2000 Series / 5000 Series

Dot Hill's 2000 and 5000 series of disk arrays for OEMs currently includes the original 2730 offering, the 2730 Turbo version with enhanced performance (via a faster processor), the 2330, the new 2530, and the 5730 (currently the only entry in the 5000 series). The 2730s and 5730 feature 4 Gb/sec Fibre Channel host interfaces, while the 2330 boasts dual 1 Gig Ethernet ports for iSCSI communications and the 2530 ships with 3 Gb/sec SAS interfaces. Internally, each enclosure can be loaded with either SAS or SATA II drives (3 Gb/sec each) or a mix of both. Each 2000 series chassis is 2U and supports the loading of up to 12 disks. Up to four expansion units--which attach via a SAS interface--can be added to the base RAID unit, increasing the total disk capacity of the platform to 56 disks. The 5730 (also 2U) extends this capacity to a possible total of 108 disks.

Both RAID and JBOD deployments are possible with the arrays, with supported RAID levels including 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 10, and 50. (RAID 6 is offered on older 2730s via a firmware upgrade.) Multiple redundant and hot-swappable components are offered; including controllers (automatic failover), disks, fans, and power.

Each of the RAID controllers support up to 1 GB of cache memory. Up to 32 virtual disks per system are supported, with 128 partitions per virtual disk and 256 volumes per system. Management is via the vendor's WBI (Web-Based Interface) GUI or CLI (RS-232).

Features of the enclosures include:

- SimulCache: data caching technology for redundant controller deployments in which the cache memory controller automatically broadcasts write data from the primary to the other controller's cache without requiring software intervention on host channels. The vendor states that the technology requires no additional memory bandwidth on the primary controller and results in performance approaching that of dual independent cache mode deployments.

- AssuredSnap: Point-in-time capture and restore technology for disk volumes that the vendor states supports instant restoration of data. Features include both delta-based (only changed data is copied) data processing, and writable snap shots via Original/Write Data Preservation technology.

- AssuredCopy: Volume copy technology, allowing for the creation of clone volumes for use with offline (i.e., development, business analytics, etc.) applications.

- EcoStor: Technology that allows for cache backup without using batteries. With EcoStor, when a power interruption occurs Super Capacitors are used to power the data cache while it (the cache data) is transfered to flash storage.

- RoHS-5 and WEEE compliance

All of the above features are available for each of the enclosures, with some included standard and some optional per model (contact the vendor for details).

The original product offering was the 2730, with FC host interfaces; followed by the 2730 Turbo, which the vendor states improved the box's performance up to 35% via a faster processor. The 2330 ships with iSCSI connectivity, while the new 2530 sports dual or quad SAS 3 Gb/sec interface ports.

The 5000 series are targeted to midrange deployments and provide an upgrade path for 2000 series customers (a 2000 series enclosure can be upgraded to a 5000 series model via data-in-place controller upgrades). The 5730 boasts performance of 2-3x that of the 2000 series, with quad 4 Gb/sec host ports per controller (with single or dual controller options available). It supports SAN, switchless-SAN or DAS host connect configurations.

Except for the new 2530, all of the above models are available now. (The 2530 is expected to be generally available in 2Q/2008.) Base pricing ranges from $13,250 to $31,700, with the new 2350 expected to weigh in around $13,500.

Contact Dot Hill for further information.