EMC VNX5500 - Overview

4 VNX5500 Hardware Information Guide
Overview
◆ For installation, adding, or replacing tasks, go to the VNX tasks section, and then
select the appropriate heading. For example, to download a PDF copy of the
VNX5500
Block Installation Guide
, go to Install VNX and follow the steps in the wizard.
◆ For server-related tasks, go to the Server tasks for the VNX5300, VNX5500, VNX5700,
and VNX7500 section, and then select the appropriate heading. For example, to
download a PDF copy of Adding or replacing hardware, go to Add or replace hardware
and follow the steps in the wizard.
Overview
The EMC VNX series implements a modular architecture that integrates hardware
components for Block, File, and Object with concurrent support for native NAS, iSCSI
1
(Internet Small Computer System Interface), Fiber Channel, and Fibre Channel over
Ethernet (FCoE) protocols. The VNX series is based on Intel Xeon-based PCI Express 2.0
processors and delivers File (NAS) functionality via two to eight Data Movers and Block
(iSCSI, FCoE, and FC) storage via dual storage processors using a full 6-Gb/s SAS disk
drive topology.
Benefits include:
◆ Support for File (CIFS and NFS), Block (FC, iSCSI & FCoE) and Object
◆ Simple conversions when starting with a VNX series Block only platform by simply
adding File services or starting with File only and adding Block services
◆ Support for both block and file auto-tiering with Fully Automated Storage Tiering
(FAST) for Virtual Pools (VP - FAST VP)
◆ Unified replication with RecoverPoint support for both file and block data
◆ Updated unified management with Unisphere
™
now delivering a more cohesive
unified user experience
The VNX5500 is a mid-range/mid tier storage platform. It offers Block, File, or Unified
Block and File services. These services consist of:
◆ Block-only—Includes a 3U disk processor enclosure (DPE), a 1U 1.2 KW standby power
supply (SPS), and 2U or 3U disk-array enclosures (DAEs) for holding hard disk drives
that are integrated to facilitate Fibre Channel, Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), and
iSCSI Block services to Windows
®
and UNIX
®
hosts.
◆ File-only—Adds the 2U Data Mover enclosure (DME) and 1U Control Station (CS) to the
3U DPE, 1U SPS, and 2U, 3U, or 4U DAEs to facilitate file services to CIFS/NFS clients.
◆ Unified Block and File—Uses the same hardware as the File-only configuration but
adds FC, iSCSI, and FCoE I/O connectivity to provide Block services to host
simultaneously so as to provide File services to clients.
The VNX5500 platform supports two types of 3U DPEs and three types of DAEs. The 3U
DPEs supported are a 15 drive 3.5-inch disk 3U enclosure (or DPE7) and a 25 drive
2.5-inch disk 3U enclosure (or DPE8). The DAEs supported are a 15 drive 3.5-inch disk 3U
enclosure (or DAE6S), a 25 drive 2.5-inch disk 2U enclosure (or DAE5S), and a 60 drive
1. iSCSI is a protocol for sending SCSI packets over TCP/IP networks.