DS5020 Express: System Storage

Highlights

• Next-generation 8 Gbps FC interfaces enable infrastructure simplification
• Mixed host interfaces support (FC/iSCSI) enables SAN tiering
• Balanced performance well-suited for virtualization/consolidation
• Reducing the cost of consolidation
• Self-encrypting drives secure data throughout your drives lifecycle
• Support for intermixing FC/FDE/SATA/SSD drives enables cost effective tiered storage
• Trusted storage that protects and delivers your data when needed
• Feature-rich management software that maximizes utilization and minimizes storage TCO
• Key application certifications ensure confidence
• Centrally manage the DS series with the IBM System Storage DS Storage Manager
• Support up to 112 disk drive modules with the attachment of six EXP520 expansion units

In a continuing effort to provide storage solutions that are designed to provide low total cost of ownership, high performance, robust functionality, and unparalleled ease of use, IBM offers the IBM System Storage DS5020 Express. As part of the DS series, the DS5020 Express offers high-performance 8 Gbps capable Fibre Channel connections, optional 1 Gbps iSCSI interface for less demanding applications and lower cost implementation, up to 67.2 TB of Fibre Channel physical storage capacity, 224 TB of SATA physical storage capacity, and powerful system management, data management and data protection features. The DS5020 Express is designed to expand from workgroup to enterprise-wide capability with up to six Fibre Channel expansion units with the EXP520 Expansion Unit.

Common features

• Dynamic Capacity Expansion (DCE)
• System Storage DS Storage Manager Software
• IBM FlashCopy to take point-in-time copies of logical volumes
• Dynamic Volume Expansion
• VolumeCopy feature designed to provide full replication of one logical volume to another
• Enhanced Remote Mirror to multi-LUN applications
• Hot-spare disk drives

Hardware summary

• Up to 4 GB cache battery-backed
• Model 20A has 8 host ports and 4 drive ports-Fibre Channel (FC) Switched and FC Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) standard, Auto-sensing 2 Gbps/4 Gbps, optional 1 Gbps iSCSI interface
• Supports 4 Gbps FC/FDE: 15k 600 GB, 450 GB, 300 GB, 146.8 GB, E-DDM
• Supports 4 Gbps SATA: 7.2K 750 GB/1 TB and 2 TB E-DDM
• RAID level 0, 1, 3, 5, 6 and 10 support
• Up to 128 storage partitions
• 112 Fibre Channel drives (using 6 EXP520 Expansion Units)
• Dual redundant, hot-swappable cooling fans
• 19-inch, industry-standard rack

Manage data more effectively with IBM System Storage DS5020 Express

Optimized data management requires storage solutions with high data availability, strong storage management capabilities and powerful performance features. IBM offers the IBM System Storage DS5020 Express, designed to provide lower total cost of ownership, high performance, robust functionality, and unparalleled ease of use. As part of the IBM DS series, the DS5020 Express offers:

• High-performance 8 Gbps capable Fibre Channel connections.
• Optional 1 Gbps iSCSI interface.
• Up to 224 TB of physical storage capacity with 112 2 TB SATA disk drives.
• Powerful system management, data management, and data protection features.

Achieve a lower total cost of ownership

Facing relentless data growth and shrinking budgets, companies continue to look for ways to reduce costs through efficiencies. 8 Gbps FC allows companies to reduce the number of HBAs per server and the number of overall ports in their FC SAN infrastructure without sacrificing performance, thus saving acquisition and operational costs.

Additionally, the DS5020s auto-negotiating 8 Gbps Fibre Channel interfaces allow it to seamlessly integrate into an existing 2 Gbps or 4 Gbps infrastructure, while providing the buyer with investment protection going forward when the SAN inevitably becomes 8 Gbps.

The DS5020s design avoids over-configuration for an affordable entry-point while offering seamless pay-as-you-grow scalability as requirements change. Its efficient storage utilization lowers raw capacity requirement, and support for intermixing high performance and high capacity drives enables enclosure-based tiered storage. These unique capabilities reduce the number of drives needed to meet performance and/or capacity demandslower acquisition and operational expenditures.