Has Lightning Struck for MaxxCat?

February 10, 2015

Have you ever heard of MaxxCat? It has played around in the back of our RSS feed every now and then when they have accomplished a major breakthrough. The company skipped to the forefront of enterprise search news this morning with one of their products. Before we discuss what wonders MaxxCat plans to do for enterprise search, here is a little more about the company.

MaxxCat was established in 2007 to take advantage of the growing enterprise search solutions market. The company specializes in low cost search and storage as well as integration and managed hosting services. MaxxCat creates well-regarded hardware with an emphasis that their clients should be able to concentrate on more important things than storage. The company’s search appliance hosting page explains a bit more about what MaxxCat offers:

“MaxxCAT can provide complete managed platforms using your MaxxCAT appliances in one or more of our data centers. Our managed platforms allow you to focus on your business, and allow us to focus on getting the maximum performance and uptime from your enterprise search appliances. Nobody can host, tune or manage MaxxCAT appliances as well as the people who invented them.”

Enterprise search appliances without a headache? It is a new and interesting concept that MaxxCat seems to have a handle on it.

Whitney Grace, February 10, 2015
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext

MaxxCAT Reveals New Model and Adjusted Pricing

May 23, 2014

The article titled MaxxCAT Anmounces New Hardware, Pricing in Preparation for New OS on ICT Procurement came with a disclaimer that seemed aimed at other tech giants like Apple. Burt LeFay, hardware manager for Maxxcat, wanted to assure customers that the new hardware would be compatible with the old. There is nothing more annoying than downloading a new version of, say, ITunes, only to learn moments after that it is no longer compatible with your old Macbook. The article states,

““We know how it feels to purchase your hardware and a week later the company announces something new,” said Burt LeFay… “We began testing the new hardware several months ago and developed a special release of our earlier OS to work with the new hardware. That way we could begin shipping the new hardware while we finalized the latest OS.” Customers who have purchased their appliance recently have received the new hardware and can contact MaxxCAT support to schedule an update.”

Maxxcat has been creating high-performance search appliances since 2007, of which they offer a comparison to Google on their website. Demos are available on request. The new model, MaxxCAT 5.0, is touted for its more potent hardware and competitive pricing.

Chelsea Kerwin, May 23, 2014

Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext

New MaxxCAT Search Appliance Supports the Rackless

March 5, 2014

Small businesses that employ desktop servers may want to check out MaxxCAT’s latest offering. Virtual-Strategy Magazine announces that “MaxxCAT Brings Search Appliance to Convenient Desktop Form Factor.” They say the idea came from a customer with a desktop server and no rack space; it is nice when companies respond to customer feedback. The press release elaborates:

“The new line of desktop search appliances features a case that is suited for customers needing high performance search but lacking rack space. It is particularly suited to businesses employing tower servers. The new desktop series retains the price and performance MaxxCAT is known for, starting at $2,995 for the 250GB SB-250d capable of handling 2,500 executed Queries Per Minute(QPM). For larger collections or greater performance requirements, the SB-350d is available for $3,995 and features a 500GB index storage size and is capable of handling 5,000 executed Queries Per Minute. Both appliances will come with MaxxCAT’s standard one year of email support and software updates as well as one-year hardware warranty.”

The company is wisely integrating that higher-capacity version, the SB-350d, into its existing education and non-profit programs. Based in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, MaxxCAT launched in 2007. Though its focus is on specialized, high-performance enterprise search appliances, the company also provides integration services and managed hosting. MaxxCAT also prides itself on providing quick and painless deployments—particularly important for small businesses with limited resources.

Cynthia Murrell, March 05, 2014

Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext

New Marketing Tack for Maxxcat

October 2, 2013

Maxxcat is taking a new approach to marketing, Insurance Technology informs us in, “MaxxCAT Launches Search Appliance Channel on TMCnet.” This “channel” is a news and information site focused on search and data management. This is not an aggregation site; it offers original content from regular and guest contributors. Not surprisingly, many of the stories do endorse MaxxCAT. The write-up reports:

“The Search Appliance channel is designed for decision-makers from enterprises seeking information regarding search solutions. Information on the Search Appliance channel addresses issues important to those interested in enterprise search solutions. Visitors to the Search Appliance channel can find valuable resources such as feature articles, industry news, white papers, free product trials and e-demos. The Search Appliance channel can be found at: http://www.searchapplianceworld.com/.”

Launched in 2007, MaxxCAT makes its home in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Though its focus is on specialized, high-performance enterprise search appliances, the company also provides integration services and managed hosting. MaxxCAT is big on incorporating customer input, and prides itself on quick and painless deployments.

TMCnet helps clients in the tech and communications fields who wish to promote their businesses by supplying information that is actually useful. Their Online Community program has been active for more than a decade now, and their own informative page boasts 1.5 million unique visitors per month.

Cynthia Murrell, October 02, 2013

Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext

Maxxcat Offers SQL Connector

August 30, 2013

Specialized hardware vendor MaxxCAT offers a SQL connector, allowing their appliances to directly access SQL databases. We read about that tool, named BobCAT, at the company’s Search Connect page. We would like to note that the company’s web site has made it easier to locate their expanding range of appliances for search and storage.

Naturally, BobCAT can be configured for use with Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and MySQL, among other ODBC databases. The connector ‘s integration with MaxxCAT’s appliances makes it easier to establish crawls and customize output using tools like JSON, HTML and SQL. The write-up emphasizes:

“The results returned from the BobCAT connector can be integrated into web pages, applications, or other systems that use the search appliance as a compute server performing the specialized function of high performance search across large data sets.

“In addition to indexing raw data, The BobCAT connector provides the capability for raw integrators to index business intelligence and back office systems from disparate applications, and can grant the enterprise user a single portal of access to data coming from customer management, ERP or proprietary systems.”

MaxxCAT does not stop with its SQL connector. Their Lynx Connector facilitates connection to their enterprise search appliances by developers, integrators, and connector foundries. The same Search Connect page explains:

“The connector consists of two components, the input bytestream and a subset of the MaxxCAT API that controls the processing of collections and the appliance.

“There are many applications of the Lynx Connector, including building plugins and connector modules that connect MaxxCAT to external software systems, document formats and proprietary cloud or application infrastructure. Users of the Lynx Connector have a straightforward path to take advantage of MaxxCAT’s specialized and high performance retrieval engine in building solutions.”

Developers interested in building around the Lynx framework are asked email the company for more information, including a line on development hardware and support resources. MaxxCAT was founded in 2007 to capitalize on the high-performance, specialized hardware corner of the enterprise search market. The company manages to offer competitive pricing without sacrificing its focus on performance, simplicity, and ease of integration. We continue to applaud MaxxCAT’s recently launched program for nonprofits.

Cynthia Murrell, August 30, 2013

Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext

MaxxCAT Launches Program for Nonprofits

July 11, 2013

MaxxCAT has implemented a program designed to help nonprofits, we learn from “MaxxCAT Hopes to Bring Search Appliances to Nonprofit Organizations with NPO Buyers Program,” posted at PRWeb. The limited-time NPO Buyers Program pairs a choice of search appliances (the EX-5000 enterprise search or SB-350 search) with extended integration and support services.

The program aims to fill one particular gap NPOs often face; the press release tells us:

“While all MaxxCAT search appliances are easy to integrate, nonprofits often face resource shortages in their IT departments. To address this concern, MaxxCAT will include three hours of Integration Services with each appliance purchased under the NPO Buyers Program. The Integration Services Group provides top-level service from the experts who design and build MaxxCAT’s appliances, and three hours is typically enough time to implement a search.

“Each MaxxCAT appliance comes with a year of email support plus software updates as well as a one year hardware warranty. In addition, nonprofits will receive an extra year of email support plus software updates.”

This is a limited-time offer, so interested NPOs should check out this link soon. Perhaps if they get a good response, the company can be persuaded to extend the program.

Based in Pittsburg, MaxxCAT was founded in 2007 to capitalize on the high-performance, specialized hardware corner of the enterprise search market. The company also provides integration services and managed hosting. A focus on performance, simplicity, and ease of integration keeps MaxxCAT at the fore of the high-performance field. This foray into serving nonprofits can only help the company’s standing.

Cynthia Murrell, July 11, 2013

Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext

MaxxCAT Enhances Enterprise Search Applications

June 28, 2013

Specialized-hardware firm MaxxCAT has upgraded their enterprise search appliances while remaining one of the most cost-effective options in the field, we learn from “MaxxCAT EX-Series of Enterprise Search Appliances Enhanced with Upgraded Storage and Performance” at PRWeb. Mirrored index storage is one of the most welcome features. The write-up tells us:

“The EX-5000 and EX-6000, competitors of the Google Search Appliance, now start at 2 x 1TB of Index Storage. The improved hardware combines the appliances’ existing performance and reasonable cost with the security of redundancy for customers’ Index Storage.

“‘When you buy a search appliance, you want to get it started and then not worry about it anymore.’ said Zach Reinhardt, MaxxCAT hardware support engineer. ‘Knowing that in the event of a hard drive failure, their appliance will still perform gives our customers the peace of mind so they can concentrate on other projects.'”

Ah, stress reduction! All of MaxxCAT’s search appliances can index a wide variety of file formats with no document limits. The EX-Series perform 12,500 to 25,000 queries per minute for a very reasonable starting price that’s under $9,000. One year of email support and software updates are included, as is a one-year hardware warranty.

MaxxCAT sweetens the pot for any Google Search Appliance owners tempted to switch with its Google Search Appliance Replacement Program. This incentive combines either the EX-5000 or EX-6000 with access to MaxxCAT’s excellent Integration Services Group.

Founded in 2007 and based in Pittsburgh, MaxxCAT produces two high-quality product lines, search appliances and cloud-integrated storage, at some of the lowest price points around. The company also offers integration services and managed data hosting. A focus on performance, simplicity, and ease of integration keeps MaxxCAT at the fore of the high-performance field.

Cynthia Murrell, June 28, 2013

Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext

Maxxcat: A Replacement for Google Mini?

July 9, 2012

In a giant spring-cleaning move, Google announced that five services will be permanently shutting down, including the search giant’s product Google Mini.

Google Mini was a small in-site search appliance provided by the company. As it was a popular service, previous users may wonder where to turn to get a search box for their site. We suggest MaxxCAT, an enterprise search engine that is easy-to-use and offers two types of hardware that are geared for small or large businesses. The company’s website asserts:

“If you are in need of a solution for you company’s data storage needs that is nimble, responsive, and easy to use, MaxxCAT can help by collecting all of your files, documents, and data into one highly sophisticated enterprise search engine system. MaxxCAT Corporation specializes in creating supremely optimized hardware devices that offer plug-and-play capability and user-friendly interfaces to boost your enterprise search needs. Currently, MaxxCAT offers two types of enterprise search hardware that outperform the competition in terms of performance, storage and even price.”

MaxxCAT’s website also provides a speed test between its product and Google Mini, as well as a comparison chart involving costs and performance among other factors. These demonstrations are sure to have anyone convinced after a little browsing.

Andrea Hayden, July 9, 2012

Sponsored by Ikanow

Search Appliance MaxxCAT Speed Test

June 8, 2012

MaxxCAT has a created speed test where prospective customers can see just how their “lightning fast” search appliances compare to their Googley rivals. They pit their SB-250 against Google Mini, and the heftier EX-5000 against Google Search Appliance version GB-7007. The page instructs:

“Use the drop-down list of queries, or enter new search terms to experience the different search performance demonstrated by this network search comparison. . . . Users of the enterprise search comparison will discover that the entry-level SB-250 and Enterprise-level EX-5000 network search appliances return results with lightning speed, saving time – which translates to dollars for businesses and enterprises. It is important to note that during the search appliance comparison, as the Google mini and Google Search Appliance reach their maximum capacity, the SB-250 and EX-5000 still have enough space for collections three times as large as those in the demo.”

That’s quite an assertion, but is difficult for me to gauge because, as of this writing, the MaxxCAT results are not displaying when I click “show results” (oops). Their products did clock in faster, but that means little without that list.

If the company’s claims are accurate, though, their products are well worth a look. According to their cost and features chart, MaxxCAT’s “startup costs” are considerably less than Google’s comparable offerings. However, just what goes into calculating these “startup costs” is left to the imagination. Do some research before hitching to this wagon.

Based in Pittsburg, PA, MaxxCAT was founded in 2007 to capitalize on the high-performance, specialized hardware corner of the enterprise search market. The company also provides integration services and managed hosting, and they pride themselves on quick and painless deployment. MaxxCAT believes in keeping it simple, silly, but still incorporates customer input into its products. Their developers come equipped with experience in the search and systems integration fields.

Cynthia Murrell, June 8, 2012

Sponsored by PolySpot

MaxxCAT Claws into the Search Appliance Market

September 19, 2011

A news item, “Strengthen Your Enterprise Search with a Highly Optimized Search Appliance from MaxxCAT,” focuses on MaxxCAT, a competitor to Google Search and Thunderstone Search appliances. we learned:

No matter what size or style of business that you have, MaxxCAT can offer a solution for your enterprise search that is easily scalable as your data storage and recovery needs grow. In most cases, upgrading is as simple as adding another appliance to your rack mount.

According to the MaxxCAT website, the Pittsburgh based company was founded in 2007, a relative newcomer to the world of enterprise search. They claim to provide the highest performing search solutions at the lowest price points in the industry. The story asserts:

MaxxCAT’s product line has grown from a single high performance machine, the original SB-250, to a comprehensive line of high availability, high performance, low cost solutions that address some of the leading edge requirements of today’s search industry.

The prices are certainly competitive, and the line-up of offered products is diverse. While not yet the top player in the market, MaxxCAT could certainly move up the ranks as efficient but affordable search solutions are sought in the current sobering economic climate. Beyond Search has a soft spot in its heart for Pittsburgh-based firms. Our founder, Stephen E Arnold, attended Duquesne University while indexing Latin sermons and then he and his partners sold The Point (Top 5% of the Internet) to Lycos more than 15 years ago. Hilly place, however.

Emily Rae Aldridge, September 19, 2011

Sponsored by Pandia.com, publishers of The New Landscape of Enterprise Search

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