EMC Unity Hybrid Flash: The Future of Scalable Storage in a Data-Driven World
Introduction to EMC Unity Hybrid Flash
EMC Unity Hybrid Flash arrays represent a step forward in scalable, flexible storage solutions designed to meet the demands of a data-driven market. By merging HDD and SSD storage media in novel ways, these arrays offer a cost-effective solution to businesses looking for scalable, high-performance storage solutions.
Key Features
- Unified Storage: Unity offers both block and file storage solutions within a single array.
- Hybrid Storage Approach: By combining HDDs and SSDs, Unity ensures both performance and cost-effectiveness.
- Data Efficiency: Inline deduplication and compression maximize storage efficiency.
- Cloud Integration: Integration with Dell EMC’s CloudIQ for analytics and cloud-tiering features.
- Ease of Use: Unified management console for simplified deployment and management.
Architecture
EMC Unity Hybrid Flash systems are built using a modular architecture that incorporates both hardware-level elements and software capabilities to deliver optimized storage solutions.
Hardware Elements
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Dual-Controller Design | High availability via active-active dual controllers, ensuring redundancies in data path. |
| Drive Bays | Configurable from a minimum of 6 drives up to a fully populated system of 500 drives. |
| SSD and HDD | Mix of SSDs for high-performance caching and HDDs for cost-efficient mass storage. |
Software Elements
- Operating Environment: Unity OS, enabling diverse protocol support including iSCSI, SMB, and NFS.
- Advanced Deduplication: Innovation in data reduction solidified by inline deduplication algorithms.
- Replication Services: Remote and local replication for robust data protection.
Functionality and Data Flow
Data flows through the Unity system using a multi-tiered approach to storage, leveraging both SSDs for performance and HDDs for storage capacity efficiency.
Cache Tiering
EMC Unity employs an intelligent data placement mechanism that promotes frequently accessed data to SSDs, while less frequently accessed data resides on HDDs.
- Incoming data is initially stored in the high-speed cache, utilizing SSDs.
- As data becomes infrequently accessed, it is automatically migrated to HDDs for long-term storage.
- Data required frequently is retrieved and cached again into SSDs, ensuring high-speed access.
Comparative Analysis with Competing Technologies
Comparing EMC Unity with competing technologies like NetApp FAS and HPE Nimble yields insights into the strengths and weaknesses of each.
| Feature | EMC Unity | NetApp FAS | HPE Nimble |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol Support | iSCSI, SMB, NFS | iSCSI, SMB, NFS, FCP | iSCSI, SMB, NFS |
| Data Efficiency | Inline deduplication and compression | Inline and post-process deduplication | Variable block-level compression and deduplication |
| Management | Unified console | OnCommand System Manager | InfoSight for predictive analytics |
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strengths:
- Hybrid approach balances cost and performance effectively.
- Easy integration with cloud services.
- Unified management simplifies administration.
- Weaknesses:
- May not be the best solution for entirely latency-sensitive applications.
- Less cost-effective than purely HDD solutions for bulk storage with lower performance needs.
Use Cases
Unity Hybrid Flash systems are widely applicable in scenarios requiring a balance of performance, flexibility, and cost-efficiency.
Example Use Case: Media and Entertainment Industry
- Requirement for high-speed data access for video editing while maintaining cost efficiency for archival storage.
- Unity Hybrid Flash provides the necessary performance for real-time editing with SSDs, while archived projects are stored on cost-effective HDDs.
Example Use Case: Healthcare Data Management
- Application in managing large volumes of patient data with a need for both quick access and secure, extensive storage.
- The hybrid solution allows healthcare providers to store active patient records on SSDs for rapid access and older records on HDDs.
