DataDirect Networks S2A9550, User Manual

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I n t r o d u c i n g t h e S 2 A 9 5 5 0
D a t a D i r e c t N e t w o r k s S 2 A 9 5 5 0 U s e r G u i d e
3
1.1 Introduction
Welcome to the DataDirect Networks Silicon Storage Appliance
™
S2A9550.
1.1.1 DataDirect Networks’ SAN Solution
The Silicon Storage Appliance (S2A9550 ) is an intelligent network infrastructure device designed and
optimized for the high bandwidth and capacity requirements of departments, rich media and high
performance workgroup applications.
The S2A9550 plugs seamlessly into existing network environments, thereby protecting and upgrading
investments made in legacy storage and networking products to substantially improve their performance,
availability and manageability.
The S2A9550 is designed based on DataDirect’s advanced pipelined, parallel processing architecture,
caching, directRAID, ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), system and file management
technologies. DataDirect has integrated these technologies into a single plug and play device—the S2A9550—
providing simple, centralized and secure data and network management.
1.1.2 The S2A9550
The S2A9550 is designed specifically to support high bandwidth, shared access to and backup of large banks
of data, and rich content. It enables a multi-vendor environment comprised of standalone and clustered
servers, workstations and PCs to access and back up data stored in centralized or distributed storage devices
in an easy, cost effective and reliable manner.
Using zero-latency High Parallel Port Technology (HPPT
™
), each S2A9550 orchestrates a coherent flow of
data throughout the SAN, from users to storage, managing data at up to 1600 MB/second (400 MB/s per port).
This task is accomplished through virtualized host and storage connections, a DMA-speed shared data access
space, advanced network-optimized directRAID
™
data protection and security—all acting in harmony with
sophisticated Fibre Channel storage management intelligence embedded within the S2A9550.
With its modular design, the S2A9550 can be “coupled” together forming data access redundancy while
maintaining fully pipelined, parallel bandwidth to the same disk storage. This modular architecture ensures
high data availability and uptime along with application performance. The system provides full bandwidth to
all host ports simultaneously, without host striping with its PowerLUN
™
technology.
1.1.3 Features of the S2A9550
The S2A9550 incorporates the following features:
•
Simplifies Deployment of Complex SANs
The S2A9550 provides SAN administration with the management tools required for large number of
clients and complex Fibre Channel configuration through its topology-independent FC-user
management features.
•
Fibre Channel Connectivity with 800 MB/s Throughput
The S2A9550 provides up to 4 individual 400 MB/s Fibre Channel host port connections, including
simultaneous access to the same data through multiple ports. Each FC host port supports Class 3, point-
to-point, FC-AL, and switched fabric operation.