IBM System Storage DS3500 Express

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Highlights

Includes 6 Gbps SAS systems to deliver midrange performance and scalability at entry-level prices
Provides built-in management expertise in intuitive and powerful storage management software
Provides investment protection and cost-effective backup and recovery with remote mirror across Fibre Channel and compatibility with DS5000 and DS4000
Provides relentless data security with full disk encryption and supports high performing SSD drives
Offers NEBS and ETSI compliance and support for 48 V DC power supplies

IBM has combined best-of-breed development with leading 6 Gbps host interface and drive technology in the IBM® System Storage® DS3500 Express®. With its simple, efficient and flexible approach to storage, the DS3500 is a cost-effective, fully integrated complement to IBM System x® servers, IBM BladeCenter® and IBM Power Systems™. Offering substantial improvements at a price that fits most budgets, the DS3500 delivers superior price to performance ratios, functionality, scalability and ease of use for the entry-level storage user.

DS3500 Express offers:

Scalability to midrange performance and features starting at entry-level prices.
Efficiency to help reduce annual energy expenditures and environmental footprint.
Simplicity that does not sacrifice control with the perfect combination of robustness and ease of use

Common features

Next-generation 6 Gbps SAS systems deliver midrange performance and scalability at entry-level prices
Data consolidation to ensure data availability and efficiencies across the organization
Energy saving implementations for cost savings today and tomorrow
The DS3500 meets the NEBS telecommunications specification requiring robust abilities and support for 48 V DC power supplies
Management expertise built into an intuitive and powerful storage management software
Investment protection and cost-effective backup and recovery with 16 remote mirror capability across Fibre Channel host ports and compatibility with DS5000 and DS4000
Mixed host interfaces support enables DAS and SAN tiering, reducing overall operation and acquisition costs
Relentless data security with local key management of full drive encryption drives
Drive and expansion enclosure intermix cost-effectively meets all application, rack and energy efficiency requirements
Support for solid-state drives, high-performance SAS drives, near-line SAS drives, SED drives
DS Storage Manager software
- Partitioning (128)
- IBM FlashCopy® (256)
- Volume Copy (255)
- Remote Mirroring through Fibre Channel host ports (16)

Hardware summary

Dual active, hot-swappable controllers
Four interface options—SAS, iSCSI/SAS, FC/SAS
- Four or eight 6 Gbps SAS ports
- Eight 8 Gbps FC ports and four 6 Gbps SAS ports
- Eight 1 Gbps iSCSI ports and four 6 Gbps SAS ports
- Four 10 Gbps iSCSI ports and four 6 Gbps SAS ports
Two 6 Gbps SAS drive expansion ports
Up to 192 drives—high performance and nearline (NL) SAS, SSD and SED SAS drives
EXP3512 (2U 12 3.5-in drive) and EXP3524 (2U 24 2.5-in drives) enclosures
- Enclosures can be intermixed behind a controller
1 GB cache per controller with 2 GB upgrade
- Mirrored, battery-backed, destaged to flash
Power and cooling module houses power supplies, redundant cooling fans
All primary components are hot-swappable CRUs and can be easily accessed and removed or replaced
DC-powered models available in enclosures for 24 drives of 2.5 in. (DS3524 and EXP2524)