1 Making Removable RAID Disk Media A Reality Changing the World of Storage RXT Applications from SMB to the Enterprise Spectra Logic Corp. – Boulder, CO
2 HDDs as Removable Media HDDs have many inherent advantages: Performance (random access vs. sequential) Size Capacity Trends Cost Trends Interface Trends However, new HDD applications have been limited by: Fixed Configurations (static arrays) as secondary use Differentiation between Enterprise and other applications Perceived “robustness” for removable use Lack of appropriate architecture/standard for portable use
3 What has Changed to Make Removable Disk Feasible Now? Availability of Highly Reliable, High-Performance SATA Drives, particularly 2.5” FF for Mobile Use 900G Shock Protection (non-operating) 1,000K Hour MTBF 80GB per Spindle and moving to 100+ GB soon 80MB/sec Data Transfer Rate Simplified Serial Interface (SATA) with low Connection Count Rugged, Innovative Packaging & Controller Architecture Unique, shock-protected packaging for HDDs as removable media Unique Docking Station/Controller provides power, I/O & Data Formatting Embedded RAID Controller for high data integrity
4 Removable HDD Architecture – Putting the Pieces Together Shock Mount Off-the-Shelf SATA HDDs in a Portable Enclosure “TeraPack” Module Controller to Accept TeraPack Modules & Provide RAID Data Protection “Docking Station” “RXT” Architecture
5 What Is RXT?
6 What is the Application Opportunity? High-performance, high capacity, removable media for data protection, archiving and interchange. What are the Design Objectives for Portability? Provide best reliability and data integrity Provide a scalable architecture base Integrate both disk and tape seamlessly Provide multiple capacities and application configurations RXT Implementation
7 RXT Removable Disk Module (TeraPack) Contains Up to 12 SATA HDDs shock mounted in a “TeraPack” enclosure “Connector Array” provides interface for each HDD to the Docking Station No Power or Electronics contained in the TeraPack – Just HDDs Bar Coded for Data Set Management (manual or automated) Can be transported manually or through an automated library robotics environment
8 RXT Docking Station RXT Docking Station/Control Unit – enclosure with opening to accept RXT TeraPack media, providing power, control and RAID functions Provides Ultra-SCSI 320 I/F to host system Contains processor running own OS to manage all functions, including RAID Contains “pogo-pin” array to connect to RXT media pack (provides power, I/O, etc. to each drive in TeraPack) 5.25” Internal or External packaging. RXT from Spectra Logic RXT Internal Docking/Control Unit with RXT Media Loaded RXT External Docking/Control Unit with RXT Media Loaded
9 RXT Is True Removable RAID Unlike a traditional HDD RAID configuration, RXT is a fully enclosed array of HDDs that can be removed as a RAID unit for: Offsite storage High speed data exchange “Near-Line” storage in library automation In a Traditional RAID Array, individual component disks are removable, but the array (and the data) is “fixed”
10 800GB RXT MediaRAID Levels 0 and 1 (2) 3.5” 400GB SATA Disk Drives Lower Cost Targeted at Mid- Range applications 960GB RXT MediaRAID Levels 0, 1, and 5 (12) 2.5’” 80GB SATA Disk Drives High Performance Best Shock Protection Targeted at Enterprise applications RXT RAID Media Choices The RXT RAID TeraPack
11 RXT Media Evolution Current RXT Media options Configuration(2) 3 ½” SATA drives (12) 2 ½” SATA drives Capacity RAID Level 800 GB per TeraPack case 0, GB per TeraPack case 0, 1, 5 As SATA drives grow in capacity, cost effectiveness and performance, so will RXT media. 3 ½” media — greatest $/Terabyte value. 2 ½” media — highest throughput, capacity, data integrity and reliability
12 Comparison Chart - Removable Media
13 Traditional Data Protection and Archiving Fast, reliable back-up and restore Move off-line data, on-line rapidly Move off-site data to DR site for faster recovery Short-Term On-Line Archiving Complement Tape in automation applications Vertical Markets Defense/Security – Rugged, portable media for transport & high-speed access Video Broadcast – High capacity, performance access of large data sets Oil & Gas - Rugged, portable media for transport and interchange Service Providers – Portable media for archive, fast restore RXT Target Markets
14 The RXT Configurations & Applications RXT Standalone SMB Backups - environments too small for automation Disaster Recovery “Hot” Sites Media can be rotated exactly as tape High-performance removable storage for Vertical market applications Provides media interchange with automation applications RXT Standalone Docking Station & Media
15 RXT Configurations & Applications RXT with Server Backup individual servers directly to removable RAID More reliable than tape auto- loaders. High-performance removable storage for Vertical market applications Server, RXT Docking Stations, & Media
16 RXT Configuration & Applications RXT Rackmount 2U (3.5”) Rack-mountable unit 3 Devices, either RXT or Tape Drives Can be used independently, or in conjunction with the T120 tape library Simple device copy for D2D2T backups RXT Rackmount Docking Station & Media (Shown With Spectra T120 Library)
17 Tape/Disk Library Automation RXT Docking Stations and RXT Media are installed into existing drive bays and media storage chambers RXT Utilizes Existing Robotics, Interfaces, and Power Tape/Removable Disk can Co-exist in same library Removable HDD capacity scales from 960 GB to 90TB/Cabinet Transparent to backup application Storage Chambers Drive Bays RXT in the Enterprise T950
18 E/E Port Tape TeraPack RXT Docking Station TeraPack Media Chambers Tape and RXT Drive Bays RXT Disk TeraPack LTO2 Drive RXT in the Enterprise – T950 Automation
19 Servers Backup To Disk T950 With RXT and Tape 3. Copy RXT To Tape (Vaulting) 2. Export RXT For Off-site Storage 1. Leave Data On RXT For Fast Retrieval Once The Backup Is complete: OR Backup Operation in a T950 RXT in the Enterprise – Multiple Choices (Virtual Tape)
20 RXT/T950 - Enterprise Comparison Scaling Capacity and Performance
21 RXT – A New Approach to HDD Applications Portability True removable RAID media Shock and RAID protected Flexibility Wide range of configurations Scales to range of capacity and performance points Co-exist with Tape Range of Storage Application Environments Desk-top, Server-ready & Rack-mount for standalone applications Automation support for Enterprise applications Combines the Performance & Reliability of Disk with the Portability of Tape !