Chapter 1 - Product Overview
Features
HotPair
Two BlackPearl master nodes can be connected to multiple expansion nodes in a failover
configuration. One master node acts as the primary controller, and the other acts as the
secondary. In the event that the secondary controller detects a failure of the primary
controller, it automatically takes over to provide uninterrupted operation, without
administrative intervention.
Integration with a Spectra Logic Tape Library
Fibre Channel and SAS HBAs can be installed to provide connectivity to a Spectra Logic
tape library using LTO or TS11
xx
technology drives.
Integration with the IBM
®
TS4500 Tape Library
Fibre Channel HBAs can be installed to provide connectivity to the IBM TS4500 tape library
using LTO or TS11
xx
technology drives.
Intelligent Object Management
With IOM, the BlackPearl system is capable of self-healing files present on the system, as
well as automatically compacting data stored on tape, and provides an easy migration path
from one type of storage to another. IOM also allows multiple object versioning and data
pre-staging from tape to disk, and improves tape library performance by reducing the
number of cartridge mounts.
LTFS Format
The BlackPearl system with a supported tape library, writes data on tape in the open Linear
Tape File System
®
(LTFS) format to ensure you are always able to access it.
Mirrored Boot Drives
The operating system is hosted on two mirrored drives.
Rack-Mount Hardware
The BlackPearl chassis are designed to mount in a standard 4-post, 19-inch (48.3 cm) rack
using just 2U (3.5 inches, 8.9 cm) or 4U (7 inches, 17.8 cm) of rack space, depending on the
size of the system. Rack-mounting hardware is included with each BlackPearl system.
RAID-Protected Data Drives
The base BlackPearl system includes two solid-state drives which store the system database,
and ten spinning disk drives which provide the system’s caching capacity. The drives are
grouped into volumes with double-parity protection and data integrity verification to
protect against data corruption.
Redundant Hardware
The system features N+1 redundant power supplies and data drives that are hot-swappable
for uninterrupted operation.
November 2020
User Guide-BlackPearl Converged Storage System
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