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Location: The Dell PowerVault MD3000i
Discussion: MD3000i drive options and throughput
Keyword tags:
MD3000i SAS SATA Comparison
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msmolen msmolen |
MD3000i drive options and throughput
Dec 13 2007, 4:49 PM EST Hello, we are considering the MD3000i (HA version) for our initial SAN. The system will be running connected to a host that will have 2-3 virtual servers running our hosted application. The SAN will be responsible for storing the VM images, database content and document repository. I would like to know if you can mix and match two different drive types SAS and SATA on one platform (similar to EMC). I was thinking of using smaller, high speed drives in one LUN for the database and VM images, and higher capacity 1TB SATA drives for the document repository. Can anyone give me some basic advice and throughput guidance/specs related to the scenarios listed above? Should we just use high speed drives and avoid SATA? OR, can you mix and match? Or, could we purchase a second MD1000 unit and fill it with 1TB SATA drives (having the MD3000i using SAS)? Thanks! M. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
 dave_jaffe |
RE: MD3000i drive options and throughput
Dec 14 2007, 2:30 PM EST Mix away! Your idea to use SAS and SATA in a hierarchical fashion is excellent, as is using it for virtualization. If you are buying a new MD3000i today you're all set. If you purchased it earlier you may need to download the latest software and firmware from the Dell support site to support both SAS and SATA. Please let us know how your idea turns out! 3 out of 3 found this valuable. Do you? |
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dave_jaffe |
RE: MD3000i drive options and throughput
Dec 17 2007, 11:32 AM EST A few more points: SATA support was announced on 12/10 so if you bought your MD3000i before then you will need to go to support.dell.com and download the latest software and firmware. Also, I think you know this but a single RAID group must be all SAS or all SATA. 3 out of 3 found this valuable. Do you? |
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msmolen msmolen |
RE: MD3000i drive options and throughput
Dec 17 2007, 12:30 PM EST Dave, Thanks for the responses, this really helps! Forgive me if I missed this in the specs. Obviously, the limit is 15 drives in one unit--but is there a physical limit to the number of logical RAID groups in one MD3000i? If can foresee at least two RAID groups if I mix drives--but that made me wonder what the limit was. Also, is there any plan to support RAID6 (or is it already?--I seem to recall seeing 5 and 10). Finally, just a clarification to your first post regarding mixing drive types--I take it I can mix SAS and SATA in the same MD3000i...or did your use of the word "hierarchical" mean one MD3000 that might be config'd with SAS and then additional MD1000 units configured with SATA. I would like to start with one MD3000i (with mixed drives). Thanks again! Very helpful forum. Do you find this valuable? |
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dave_jaffe |
RE: MD3000i drive options and throughput
Dec 17 2007, 3:32 PM EST The limit is 256 virtual disks (logical RAID groups) per MD3000i. Current RAID levels supported are 0, 1, 5 and 10; I don't know about future support for 6. Sorry to confuse you with my choice of wording. Yes, you can mix SAS and SATA disks on the same MD3000i enclosure. I was using the word "hierarchical" to describe your concept of using SAS for the VMs and SATA for the documents. We see many customers doing this, building a hierarchy of storage where the faster (read: more expensive) storage is used where performance is required and slower, cheaper storage used where capacity, not performance, is the requirement. You may also see this referred to as "tiered" storage. 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you? |
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msmolen msmolen |
RE: MD3000i and Switch Choices
Jan 10 2008, 3:26 PM EST Hi Dave, Another question came up regarding the best choices for switches to use with the MD3000i. We were looking at Cisco and then we saw that Dell offers a specific switch for use (sort of bundled or added at ordering time if you choose it). Obviously, we expect you to say "Use Dell!", but our deeper question is: Is there any integrated software that comes with the MD3000i or the Dell switches that will make setup and management of the array easier or more transparent? I suspect the software that comes with the MD3000i will work with any of the current switches out there, but we were wondering if there was anything special that would add to the complete setup by using all Dell. Thanks again! 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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dave_jaffe |
RE: MD3000i and Switch Choices
Jan 10 2008, 6:30 PM EST Let me run that by our MD3000i engineers and get back to you. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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dzenz dzenz |
RE: MD3000i and Switch Choices
Jan 10 2008, 6:51 PM EST The MD3000i was designed to interoperate with industry standard switches and since iSCSI completely leverages Ethernet there is no iSCSI unique type of configuration required. The net is that the same software which is used to manage switches in a typical IP network can be used for iSCSI. The MD3000i Support Matrix does list switches that were validated with the storage array: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/md3000i/en/SUPPORTMATRIX/3000isupportmatrix.pdf Hope this helps. Dave 4 out of 6 found this valuable. Do you? |