Dell EMC Unity XT storage arrays are midrange storage solutions that include transactional workloads, such as databases, virtualized servers, and multiple workload consolidations. Dell EMC Unity XT is a unified solution that supports block and file environments with the flexibility to configure a system, capacity points, and Integrated Data Protection options. Dell EMC Unity XT storage arrays support integrated block and file storage and are optimized for VMware virtualized applications. Dell EMC Unity XT storage arrays feature up to two times more IOPS, more memory, and up to 50% more drives than previous Dell EMC Unity models.
Regardless of the storage protocol implemented, VxBlock Systems 1000 can include cabinet space, cabling, and power to support the hardware. Dell EMC Unity XT storage includes controllers that eliminate the need for separate hardware for file sharing. The controllers also facilitate moving from block storage to unified storage, avoiding hardware changes.
Dell EMC Unity XT Hybrid and All-Flash storage arrays provide a scalable hardware design and advanced software capabilities using spinning and flash drives. Dell EMC Unity XT All-Flash arrays support high-density solid-state disks (SSDs) including 3D NAND triple level cell (TLC) drives. Dell EMC Unity XT All-Flash and Hybrid storage systems with dual-active controller architecture and enterprise-class features are designed for performance, optimized for efficiency with up to 5:1 data reduction.
The following Dell EMC Unity XT All-Flash storage array models are available:
The following Dell EMC Unity XT Hybrid storage array models are available:
The Dell EMC Unity XT All-Flash and Hybrid storage arrays have the latest system hardware .The following table lists the processors and memory per Array:
Storage array | Processors per array | Memory per array |
380F/380 | 2 x Intel CPUs, 12 cores per Array, 1.7 GHz | 128 GB |
480F/480 | 2 x dual-socket Intel CPUs, 32 cores per Array, 1.8 GHz | 192 GB |
680F/680 | 2 x dual-socket Intel CPUs, 48 cores per Array, 2.1 GHz | 384 GB |
880G/880 | 2 x dual-socket Intel CPUs, 64 cores per Array, 2.1 GHz | 768 GB |
Dell EMC Unity XT Unified Storage arrays use Intel Xeon processors to implement an integrated architecture for block and file.
The following table lists the processors and memory for each Dell EMC Unity XT Unified Storage array:
Storage array | Processors per array | Memory |
380F/380 | 2 x Intel CPUs, 12 cores, 1.7 GHz | 128 GB |
480F/480 | 2 x dual-socket Intel CPUs, 32 cores, 1.8 GHz | 192 GB |
680F/680 | 2 x dual-socket Intel CPUs, 48 cores, 2.1 GHz | 384 GB |
880G/880 | 2 x dual-socket Intel CPUs, 64 cores, 2.1 GHz | 768 GB |
Dell EMC Unity XT storage arrays contain the DPE that houses the redundant SPs and integrated drive slots for 25 6.35 cm (2.5 in.) drives.
The DAEs contain individual disk drives in the following configurations:
Each storage processor contains dual socket CPUs and Three to four DDR5 DIMM slots, depending on the model. An internal battery backup unit (BBU) is also included.
The SP for the Dell EMC Unity XT 380/380F storage arrays has the following connectivity components:
Components |
|
380/380F | 2 integrated, 1 GbE BaseT ports (RJ45) for management and service |
2 integrated, 10 GbE BaseT ports (RJ45) for front-end connectivity | |
2 integrated, CNA ports (SFP+ or Twinax) (10 GbE optical and 16 Gbps FC) | |
2 integrated, 12 Gbps SAS ports for DAE connections | |
2 slots for additional IOMs (SLICs) | |
480, 480F, 680, 680F, 880, and 880F | 2 integrated, 1 GbE BaseT ports (RJ45) for management and service |
2 integrated, 12 Gbps SAS ports for DAE connections | |
Optional 4-port mezzanine card for front-end connectivity: | |
Two slots for additional IOMs (SLICs) |
The integrated Ethernet ports and the Ethernet IOMs supply NAS to associated hosts for file system access. The SPs run virtual NAS servers for file sharing. The optional mezzanine card or Ethernet IOMs supply NAS to associated hosts for file system access. The SPs run virtual NAS servers for file sharing. VxBlock System 1000 uses the 10 GbE or 25 GbE optical option for NAS usage.
The following table shows capacity and performance of the Dell EMC Unity XT storage arrays:
Component | 380 and 380F | 480 and 480F | 680 and 680F | 880 and 880F |
Processors | 12 cores, 1.7 GHz | 32 cores, 1.8 GHz | 48 cores, 2.1 GHz | 64 cores, 2.1 GHz |
Memory | 128 GB | 192 GB | 384 GB | 768 GB |
Maximum drive count | 500 | 750 | 1,000 | 1,500 |
Bus expansion (x4 lane configuration) | N/A | 2x 4 Lane 12 Gbps SAS | 2x 4 Lane 12 Gbps SAS | 2x 4 Lane 12 Gbps SAS |
Bus expansion (x8 lane configuration) | N/A | 2 x 8 lane 12 Gbps SAS | 2 x 8 lane 12 Gbps SAS | 2 x 8 lane 12 Gbps SAS |
LUNs | 1,000 | 1,500 | 2,000 | 6,000 |
Pool LUN size | 256 TB | 256 TB | 256 TB | 256 TB |
File systems | 1,000 | 1,500 | 2,000 | 4,000 |
File system size | 256 TB | 256 TB | 256 TB | 256 TB |
Pools | 20 | 30 | 40 | 100 |
NAS servers | 90 | 128 | 129 | 256 |
Dell EMC Unity XT 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 XT Data at Rest Encryption (D@RE) prevents unauthorized access to 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 IOMs. The modules encrypt and decrypt drive data. D@RE supports all Dell EMC Unity XT drive types. D@RE offers external key management as a security option. If an entire Dell EMC Unity storage array, including drives, is lost or stolen, external key management prevents unauthorized access.
D@RE is enabled or disabled only during initial installation. D@RE is permanently enabled when the license file is installed and cannot be disabled. Installing the license on the storage array activates D@RE. If the license file does not include D@RE, D@RE is permanently disabled and cannot be enabled. D@RE does not support enabling encryption on non-D@RE enabled systems.
File storage
The following table lists internal and external shares:
Term | Description |
Internal shares or exports | Data from resources inside the VxBlock System 1000. Either VMware vSphere ESXi datastores or file system mounts for guest operating systems. |
External shares or exports | Data from resources outside of the VxBlock 1000. |
If there are enough Ethernet ports for separate LACP connections, the same array can provide internal and external file systems.
Create internal and external shares 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
The Dell EMC Unity All-Flash All-Inclusive Base Software package includes RecoverPoint. VxBlock Systems can include RecoverPoint for block storage configurations to provide continuous data protection and remote replication for on-demand protection and recovery. Dell EMC Unity XT storage arrays provide native support for synchronous and asynchronous remote replication.
RecoverPoint provides the following:
To implement RecoverPoint, add two or more RecoverPoint Appliances (RPAs) in a cluster to the VxBlock System. This cluster can accommodate approximately 80 MBps sustained throughput through each RPA. To ensure proper sizing and performance of an RPA solution, Dell EMC Systems Engineer must collect the following information:
Follow guidelines for FAST Cache and FAST VP on Dell EMC Unity XT Hybrid arrays.
FAST Cache
Use the following guidelines for FAST Cache:
FAST VP
Use the following guidelines for FAST VP:
Dell EMC Unity XT licenses include base and optional software.
The license for the management base software includes the following:
The license for the management optional software includes the following:
For more details on software licensing, contact your Dell EMC Sales Engineer.
The number of VxBlock System 1000 hosts that the Dell EMC Unity XT arrays support depends on the number of 16 Gbps FC ports available on each SP.
All host parallel ports are placed in port groups that contain four ports. Ports are spread across SPs, SAN fabrics, and IOMs for redundancy. Each port group supports a maximum of 64 hosts.
The following table lists the available ports for each storage array:
Storage array | Ports |
Dell EMC Unity XT 380 and 380F | |
Dell EMC Unity XT 480, 680, 880, 480F, 680F, and 880F |
Dell EMC Unity XT 480, 480F, 680, 680F, 880, and 880F require a four-port, 12 Gbps SAS backend IOM to reach the maximum drive count.
The following table lists the hosts that each storage array supports:
Array model | FC ports | Port groups | Supported hosts |
Dell EMC Unity XT 380 and 380F | 4 | 1 | 64 |
8 | 2 | 128 | |
12 | 3 | 192 | |
16 | 4 | 256 | |
20 | 5 | 320 | |
Dell EMC Unity XT 480, 680, 880, 480F, 680F, and 880F | 8 | 2 | 128 |
16 | 4 | 256 |