The XtremIO Storage Array is an all-flash system based on a scale-out architecture. The system uses building blocks called X-Brick building blocks which are clustered together using an InfiniBand backbone Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) network. The system operation is managed using a stand-alone dedicated Linux-based server, called the XtremIO Management Server (XMS).
The XtremIO array architecture is specifically designed to deliver the full performance potential of flash, while linearly scaling all resources such as CPU, RAM, SSDs and host ports.
Due to its content-aware storage architecture, XtremIO provides:
The base component of the XtremIO storage array is the X-Brick. Each X-Brick consists of two redundant active/active storage controllers. The new multidimensional scalability of X2 enables you to scale up by adding as few as six SSDs at a time to a single X-Brick. You can also scale out with more X-Brick building blocks in any odd or even increments.
The management platform used to manage the XtremIO clusters is the XtremIO Management Server (XMS). The XMS is a VM deployed on the AMP-VX, AMP Central, or AMP-3S. It is not in the data path. An XMS can manage up to 8 XtremIO X2 clusters. X1 clusters can be managed from the XMS provided it is running version 6.0.1-30 or later.
The XMS controls and manages the system, including:
Models
X2 is enhanced with newer Intel CPUs and expanded memory to optimize performance and enable consistent submillisecond latency. XtremIO X2-R and X2-S X-Brick building blocks are available. X2-S is for use cases such as virtual desktops with lower capacity requirements and benefit highly from compression and deduplication. X2-R is for workloads that do not benefit from compression and deduplication. These applications require higher physical capacity such as databases.
The following table describes both X-Brick building blocks:
Number of X-Brick building blocks | 1–4 | 1–4 |
CPU | Intel® Xeon® processors 2 x 12 core 2.5 GHz Haswell 24 cores per controller (48 per X-Brick) | Intel® Xeon® processors 2 x 12 core 2.5 GHz Haswell 24 cores per controller (48 per X-Brick) |
Number of cores per controller/X-Brick/cluster | 24 / 48 / 192 | 24 / 48 / 192 |
Minimum number of storage controllers | 2 | 2 |
Maximum number of storage controllers | 8 | 8 |
Memory: per X-Brick options | 384 GB | 1024 GB |
Minimum FC ports (16 Gbps) per X-Brick | 4 | 4 |
Maximum 16 Gbps FCs per cluster | 16 | 16 |
DAE quantity and speed | four 12-Gbps SAS, 72 drives | four 12-Gbps SAS, 72 drives |
DAE SSD sizes | 400 GB/1.92 TB | 1.92 TB/3.84 TB |
Maximum SSD drives per X-Brick | 72 | 72 |
Minimum SSD enclosures | 1 | 1 |
Maximum SSD enclosures | 4 | 4 |
Maximum Ethernet port for management (10 Gbps) | 2 | 2 |
Maximum InfiniBand switches | 2 | 2 |
InfiniBand switches | 12 ports (56 Gbps) | 36 ports (56 Gbps) |
Describes the features of XtremIO X2 storage.
XtremIO X2 includes:
Each X-Brick is composed of:
Each Controller includes:
Describes the relationship between hosts, FC ports, and X-Bricks.
The number of VxBlock System 1000 hosts that are supported by the XtremIO X2 arrays depends on the number of X-Bricks in the cluster.
Each X-Brick contains four 16 Gbps ports and each host should connect to at least four ports in the cluster.
The host ports are spread between storage controllers, X-Bricks, and SAN fabrics for redundancy.
Each group of four ports can support a maximum of 64 hosts in line with Dell EMC standards.
The following table indicates the number of hosts that are supported by X2 arrays:
Scale-out architecture
An XtremIO storage system can include a single X-Brick or multiple X-Bricks. Both the X2-R and X2-S support up to four X-Bricks
With clusters of two more X-Bricks, XtremIO uses two redundant 56 Gbps InfiniBand HCA ports for an ultralow latency back-end connectivity between storage controllers. The X2-S includes a 12-port InfiniBand switch while the X2-R includes a 36-port InfiniBand switch for future expansion.
Scale-up architecture
More capacity can be added to an existing configuration without adding compute resources. The minimum number of drives in a DAE is 18. Afterwards disks can be added in packs of 6 until a total of 36 are reached. After 36 have been added, the next disk addition must include 18 additional disks for a total of 54. Afterwards, disks may again be added in packs of six until the DAE is full at 72 disks.
XtremIO Virtual Copies (XVC) are created at a particular point in time, allowing users to access the data when needed, even when the source volume has been changed.
VPLEX VS2 and VS6 are supported.
RecoverPoint Gen6 is supported.
