EMC VNX5700 - Overview

6 VNX5700 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
VNX5700
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,
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.
The VNX5700 platform is a high-end/mid-capacity storage platform. It offers Block, File, or
Unified Block and File services. These services are composed of:
◆ Block-only—Includes a storage processor enclosure (SPE), a 1U 1.2 KW or a 2U 2.2 KW
standby power supply (SPS), and 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 Data Mover enclosure (DME) and Control Station (CS) to the SPE,
SPS, and DAEs to facilitate File services to CIFS/NFS clients.
◆ Unified Block and File—Uses 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 VNX5700 platform supports three types of DAEs; a 15 drive 3.5-inch disk 3U
enclosure, a 25 drive 2.5-inch disk 2U enclosure, and a 60 drive 2.5- or 3.5-inch disk 4U
enclosure. Expansion of up to a combination of one 3U DAE and eight 4U DAEs (a
maximum of 495 disk drives), thirty-three 3U DAEs (a maximum of 495 3.5-inch disk
drives), or up to twenty 2U DAEs (a maximum of 500 2.5-inch disk drives) is possible.
As an high-end/mid-capacity storage platform offering Block, File, and Unified services,
the VNX5700 (Figure 1 on page 7) is one of the five models that make up the VNX series.
For a quick look at the VNX5700 platform hardware features, see Table 1, “VNX5700
hardware feature quick reference,” on page 13.
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