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The following figure shows a 3-Tier network block storage configuration using PowerMax arrays:
The PowerMax family of products are designed to provide a fully active/active storage solution to meet the ever-increasing levels of performance, storage density, intelligent automation, and high security required by enterprise data centers and applications. The PowerMax family is comprised of the legacy PowerMax 2000 and 8000 models, and the latest next-generation PowerMax 2500 and 8500 systems. The architecture, features, and functions of these systems enable the following core value propositions for Dell Technologies customers:
When introduced, the PowerMax 2000 and 8000 arrays raised the bar again for enterprise storage, delivering unmatched levels of performance and consolidation for high-value, high-demand workloads. These arrays support 32Gb/s NVMe/FC to deliver on the promise of end-to-end NVMe, along with Storage Class Memory Drives (SCMs) used as persistent storage.
The PowerMax 2000 and 8000 arrays provide all the features and proven data services demanded of an enterprise active-active controller array, including security, protection, availability, scalability, and massive consolidation, now delivered at latencies measured in microseconds, not milliseconds.
The Next Generation PowerMax storage platform is designed to offer industry-leading cyber resiliency, security, and intelligent automation, while providing a balance of high performance with remarkable efficiency. The Next Generation PowerMax family consists of two storage systems:
Both the PowerMax 2500 and 8500 models make use of the industry’s richest data services and excel at workload consolidation because both systems provide storage for block, file, and mainframe workloads.
Based on the powerful Dynamic Fabric architecture and Flexible RAID, the next generation PowerMax systems offer a powerful yet flexible design to independently grow nodes and storage capacity in increments of a single drive. The PowerMax 2500 and 8500 arrays use Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors and today’s most advanced storage technologies, including end-to-end NVMe, InfiniBand 100Gb/s, dual-ported NVMe flash drives, NVMe/TCP, and NVMe/FC connectivity. Both models employ hardware-based data reduction and come with a 5:1 data reduction guarantee for Open Systems and 3:1 for Mainframe. Each PowerMax model is designed for 6 nines of availability and ships with new intelligent PDUs that provide real-time power consumption monitoring and alerting.
The following table provides a high-level comparison between the PowerMax legacy and Next Generation systems:
Table 44. Comparison of PowerMax Legacy and Next Generation systems
Feature | PowerMax 2000 | PowerMax 2500 | PowerMax 8000 | PowerMax 8500 |
Active/active, scale out, scale up architecture | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Disaggregated storage architecture | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Zero trust architecture | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Self-encrypting drives | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Single drive upgrades | No | Yes | No | Yes |
NVMe/TCP support | No | Yes | No | Yes |
64-bit file support | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Mainframe workload support | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Max effective capacity per array | 1.2 PBe | 8 PBe | 4.5 PBe | 18 PBe |
Data Reduction Guarantees | 3.5:1 Open Systems | 5:1 Open Systems, 3:1 Mainframe | 3.5:1 Open Systems, No mainframe data reduction | 5:1 Open Systems, 3:1 Mainframe |
For more information about the PowerMax family of products, see: