NAS type of Solution
Currently we have a EMC NS600 in which is being replaced however we are running into a few minor barriers. Mostly being we are not sure which solution to go with for storage.
We run a smallish shop where 3D models and terrain databases are being stored. My Users currently pull there projects off our NAS, work on them at their local workstations, and then save the projects and put them back on the NAS. The projects regularily are up to a TB in Size and will be accessed a lot for a few weeks then forgotten for months maybe years at a time then to go through the process again.
More or less our current unit is fine with the exception that we are not able to expand the unit due to EMC's unwillingness to support the older hardware. We have been Looking into EMC, Dell and Netapp options and to be frank... most the sales people are throwing things at us and talking about the latest and greatest when all we really need is a large enough storage system in which could offer snapshots,possibly dedupe and easily managed.
Since our current Infrustructure only allows for 1GBE we are figuring that 7.2k RPM hard drives would be sufficient.
We are looking around 30TB raw and in a raid 5 or 6 I am thinking that would be about 14 or 15 TB usable... guessing there so correct me if I am wrong.
So far we have been looking at a NETAPP FAS2040, A equallogic PS4000/ PS6500, and a EMC VNXe... I keep getting feeling they are sorta trying to sell us not only the Golden egg but the basket and the Goose that laid it.
We have ruled out Poweredge due to lack of snapshots and Dedupe and I am not even sure if Equllogic has Dedupe available. Also I noticed with the Equallogic we would need to dedicate a server to this for Clients to access the shares whare as with a EMC setup it would be done through a NAS controller from my understanding.
Also the Life Cycle on these things is of great concern. After owning our NS600 for 5 years we called them and asked for another blade to expand and they said "no"... they will not support the older hardware and we would need to buy a a new complete unit. I understand companies doing this but what I am looking for is something that will work with their older legacy units and not say "screw you" in five years.
Which Units would an Expert here at the exchange suggest and Why?
We run a smallish shop where 3D models and terrain databases are being stored. My Users currently pull there projects off our NAS, work on them at their local workstations, and then save the projects and put them back on the NAS. The projects regularily are up to a TB in Size and will be accessed a lot for a few weeks then forgotten for months maybe years at a time then to go through the process again.
More or less our current unit is fine with the exception that we are not able to expand the unit due to EMC's unwillingness to support the older hardware. We have been Looking into EMC, Dell and Netapp options and to be frank... most the sales people are throwing things at us and talking about the latest and greatest when all we really need is a large enough storage system in which could offer snapshots,possibly dedupe and easily managed.
Since our current Infrustructure only allows for 1GBE we are figuring that 7.2k RPM hard drives would be sufficient.
We are looking around 30TB raw and in a raid 5 or 6 I am thinking that would be about 14 or 15 TB usable... guessing there so correct me if I am wrong.
So far we have been looking at a NETAPP FAS2040, A equallogic PS4000/ PS6500, and a EMC VNXe... I keep getting feeling they are sorta trying to sell us not only the Golden egg but the basket and the Goose that laid it.
We have ruled out Poweredge due to lack of snapshots and Dedupe and I am not even sure if Equllogic has Dedupe available. Also I noticed with the Equallogic we would need to dedicate a server to this for Clients to access the shares whare as with a EMC setup it would be done through a NAS controller from my understanding.
Also the Life Cycle on these things is of great concern. After owning our NS600 for 5 years we called them and asked for another blade to expand and they said "no"... they will not support the older hardware and we would need to buy a a new complete unit. I understand companies doing this but what I am looking for is something that will work with their older legacy units and not say "screw you" in five years.
Which Units would an Expert here at the exchange suggest and Why?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
tHANKS FOR YOUR INPUT
ASKER