IBM N Series - Overview; Common Features

34 IBM System Storage N series Hardware Guide
4.1 Overview
Figure 4-1 shows the N7x50T modular disk storage systems, which provide the following
advantages:
򐂰 High data availability and system-level redundancy
򐂰 Support of concurrent block I/O and file serving over Ethernet and Fibre Channel SAN
infrastructures
򐂰 High throughput and fast response times
򐂰 Support of enterprise customers who require network-attached storage (NAS), with Fibre
Channel or iSCSI connectivity
򐂰 Attachment of Fibre Channel, serial-attached SCSI (SAS), and Serial Advanced
Technology Attachment (SATA) disk expansion units
Figure 4-1 N7x50T modular disk storage systems
The IBM System Storage N7950T (2867 Model E22) system is an active/active dual-node
base unit. It consists of two cable-coupled chassis with one controller and one I/O expansion
module per node. It is designed to provide fast data access, simultaneous multiprotocol
support, expandability, upgradability, and low maintenance requirements.
4.1.1 Common features
The N7x50T modular disk storage systems includes the following common features:
򐂰 High data availability and system-level redundancy that is designed to address the needs
of business-critical and mission-critical applications.
򐂰 Single, integrated architecture that is designed to support concurrent block I/O and file
serving over Ethernet and Fibre Channel SAN infrastructures.
򐂰 High throughput and fast response times for database, email, and technical applications.
򐂰 Enterprise customer support for unified access requirements for NAS through Fibre
Channel or iSCSI.
򐂰 Fibre Channel, SAS, and SATA attachment options for disk expansion units that are
designed to allow deployment in multiple environments. These environments include data
retention, NearStore, disk-to-disk backup scenarios, and high-performance,
mission-critical I/O intensive operations.
򐂰 Can be configured either with native disk shelves, as a gateway for a back-end SAN array,
or both.