NetApp proudly exhibits fresh box
Solid entry leaves you wanting more
Regcast training : Hyper-V 3.0, VM high availability and disaster recovery
NetApp has updated its entry-level FAS2000 products with a new FAS2240 and a lower-priced entry-level array.
There were three FAS2000 arrays; entry-level 2020 (introduced Sep' 2007), mid-range 2040 (Sep 2009 intro), and high-end 2050 (Sep 2007 intro). The FAS2020 and 2050 systems go away. The previously mid-range FAS2040 has been made the entry-level, with the new 2240 coming in two versions above that. This refresh follows on from recent FAS2000 line revenue disappointments.
A FAS2240-2 has a 2U/24 x 2.5-inch SAS drive form factor with the 2240-4 having a 4U/24 x 3.5-inch HDD or SSD form factor enclosure. Both are dual-controller systems and have a maximum of 144 hard disk drives, but maximum capacities differ; 374TB for the 2240-2 and 432TB for the 2240-4. It looks to El Reg as if there is scope for a bigger 2240-4 specification, otherwise why have a 4U box with just 58TB more capacity than the 374TB 2U box?
Perhaps we're seeing space in the range for a 2260, a higher-end system altogether?
The FAS2040 can have up to 136 drives and 408TB in its 2U-12 drive form factor enclosure, in comparison to the 2240s. All capacities are raw by the way.
All three products support 8 Ethernet ports. The 2240s have 10GbitE support and four onboard SAS ports. The 2040 has just two onboard SAS ports and doesn't support ten gigE. All three support FCP, iSCSI, NFS and CIFS access. Fuller details are available here (pdf).
There is no mention of FlashCache support by the FAS2000 controllers.
NetApp says the 2240 "delivers two to three times performance improvement:" and has more flexibility. It runs Data ONTAP 8.1, the latest version of NetApp's FAS products operating system, with a near complete transfer of functions from the traditional (7-mode) ONTAP to cluster-mode, and is managed by OnCommand System Manager 2.0 claimed to let an IT generalist function as a (NetApp) storage administrator.
NetApp is not introducing anything spectacular here, the FAS2000 refresh being a solid upgrade of its entry-level line that leaves us thinking more is coming.
The now entry-level 2040 has had a price drop and systems start at under $7,500. All FAS2000s are orderable now. ®
COMMENTS
FC not native
Important to note that FC is an add-on for these new models. They have a "modular I/O slot" which allows you to add 2x 8Gb FC ports (or 2x 10GbE ports) per controller, but it's not included with the base model. By "default" they are file/iSCSI arrays, with 4x 1GbE ports per controller (not including management port).
The FAS2040 still comes with FC ports.
Still, under $7,500 is a good number to start at.
Refreshing
This is good stuff from NetApp. Probably the best low end unified array in the market. VNXe or IBM DS does not come close to this stuff. VNXe does not have FC or FCoe and IBM does not have a worthy low end. Love the fact 8.1 can run on these engines.
IT infrastructure monitoring strategies
Requirements Checklist for Choosing a Cloud Backup and Recovery Service Provider
Data control in the cloud
Cloud based data management
Enabling efficient data center monitoring
