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The PowerStore platform consists of eleven different models, from the PowerStore 500 model through the PowerStore 9200 model. PowerStoreOS 1.0 launched with the PowerStore 1000T, 3000T, 5000T, 7000T, and 9000T. PowerStoreOS 2.0 introduced the entry-level 500. PowerStoreOS 3.0 introduced a platform refresh, with the 1200T, 3200T, 5200T, and 9200T models. PowerStoreOS 4.0 introduced the 3200Q model appliance. All models use a common base enclosure and I/O modules. The models differ by CPU core count and speed, memory size, and number of NVMe NVRAM drives. These hardware differences give each model a unique performance profile.
Besides the hardware differences between the models, PowerStore can be installed in one of two different deployment modes. Each deployment mode has different capabilities, as detailed in Table 2. Choose the deployment mode that provides the required capabilities.
External block access | External file access | |
Unified | ü | ü |
Block optimized | ü | X |
The PowerStore system has different performance characteristics depending on the deployment mode.
PowerStore appliances can be installed in a unified configuration that provides file and block access, or in a block optimized configuration that provides only block access.
PowerStore appliances with unified modes can provide access to block and file storage resources simultaneously. This is the default deployment mode.
If the PowerStore appliance will not be used for file access, it can be installed in block optimized mode, which disables the file capabilities. This mode can increase the amount of block workload that the system can provide because it can devote the additional CPU and memory that is no longer needed for file capabilities.
This section compares the performance potential of the different PowerStore models when serving external workloads. Performance scales based on the specific hardware complement of the model and is also impacted by the configuration type.
In general, the IOPS capability of the PowerStore models scales linearly from PowerStore 500 up to 9200 models. As mentioned previously, deployment mode also impacts performance capability. A PowerStore T model in block optimized mode can deliver more block IOPS than the same model in unified mode.
Except for PowerStore 500, PowerStore systems use NVMe NVRAM drives to provide persistent storage for cached write data. PowerStore 1000 up to 3200 model arrays have two NVRAM drives per system, while PowerStore 5000 up to 9200 model arrays have four NVRAM drives per system. The extra drives mean that these systems can provide higher MBPS for large-block write workloads.
PowerStore systems can be clustered. A PowerStore cluster combines multiple PowerStore appliances into a single grouping that is managed as a single storage system. A PowerStore cluster delivers aggregate performance from all appliances in the cluster, but a single volume is serviced by only one appliance at any given time. While not required, it is recommended that all appliances in a cluster be of the same model and have similar physical capacities to provide consistent performance across the cluster. PowerStore T models and PowerStore Q models can be mixed within the same cluster.
Volumes can be migrated between appliances in a cluster. It is recommended that any host that is connected to a PowerStore cluster has equivalent connectivity to all appliances in the cluster. All appliances in a cluster should be physically located in the same data center and must be connected to the same LAN.
Clustering is applicable to block storage resources only. While a PowerStore appliance in Unified mode can serve as the cluster’s primary appliance, the file resources cannot migrate to a different appliance. When deploying multiple appliances for file access, plan to have multiple clusters.