Maximize Uptime and Performance with EMC Unity Hybrid Flash Solutions
Introduction to EMC Unity Hybrid Flash Technology
EMC Unity Hybrid Flash storage arrays are designed to balance performance, scalability, and affordability by integrating flash drives with traditional disk drives. This hybrid architecture offers an innovative solution to the growing demand for high-speed data access within an economically feasible framework. Unity Hybrid Flash is engineered to maximize storage efficiency and performance while providing various features like automated tiering, data protection, and cloud integration.
Key Features of EMC Unity Hybrid Flash
- Automated Storage Tiering: The system automatically moves frequently accessed data to faster storage tiers while relegating cold data to lower-cost, high-capacity storage.
- Unified Storage Platform: Offers multiprotocol support, including file-based (NFS, SMB), block-based (iSCSI, FC), and VMware integration.
- Data Protection: Provides robust RAID protection, synchronous and asynchronous replication, and snapshots.
- Cloud Integration: Seamlessly connects to public clouds for data archiving, backup, and disaster recovery.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | Dual Intel Xeon CPUs |
| Memory | Up to 768GB RAM |
| Flash and Disk Capacity | Flash: Up to 150TB; Disk: Up to 2PB |
| Connectivity | Unified (NAS/iSCSI/FC) |
| Deduplication and Compression | Inline deduplication and compression to optimize storage efficiency |
Architecture and Data Flow
The Unity architecture leverages a modular design, integrating dual controllers in an active/active configuration to ensure high availability and performance. Data flows through the system start when it is received by one of the dual controllers, which then direct it based on its access frequency and latency requirements:
- Data Ingestion: Data is first received by the FC/iSCSI interfaces and routed through the active controller for initial processing.
- Data Tiering: Synchronous tiering engines assess data based on pre-defined policies and user access patterns.
- Data Placement: Frequently accessed data is stored on SSDs to meet latency requirements, while less active data is moved to higher-capacity HDDs.
- Data Retrieval: On data request, the system first checks SSDs for low latency access. Misses within the SSD drive data retrieval from HDDs.
Key Competitors and Comparative Analysis
When compared to similar devices from companies such as NetApp and HPE, Unity Hybrid Flash offers unique benefits:
- Cost Efficiency: Compared to NetApp’s FAS series, Unity provides a more cost-effective solution by focusing on a balanced approach to performance and capacity.
- Integration Capabilities: Provides better integration into multiprotocol environments than HPE’s Nimble hybrid arrays.
Nonetheless, Unity Hybrid Flash systems do have limitations, such as:
- Maximum Flash Volume: Limited flash-tier capacity compared to some all-flash solutions.
- Entry into High-End Markets: Might not cater efficiently to extreme-end market demands where all-flash solutions dominate.
Examples and Use Cases
Unity Hybrid Flash solutions are deployed across various industries:
- Financial Services: A bank uses Unity Hybrid for balancing data access speed with budget constraints in a backup and restore environment.
- Healthcare: Hospitals deploy these systems for storing a mix of fast-access patient records and long-term data archiving.
- Education: Universities use them for scalable, cost-effective storage of research data and student records submission systems.
Each use case leverages Unity’s balanced performance and capacity to address specific industry challenges effectively.
