FUJITSU ETERNUS for Business Continuity - ETERNUS DX90 disk storage & ETERNUS SF Express Remote Copy - synchronous and asynchronous storage-based replication

July 28, 2010

As vital IT infrastructure disk storage systems need to support business continuity and enable business data use and corporate decision making. They can only do this by fully securing all information assets. Today business continuity and availability are now even more important from a number of standpoints. These include regulatory compliance, global business expansion and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The new ETERNUS DX90, the largest available model in Fujitsu's entry-level disk storage range is designed to support disaster recovery configurations that best meet these requirements. Like ETERNUS DX60/DX80 disk storage systems, they offer highly scalable, reliable and high performance disk storage solutions at lower-cost.

This article will explain the features of the new ETERNUS DX90.

Disaster recovery configuration support

ETERNUS DX90 supports the optional "Remote Advanced Copy function" previously only supported on mid-range and enterprise class storage systems. This allows the copying of volumes between devices, either locally or over long distances. The use of the "Remote Advanced Copy function" in cooperation with ETERNUS SF Express (standard software with DX90) or ETERNUS SF AdvancedCopy Manager, enables volume copy between ETERNUS DX90 disk storage systems. This provides a mechanism that enables uncompromised business operation by ensuring data integrity is maintained at the backup center during and following any disaster situation that occurs at the main site.

Two copy methods are selectable; synchronous copy (*Note 1) and asynchronous copy (*Note 2). For data transfer between systems, high-speed and high-reliability fibre channel connection enables data to be transferred between the main and backup sites, up to 100km apart. In addition, using a fibre channel switch that supports the FCIP tunneling function (*Note 3), a wide area network (WAN) can be used. This enables safe preservation of copied data at locations over 100km from the main site using entry-level disk storage systems.

Backup operation using high-speed copy functions

All entry-level ETERNUS disk storage systems (DX60/DX80/DX90) support the "Advanced Copy function" that enables data replication, without need for server processor resources. A number of different copy creation methods are supported including: "Mirror Suspend", "Background Copy", and "Copy-on-Write". In ETERNUS Advanced Copy function terminology they are known respectively as "Equivalent Copy: EC", "One Point Copy: OPC", and "Snap OPC+".

EC is the function that creates, suspends and resumes copy of volumes within the system using synchronous and asynchronous methods; effectively creating and maintaining a mirrored copy.

OPC executes a full-volume copy each time it is evoked. Copying all the original data at any particular point in time enables creation of multiple data backup generations.

SnapOPC+ uses the technique of copying data before update. This typically reduces the size of the copy destination file. SnapOPC+ is supplied with 8 snapshot sessions (as standard). Using the GUI/CLI of ETERNUS SF Express these can be used to plan the required number of copy operations and perform function testing and training. Once a copy license is purchased, snapshots can be extended to 512 sessions with ETERNUS DX60 and 1,024 sessions with ETERNUS DX80/DX90.

Importantly, for continuity with existing site operation, ETERNUS DX60/DX80/DX90 are also certified for use with a wide range of backup solutions using other vendor products such as Symantec, CA, EMC.

State-of-the-art drives mean greener data centers

ETERNUS DX60/DX80/DX90 support low-power and lightweight 2.5 inch drives. A maximum of 24 2.5 inch drives can be mounted in each matching 2U height enclosure. This reduces the power and space use requirements by 50%(*Note 4) compared with using 3.5 inch drives.

In addition, ETERNUS DX60/DX80/DX90 can mix highly reliable and fast SAS disk drives, for business-critical data, with lower-cost and large capacity Nearline SAS disk drives, for backup and non-critical applications - all within the same drive enclosure. ETERNUS DX80/DX90 also support enterprise-class Solid State Drives (Enterprise SSD), further extending the available data management and information lifecycle options. This means, data can always be stored on the most appropriate media to meet the required service levels and operational requirement profiles. It also provides more exact choices in cost, processing speeds, access times, lifespan and ease of use. Enterprise SSD, due to its low energy consumption and outstanding performance/watt ratio, further reduce power consumption and space requirements in the data center.

ETERNUS DX60/DX80/DX90 offer top-class reliability

ETERNUS DX60/DX80/DX90 support non-stop operation by delivering system robustness and redundant hot-pluggable components. These include power supplies and fans, as well as RAID controllers.

Cache is also redundantly configured. This protects data in any cache failure situation, as data in cache is always mirrored. ETERNUS DX60/DX80/DX90 provide preventive failure monitoring by constantly diagnosing disk drive status. Data on disk drives found to be operating below optimum, can be automatically copied to a hot spare. This ensures stable operation and allows real-time drive exchange prior to total failure. Further, higher data integrity is assured by appending check codes to every data block and verifying data integrity at multiple checkpoints along data transfer paths.

The increased functionality of ETERNUS DX60/DX80/DX90 makes it much easier to flexibly respond to the ongoing issues of data growth, cost reduction, environmental impact minimization, and ensuring the highest levels of reliability.

Main features of ETERNUS DX60/DX80/DX90

- Fibre Channel, iSCSI and SAS host interfaces (DX90 and 2.5 inch drive type enclosures only support Fibre Channel host interfaces)
- Can mount up to 120 disk drives in 3.5 and 2.5 inch drive enclosures (24 with DX60)
- Non-stop robust operation and redundant hot-pluggable components
- Mix and match drive options for service level flexibility
- Flexible online data movement with RAID Migration
- Eco-mode support of drive spin-down for energy efficiency
- Proactive drive failure prevention with Redundant Copy
- High-end data security with Data Encryption
- Assured data integrity with Data Block Guard
- Safe data protection during power outages with battery-free Cache Protector
- Fast Fibre Channel data transfer at up to 8 Gbit/s (4 Gbit/s with DX60 and both 4 Gbit/s and 8 Gbit/s with DX80)
- Easy to install, configure, operate and maintain
- ETERNUS SF Express storage management software supplied as standard. Multiple ETERNUS DX60/DX80/DX90 systems can be managed using a single console. Operation can be monitored and managed via an intuitive display. Advanced copy function operation within or between disk storage systems is also managed via the same integrated management console.
- High backup environment integration with up to 1,024 snapshots (512 with DX60)
- Works with a wide range of host operating systems, servers, network infrastructures and backup solutions