Data Storage

RSR · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:20

Hi Chaps,

We currently have a tired data storage solution, thats coming up to 3 years old now. Rather then paid a pretty hefty premium to the like of NetApp and F5. We are looking at renewing our whole data storage system. What we currently have in place is a NetApp filer as tier 1 storage, a few NetApp storevault for tier 2 storage and a HP NAS as tier 3 / archive storage. Now this is all controlled by a F5 ARX 500 data switch with provides one logical volume, in the same way DFS does.

However, as our data demans are growing the ARX seems to becoming the bottle neck, as we are seening more and more problem for example with adobe files from the network drive. If you just work from a normal CIFs share though these problems dont arise.

What other data tiering solutions are there out on the market at the moment? Also as our NetApp are coming up to 3 years old, we are also looking at other makes and models of filers.

Thanks

Andy

bigredshark · 24 Sep 2009 at 15:31

To be honest it sounds a good solution to me. People will doubtless tell you could do it all with software but the specialised hardware usually does a better job.

Likewise the Netapp is a very good bit of kit, there are other more specialist filers out there (EMC obviously, I'm a fan of the pillar and 3par products as well but there are loads) but the Netapp is a good all rounder which offers decent performance and is feature rich.

RSR · 24 Sep 2009 at 15:43

bigredshark said:
To be honest it sounds a good solution to me. People will doubtless tell you could do it all with software but the specialised hardware usually does a better job.

Likewise the Netapp is a very good bit of kit, there are other more specialist filers out there (EMC obviously, I'm a fan of the pillar and 3par products as well but there are loads) but the Netapp is a good all rounder which offers decent performance and is feature rich.

I was awaiting your feedback.

It’s just what’s best to do in the current environment, do we replace the filers or extend the support and the same with the Acopia switches (F5 ARX’s) . :confused:

Andy

bigredshark · 24 Sep 2009 at 16:48

Well I guess the question is - can you find the bottleneck accurately? Replacing an ARX is going to be an expensive proposition but replacing filers isn't much more attractive cost wise.

At the end of the day, extended support is going to be cheaper than new units if you can avoid them and getting to know your netapp account manager will do you no harm in the longer term.

Of course if you're reaching the limits of your solution overall then you may need to bite the bullet and buy new f5 ARX units and new tier 1 storage - wouldn't want to be writing that PO at the moment though!