Dell Adds 6G-bps SAS to SMB Storage Lineup

Dell on Jan. 14 said that it has enhanced its front-line PowerVault storage portfolio with new 6G-bps SAS-connected arrays that are aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises and corporate branch offices.
The new PowerVaults are designed for users who want to expand their server-based storage networks or for those seeking an alternative to a more complex storage area network, Dell said.
“We’ve been talking about 6Gb and testing it for a long while,” Dell Senior Storage Manager Howard Shoobe told eWEEK. “As you know, Dell isn’t a believer in vaporware. So this is integrated, tested and differentiated. It goes end-to-end and is internal to our servers, as well as our JBOD [just a bunch of disks] solutions.”
Highlights of this launch, Shoobe said, include double I/O performance (3G to 6G bps) of current standard arrays, keeping pace with server technology; redundant path with automatic I/O load balancing; deployment flexibility; and high scalability. In addition, it is delivered as an integrated and tested solution.
Included in the release are three new PowerEdge RAID controllers-PERC H200, H700 internal and H800 external-and two PowerVault expansion enclosures-MD1200 and MD1220.
The 2U PowerVault MD1200 features bays for 12 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch drives; supports nearline (7.2K), 10K- and 15K-rpm hard drives and/or SAS solid-state disks; includes support for self-encrypting drives; and can be expanded to support up to eight enclosures (or 96 drives). It utilizes the PERC H800 controller.
The 2U PowerVault MD1220 array can hold 24 small-form factor (2.5-inch) drives; supports nearline (7.2K), 10K- and 15K-rpm HDD and/or SAS SSDs; expands to support up to eight enclosures (or 192 drives); and requires the PERC H800 controller.
The new storage arrays and controllers are available now. More information can be found here.