Dell EMC Unity storage arrays include transactional workloads, databases, virtualized servers, and multiple workload consolidations. Dell EMC Unity supports block and file environments with the flexibility to configure a system, capacity points, and Integrated Data Protection options, and are optimized for VMware virtualized applications.
Regardless of the storage protocol implemented, VxBlock Systems 1000 can include cabinet space, cabling, and power to support the hardware. Dell EMC Unity storage controllers eliminate the need for separate hardware for file sharing and facilitate moving from block storage to unified storage.
Dell EMC Unity Hybrid and All-Flash storage arrays provide a scalable hardware design and advanced software capabilities using spinning and flash drives. Dell EMC Unity All-Flash arrays support high-density solid-state disks (SSDs) including 3D NAND triple level cell (TLC) drives.
The following storage array models are available:
Dell EMC Unity All-Flash | Dell EMC Unity Hybrid |
350F | 300 |
450F | 400 |
550F | 500 |
650F | 600 |
The Dell EMC Unity All-Flash 350F to 650F storage arrays have the latest system hardware and contain only flash drives. The following table lists the processors and memory per storage processor:
Storage array | Processor (per SP) | Memory (per SP) |
350F | Intel E5-2603v4 6-core, 1.7 GHz | 48 GB @ 1866 MHz |
450F | Intel E5-2630v4 10-core, 2.2 GHz | 64 GB @ 2133 MHz |
550F | Intel E5-2660v4 14-core, 2.0 GHz | 128 GB @ 2400 MHz |
650F | Intel E5-2680v4 14-core, 2.4 GHz | 256 GB @ 2400 MHz |
The Dell EMC Unity Hybrid storage arrays have the latest system hardware and contain flash and spinning drives.
The following table lists the processors and memory per storage processor:
Storage array | Processor (per SP) | Memory (per SP) |
300 | Intel E5-2603v3, 6-core, 1.6 GHz | 24 GB @ 1600 MHz |
400 | Intel E5-2630v3, 8-core, 2.4 GHz | 48 GB @ 1600 MHz |
500 | Intel E5-2660v3, 10-core, 2.6 GHz | 64 GB @ 1866 MHz |
600 | Intel E5-2680v3, 12-core, 2.5 GHz | 128 GB @ 1866 MHz |
Dell EMC Unity storage arrays contain the disk processor enclosure (DPE) that house the redundant storage processors (SPs).
The DPE provides slots for two SPs and integrated drive slots for 25 slots for 2.5-inch drives or 12 slots for 3.5-inch drives.
Dell EMC Unity All-Flash models support only the drive carrier in the DPE with 25 Slots for 2.5-inch drives.
Dell EMC Unity Hybrid models support two types of drive carriers in the DPE with either:
Each SP contains the following components:
The integrated Ethernet ports and the Ethernet I/O modules supply Network Attached Storage (NAS) to associated hosts for file system access. The SPs run virtual NAS servers for file sharing.
Note: VxBlock System 1000 uses the 10 GbE optical option for NAS usage.
DAEs contain individual disk drives and are available in the following configurations:
Models
The following tables show capacity and performance of the Dell EMC Unity All-Flash storage arrays:
Component | 350F | 450F | 550F | 650F |
Processor per SP | 6 core, 1.7 GHz | 10 core, 2.2 GHz | 14 core, 2.0 GHz | 14 core, 2.4 GHz |
Memory (GB per storage array) | 96 | 128 | 256 | 512 |
Maximum drive count | 150 | 250 | 500 | 1000 |
Bus expansion (x4 lane configuration) | NA | NA | 4 port, 12 Gbps SAS | 4 port, 12 Gbps SAS |
Bus expansion (x8 lane configuration) | NA | NA | 2 port, 12 Gbps SAS | 2 port, 12 Gbps SAS |
LUNs | 1000 | 1500 | 2000 | 6000 |
Pool LUN size (TB) | 256 | 256 | 256 | 256 |
File systems | 1000 | 1500 | 2000 | 4000 |
File system size (TB) | 256 | 256 | 256 | 256 |
Pools | 20 | 30 | 40 | 100 |
NAS servers | 90 | 128 | 128 | 256 |
Models
The following tables show capacity and performance of the Dell EMC Hybrid storage arrays:
Component | 300 | 400 | 500 | 600 |
Processor per SP | 6 core, 1.6 GHz | 8 core, 2.4 GHz | 10 core, 2.6 GHz | 12 core, 2.5 GHz |
Memory (GB per storage array) | 48 | 96 | 128 | 256 |
Maximum drive count | 150 | 250 | 500 | 1000 |
Maximum FAST cache | 800 GB | 1.2 TB | 3.2 TB | 5.4 TB |
Bus expansion (x4 lane configuration) | NA | NA | 4 port, 12 Gbps SAS | 4 port, 12 Gbps SAS |
Bus expansion (x8 lane configuration) | NA | NA | 2 port, 12 Gbps SAS | 2 port, 12 Gbps SAS |
LUNs | 1000 | 1500 | 2000 | 6000 |
Pool LUN size (TB) | 256 | 256 | 256 | 256 |
File systems | 500 | 750 | 1000 | 1500 |
File system size (TB) | 256 | 256 | 256 | 256 |
Pools | 20 | 30 | 40 | 100 |
NAS servers | 90 | 128 | 128 | 256 |
Dell EMC Unity storage offers several features, including Integrated Data Protection, encryption, file storage, and replication.
Integrated Data Protection
The following Integrated Data Protection features are supported:
Encryption
Dell EMC Unity Data at Rest Encryption (D@RE) prevents unauthorized access to lost, stolen, or failed drives by encrypting all sensitive user data. D@RE uses hardware-based encryption modules in the SAS controllers and 12 Gbps SAS I/O modules. The modules encrypt data that are written to the drives and decrypt data that are retrieved from the drives. Because of the controller-based approach, D@RE supports all Dell EMC Unity drive types.
The D@RE feature offers external key management as a security option. If an entire Dell EMC Unity system, including drives, is lost or stolen, external key management prevents unauthorized access.
During system initialization, the D@RE feature is enabled when the license file is installed. Installing the license on the storage array activates D@RE. If the license file includes D@RE, D@RE is permanently enabled on the system and cannot be disabled. Similarly, if the license file does not include D@RE, D@RE is permanently disabled on the system and cannot be enabled. D@RE is enabled or disabled only during initial installation. D@RE does not support enabling encryption on non-D@RE enabled systems.
File storage
Term | Definition |
Internal shares/exports | Data from resources inside the VxBlock System 1000. Either VMware vSphere ESXi datastores or file system mounts for guest operating systems |
External shares/exports | Data from resources outside of the VxBlock 1000. |
If sufficient Ethernet ports can provide separate LACP connections, the same array can provide internal and external file systems.
Internal and external shares are created with two different NAS servers:
Each server hosts different file systems. The file systems are balanced across the NAS servers. More NAS servers can be created for different VLANs, but always in pairs for balance across the SPs.
Replication
Dell EMC Unity storage arrays provide native support for both synchronous and asynchronous remote replication and support for RecoverPoint to provide remote replication.
For block storage configurations, the VxBlock System 1000 can include RecoverPoint, which provides continuous data protection and remote replication for on-demand protection and recovery. RecoverPoint capabilities include:
The Dell EMC Unity All-Flash All-Inclusive Base Software package includes RecoverPoint.
To implement RecoverPoint, add two or more RecoverPoint Appliances (RPAs) in a cluster to the VxBlock System 1000. This cluster can accommodate approximately 80 Mbps sustained throughput through each RPA.
To ensure proper sizing and performance of an RPA solution, Dell EMC Technical Consultants collect the following information:
Use these best practices when using FAST Cache and FAST VP on Dell EMC Unity Hybrid arrays.
Use the following guidelines when using FAST Cache on Dell EMC Unity Hybrid arrays:
Use the following guidelines when using FAST VP on Dell EMC Unity Hybrid arrays:
Dell EMC Unity licenses include base and optional software.
All-inclusive base software includes the following:
Management software
Unified protocols
Local protection
Remote protection
Optional software
Note: For more details on software licensing, contact your sales representative.
The number of VxBlock System 1000 hosts that the Dell EMC Unity arrays support depends on the number of 16 Gbps FC ports available on each SP.
All host I/O ports (16 Gbps FC) are placed in port groups of four ports. Ports are spread across SPs, SAN fabrics, and I/O modules for redundancy. Each port group supports a maximum of 64 hosts.
Dell EMC Unity arrays support:
The following table indicates the number of hosts that each Dell EMC Unity array supports:
Array model | FC ports | Port groups | Supported hosts |
350F - 650F 300 - 600 | 4 | 1 | 64 |
8 | 2 | 128 | |
12 | 3 | 192 | |
16 | 4 | 256 | |
20 | 5 | 320 |