IBM System Storage DS3950 Express

In a continuing effort to deliver storage solutions that are designed to provide low total cost of ownership, high performance, robust functionality, and unparalleled ease of use, IBM offers the IBM System Storage DS3950 Express. As part of the DS series, the DS3950 Express offers high-performance 8 Gbps capable Fibre Channel connections, optional 1 Gbps iSCSI interface for less demanding applications and lower cost implementation, up to 100.8 TB of SAS physical storage capacity, 224 TB of SATA physical storage capacity, and powerful system management, data management and data protection features. The DS3950 Express is designed to expand from workgroup to enterprise-wide capability with up to six Fibre Channel expansion units with the EXP395 Expansion Unit.

Highlights

• Next-generation 8 Gbps Fibre Channel interfaces enable infrastructure simplification
• Mixed host interfaces support (FC/iSCSI) enables SAN tiering
• Balanced performance well-suited for virtualisation/consolidation
• Reducing the cost of consolidation
• Support for intermixing FC/SATA/SAS drives enables cost effective tiered storage
• Trusted storage that protects and delivers your data when needed
• Flexibility to address wide range of storage needs
• Feature-rich management software that maximises utilisation and minimises storage TCO
• Key application certifications ensure confidence
• Centrally manage the DS series with the IBM System Storage DS® Storage Manager
• Support up to 112 disk drive modules with the attachment of six EXP395 expansion units

Manage data more effectively with IBM System Storage DS3950 Express

Optimised data management requires storage solutions with high data availability, strong storage management capabilities and powerful performance features. IBM offers the IBM System Storage® DS3950 Express®, designed to provide lower total cost of ownership, high performance, robust functionality, and unparalleled ease of use. As part of the IBM DS series, the DS3950 Express offers:

• High-performance 8 Gbps capable Fibre Channel connections
• Model 98H offers 1 Gbps iSCSI interface
• Up to 224 TB of raw physical capacity using 112 SATA 3.5-inch drives (2 TB) disk drives
• Powerful system management, data management, and data protection features

Achieve a lower total cost of ownership

Facing relentless data growth and shrinking budgets, companies continue to look for ways to reduce costs through efficiencies. The advent of 8 Gbps Fibre Channel allows companies to reduce the number of host bus adapters (HBAs) per server and the number of overall ports in their Fibre Channel SAN infrastructure without sacrificing performance, thus saving on both acquisition and operational costs.

Additionally, the DS3950 auto-negotiating 8 Gbps Fibre Channel interfaces allow it to seamlessly integrate into an existing 2 Gbps or 4 Gbps infrastructure, while providing the buyer with investment protection going forward when the SAN standard increases to 8 Gbps.

The design of the DS3950 avoids over-configuration for an affordable entry-point while offering seamless pay-as-you-grow scalability as requirements change. Its efficient storage utilisation lowers raw capacity requirements, and its support for intermixing high performance and high capacity drives enables enclosure-based tiered storage. These unique capabilities reduce the number of drives needed to meet performance and capacity demands; that means lower acquisition and operational expenditures.