If you already have a SAN, the BladeSystem architecture offers redundant paths to high-performance Fibre Channel-attached storage. To reduce administration complexity, Virtual Connect Fibre Channel and Ethernet switches separate the server from LAN and SAN. Wire once, then add, move, replace and upgrade servers without affecting LAN or SAN connections.
For midsize businesses implementing a new SAN or looking to upgrade one, the StorageWorks 4400 Enterprise Virtual Array, or EVA, offers an easily deployed enterprise-class virtual storage array at an affordable price. For smaller environments, the StorageWorks Modular Smart Array family can be connected via Fibre Channel, iSCSI and serial-attached SCSI, known as SAS.
Consolidate islands of direct-attach file-based storage into more efficient shared storage through a SAN gateway. This blade server converts file-based data (e-mails, documents, photos, for example) into block-based data. This allows files servers to share storage via a high-performance Fibre Channel SAN.
Consolidate management, too. Both blade servers and storage devices can be managed, monitored and controlled through HP Systems Insight Manager and HP Storage Essentials software.
A blades infrastructure combines servers, storage, networking, power and cooling in a single enclosure, opening up new opportunities to improve your storage infrastructure. For example, you can connect servers that don't need full Fibre Channel speed to shared storage through iSCSI, using iSCSI hardware initiators and iSCSI target software for BladeSystem enclosures.
Enhance network and iSCSI performance, expand network capacity, and fine tune network bandwidth through HP Virtual Connect Flex10 technology. Virtual Connect Flex-10 lets you divide and fine-tune 10Gbps Ethernet network bandwidth at the server edge. Assign higher speeds for more critical tasks (such as storage I/O) and lower speeds for others.
Internal storage is a great option for small environments where blade enclosure real estate is readily available and capacity needs are small. Both direct attach and shared storage solutions are available inside the enclosure.
Add direct attach storage for an adjacent server blade the SB40c direct attach storage blade. It accommodates up to six hot-plug disks in any combination of SAS or SATA drives to provide up to 876 GB of additional storage capacity for a single server.
Data housed inside the enclosure, without SAN access, can be backed up with a tape blade. StorageWorks tape blades can back up an adjacent server, and they offer network backup protection for all data residing within an enclosure, as well.
The move from rack and tower servers to blade servers offers a multitude of benefits through shared power, shared infrastructure and cable reduction, not to mention less time spent managing multiple, disparate systems. It also offers an opportunity to create a more efficient, more easily managed storage infrastructure to match. Whether you select internal or external storage for your blades—or a combination of both—the common engineering heritage shared by HP blades and storage helps assure that every step, from initial connection to operation, is smooth and integrated.
