Modular Hardware

A PS Series group can easily grow or shrink to accommodate workload requirements, so administrators purchase only the hardware they need when they need it. New product versions will fully interoperate with prior-generation arrays, protecting your initial investment.

Each PS Series array includes:

• No-single-point-of-failure hardware. Redundant, hot-swappable hardware components—disks, control modules, fans, and power supplies—provide the highest availability. Component failover and disk sparing occur automatically without user intervention or disrupting data availability. In addition, data in each array is protected with your choice of RAID technology.
• High-performance control modules. Each control module has three Gigabit Ethernet interfaces. You can configure multiple network interfaces for automatic failover. With dual control modules, data is mirrored across battery-backed write-back caches. If one control module fails, the other control module takes over—automatically and with no disruption to users.
• Support for standard Ethernet networks. Only one IP network connection is needed for array operation. You can configure up to three network interfaces for maximum bandwidth. There is no need to train administrators in unfamiliar and complex technologies like Fibre Channel. Also, costs are controlled due to the high volumes and intense vendor competition among Ethernet hardware vendors.
• Easy and online expandability. New arrays are guaranteed to work with older models, ensuring the viability of your initial purchase. You can expand SAN capacity with no disruption to users and application.
• Optional management connectivity through a serial port. A serial connection enables you to connect the array to a console or computer running a terminal emulator. This ensures that you can access a group if network connectivity is lost.
• High capacity SAS or SATA disk drives. Depending on your array control module type, you can install high-capacity disks to increase your storage potential.