Sun Microsystems has launched a new line of storage arrays, the J4000 range, based on its open storage portfolio, along with a new high-performance storage server Sun Fire X4500 "Thumper" line.

Sun claimed its J4000 range offer unparalleled price-performance – prices start at £1,500 ($3,000).

“These new building blocks deliver impressive density and capacity while empowering customers to take advantage of the efficiencies of general purpose storage powered by open source software," said John Fowler, executive vice-president, Systems Group, Sun Microsystems in a statement.

The Sata-based Sun Fire X4540 runs Solaris OS and Solaris Zettabyte File System – and can deliver up to 50 per cent savings on power and cooling at lower cost, Sun claimed.

Prices for the the Sun Fire X4500 storage server family start at $22,000, with the X4540 pencilled to ship later this month.