IBM has announced enhancements to its XIV Storage System Gen3 including a new solid state drive (SSD) caching option that can increase system performance by up to three times, and a new Apple iPhone app that lets people monitor their XIV storage environment from anywhere.

With SSD caching, the most frequently used data is stored on solid state memory placed between the system memory and hard drives. The storing and retrieving of data is accomplished with virtually no latency, speeding data access.

The IBM XIV SSD Caching option provides up to 6TB of SSD.

In addition to IBM XIV SSD Caching, IBM announced the ability to mirror data between previous versions of XIV and XIV Gen3 systems, which will ease data migration.

Building on XIV Gen3's remote monitoring capabilities, IBM also announced the XIV Mobile Dashboard for the Apple iPhone, which lets customers monitor XIV systems from virtually anywhere. The app will be available for download at no cost later this month from the Apple Online Store.

IBM today also announced an update to its Linear Tape File System Library Edition. LTFS Library Edition Version 1.2.5 supports Mac OS X and lets users of the operating system create, manage, and optimize video workflows using LTO-5 based tape libraries.

IBM's credit qualified clients can acquire IBM's new Storage Systems with predictable monthly payments with financing from IBM Global Financing, the lending and leasing arm of IBM.