Engenio

The Engenio product line from LSI Corporation are external disk arrays primarily targeted to OEMs for use in SAN product deployments. Each of the arrays include both disks and controllers, with multiple product configurations available across several model numbers; including entries supporting SAS, FC, and iSCSI host port connectivity and internally loaded with SAS, FC, or SATA drives.

The arrays are managed by the vendor's SANtricity Storage Manager software, or the newer Simplicity Storage Manager software targeted to part time admins. The SANtricity interface provides the online and non-disruptive ability to add capacity, configure new volumes, define mappings, tune performance and handle routine maintenance chores; while Simplicity Storage Manager serves up a task-based management interface. SANtricity is included in the vendor's high end arrays while Simplicity is included in the low end offerings (1932, 1532, and 1333/1).

Multiple "premium" (separately priced, optional) modules are offered for use with the SANtricity and/or Simplicity Storage Manager, including:

- SANshare (SANtricity/Simplicity), which provides storage consolidation features via logical partitioning

- Snapshot (SANtricity/Simplicity), which provides the ability to create immediate logical copies of storage volumes (that appear and function as standard volumes) for use on non-production or backup servers

- Volume Copy (SANtricity/Simplicity), which creates a clone of a volume that can be mapped to a separate server for analysis

- Remote Volume Mirror (SANtricity), with support for real-time data replication to off site systems

Individual arrays in the Engenio product line include:

- 1331/1333: A 2U component with 12 hot swappable SAS drives (3 Gb/sec) and 1 (1331) or 3 (1333) SAS host ports per controller. Offered in single or dual controller models, the 1333 can be expanded to up to 48 total drives using the vendor's DM1300 drive modules.

- 1532: The newest entry in the line is similar to the 1333 (single or dual controllers, 12 drives, expandable to 48 total drives using DM1300 drive modules), but can be loaded with SAS and SATA drives and boasts iSCSI connectivity via dual 1 Gb/sec host ports per controller.

- 1932: Similar to the 1333 but with dual 4 Gb/sec FC ports per controller.

- 3994/3992: Boasting 8 4 Gb/sec FC host ports and support for up to 112 FC or SATA drives. Active/active controllers are included, with the 3U base module supporting up to 16 drives and up to six expansion modules (with 16 drives each). Sustained throughput is listed at 990 MB/sec. The 3992 includes only 4 host ports and a reduced cache size (2 GB, compared to 4 GB in the 3994).

- 6998/6994: With 8 4 Gb/sec host ports and support for up to 224 FC or SATA drives. Sustained throughput is listed at 1,600 MB/sec. The 6994 reduces performance (1,240 MB/sec) and cache size.

- 7900 HPC: The newest entry in the family, boasting up to 256 drives (FC/SATA) and sustained read transfer rates (FC) of up to 6.4 GB/sec (5.4 GB/sec write). The 7900 is loaded with up to 16 4 Gb/sec FC or 8 20 Gb/sec InfiniBand ports and features automated I/O path failover, RAID 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, and 10, and a mirrored data cache with battery backup, among other capabilities. The vendor states that forthcoming updates to the 7900 platform will include support for up to 480 drives, 8 Gb/sec FC, and 40 Gb/sec InfiniBand.

The Engenio line is available now. Visit the LSI Corporation Web site for further information.