dependable, open-ended storage solution is needed. The work performed by the direct attached storage (DAS) was no longer able to meet expectations and was becoming too expensive.

Benefits
Peter Cosman, the system administrator at AZ Sint-Jan, recounts the situation: "We became convinced very rapidly that StorageTek offered the best solution. SANtricity, the software provided by StorageTek to manage its SAN, is a very simple, straightforward management system, with precision functionality enabling us to manage our system more effectively."

AZ Sint-Jan Hospital also found StorageTek's clear, transparent licensing policy attractive. "The principle of 'one box/one license' was very important for us because of the scalability and modularity it provides. It allows us to expand an installed mirror capacity of 1 terabyte into a 32-terabyte mirror capacity without having to purchase expensive new licenses, explained AZ Sint--Jan IT Manager Helga De Neve.