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Quantum StorNext
What Quantum StorNext is
Quantum StorNext is a shared-storage file system for collaboration and streaming workflows. It gives teams a unified namespace across flash, disk, object storage and tape, with policy-driven lifecycle management across storage tiers. Quantum describes StorNext 7 as delivering multi-gigabyte-per-stream throughput, thousands of concurrent connections and sub-millisecond latency. Applications on Windows, Linux, Solaris, HP-UX, AIX and macOS can access and modify files in a shared SAN storage pool.
Supported access protocols include SMB, NFS, native StorNext LAN/SAN and Xsan. Listed capabilities include local caching, edge synchronization, object versioning, lifecycle rules, immutability and cross-region replication; cloud targets include Amazon Web Services S3 and Quantum ActiveScale. StorNext can be installed on supported Quantum appliances or registered customer-supplied hardware. Appliance choices include Xcellis metadata controllers, F-Series all-flash NVMe arrays and QXS HDD and SSD RAID arrays. Xcellis can run as a two-server high-availability pair and expand with additional servers. Pricing is on request, and there is no free plan. A current Software Maintenance Contract is required for a free software upgrade.
Who it suits
StorNext may suit teams collaborating on or streaming files across storage tiers, especially when applications on multiple operating systems need shared SAN access. It is aimed at organizations deploying shared storage on Quantum appliances or registered customer-supplied hardware.
What it does well
- Provides a unified namespace across flash, disk, object storage and tape.
- Supports SMB, NFS, native StorNext LAN/SAN and Xsan.
- Offers local caching and edge synchronization.
- Includes object versioning, immutability and cross-region replication.
- Supports shared SAN access from Windows, Linux, Solaris, HP-UX, AIX and macOS.
- Xcellis supports a two-server high-availability pair and expansion.
What to know first
- There is no free plan.
- Pricing is available on request.
- A current Software Maintenance Contract is required for a free software upgrade.
- Long Linux paths are incompatible with some features, including Storage Manager and Directory Quotas.
Limits
There is no free plan, and pricing is available on request. A StorNext subscription is required for Xcellis Workflow Director; a current Software Maintenance Contract is required to receive a free software upgrade.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Quantum StorNext | Contact Quantum for product inquiries. · Requires a StorNext subscription for Xcellis Workflow Director; pricing not listed | On request |
As quantum.com lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the Quantum StorNext website.
- Contact Quantum for product pricing and inquiries.
- Choose supported Quantum appliance hardware or registered customer-supplied hardware.
- Select the storage tiers and cloud targets for the environment.
- Set up client access using supported operating systems and protocols.
- Arrange a StorNext subscription if using Xcellis Workflow Director.
Verdict
Choose Quantum StorNext if you need a shared namespace for collaboration and streaming across storage tiers, with support for several client operating systems and storage protocols. It also offers lifecycle policies and cloud storage targets. Look elsewhere if you require a free plan or stated pricing; Quantum quotes pricing on request.
Questions
How much does Quantum StorNext cost?
Pricing is available on request; Quantum directs customers to contact it for product inquiries.
Is there a free plan?
No. The listed pricing information says there is no free plan.
Which operating systems can access the shared SAN pool?
The documentation lists Windows, Linux, Solaris, HP-UX, AIX and macOS applications.
Which protocols does StorNext support?
Listed protocols are SMB, NFS, native StorNext LAN/SAN and Xsan.
Which cloud storage targets are listed?
Amazon Web Services S3 and Quantum ActiveScale are listed as cloud targets.
What are StorNext's file name and path limits?
The maximum supported file name is 255 bytes and the maximum path length is 1023 bytes. Longer Linux paths are incompatible with some features, including Storage Manager and Directory Quotas.
Facts from Quantum StorNext's own pages
- Access controls
- StorNext supports Unix permission bits and access control lists, with enforcement depending on client platform and configuration. · qsupport.quantum.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Appliance options
- Quantum lists Xcellis metadata controllers, F-Series all-flash NVMe arrays, and QXS HDD and SSD RAID arrays for StorNext environments. · quantum.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Audit logging
- The StorNext Audit Log Service records file activity in CSV logs, while the documentation says it does not provide built-in automated alerting, anomaly detection, or ransomware detection. · qsupport.quantum.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Data lifecycle
- StorNext provides policy-driven data lifecycle management across storage tiers. · quantum.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- StorNext documentation describes client-side AES256 encryption for Q-Cloud policies and server-side AES256 options for supported object storage. · qsupport.quantum.com, 7 Oct 2026
- File-name and path limits
- The documentation specifies a maximum supported file name of 255 bytes and path length of 1023 bytes; longer Linux paths are incompatible with some features, including Storage Manager and Directory Quotas. · qsupport.quantum.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1980 · quantum.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Hardware deployment
- StorNext 7 installs and upgrades are offered for supported Quantum appliances and registered customer-supplied hardware. · quantum.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Centennial, Colorado, United States · quantum.com, 28 Sept 2026
- High availability
- Xcellis can be deployed as a two-server high-availability pair and expanded with additional servers. · quantum.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Quantum customer material says Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Avid, and Telestream applications worked in one StorNext shared environment. · quantum.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Performance
- Quantum describes StorNext 7 as delivering multi-gigabyte-per-stream throughput and thousands of concurrent connections at sub-millisecond latency. · quantum.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- StorNext is a shared-storage file system for collaboration and streaming workflows, with a unified namespace across flash, disk, object, and tape. · quantum.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Support and upgrades
- A current Software Maintenance Contract is required to receive a free software upgrade; Quantum directs customers without one to order a contract or contact Service and Support. · quantum.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Supported systems
- The documentation says applications on Windows, Linux, Solaris, HP-UX, AIX, and macOS can simultaneously access and modify files in a shared SAN storage pool. · qsupport.quantum.com, 7 Oct 2026
Where Quantum StorNext stands on Freedom251
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