Symmetrix VMAX series—a storage architecture purpose-built for the virtual IT environment
Driven by unrelenting data growth, storage platforms must efficiently scale to much larger capacities and higher performance, while leveraging the best of emerging technologies and reducing cost. The EMC Symmetrix VMAX system features a revolutionary Virtual Matrix Architecture ™ that builds upon the rich heritage of the Symmetrix multi-controller platform and extends the value of the Direct Matrix Architecture ® to deliver unprecedented performance, availability, and functionality at a reduced cost. The unique scale-out architecture of the Symmetrix VMAX system provides the foundation to scale to hundreds of petabytes of capacity, supporting thousands of servers, and millions of IOPS delivered to that capacity, all flexibly deployed throughout a virtual IT environment and able to be controlled through a single pane of glass.
The Symmetrix VMAX system architecture provides a Virtual Matrix ™ that can scale beyond the con- fines of a single system footprint. The core element of the Virtual Matrix is a Symmetrix VMAX Engine. VMAX Engines, which include cache, front-end connectivity, and back-end connectivity are the foun- dation of the Symmetrix VMAX system. The Virtual Matrix scales by aggregating up to eight VMAX Engines as a single system with fully shared connectivity, processing, and capacity resources.
Unmatched availability and information-centric security, built in
A revolutionary architecture and blazing performance are meaningless without uninterrupted information availability. Symmetrix VMAX systems come standard with non-disruptive everything. EMC’s philosophy has always been to anticipate whatever might disrupt information access and prevent it. Symmetrix VMAX systems take this philosophy to an even higher level.
The Enginuity operating environment offers unmatched availability and reliability with non-disruptive operations and upgrades—with no storage or application downtime. Add to this non-disruptive upgrades of EMC software applications, non-disruptive storage configuration changes, and non- disruptive serviceability—all designed to ensure your access to vital information is never in doubt— and your service levels are never compromised. Enginuity also features continuous monitoring and testing to ensure data integrity, as well as intelligent cache optimization and autonomous tuning of disk-read patterns to optimize application performance.
The Symmetrix VMAX system’s Enginuity operating environment is optimized for increased availabil- ity, reliability, performance, and capacity utilization on all tiers with all RAID types, reducing total cost of ownership (TCO) while achieving predictable service-level attainment. Enginuity forms the foundation for the EMC TimeFinder ® and Symmetrix Remote Data Facility (SRDF ® ) families, EMC Ionix™ ControlCenter ® , Symmetrix Optimizer, and tiered storage optimization. Enginuity supports a full complement of available EMC and ISV-supplied storage protocols and applications (including GDPS, TPF, and PPRC for mainframe environments) to meet virtually any business demand. Enginuity enables simultaneous connection to virtually all mainframe, UNIX, Windows, and Linux platforms—the most extensive connectivity choices in the industry—and all validated in EMC’s interoperability labs. The result: you can do whatever you want with your information, at any time, and with fewer staff and greater speed and efficiency.
Securing mission-critical enterprise data is of paramount importance to today’s enterprise. Enginuity provides the highest levels of data integrity with integrated technology from RSA ® , The Security Divi- sion of EMC, to deliver built-in security capabilities that make it easier to reduce risks to sensitive data and improve compliance efforts. The Symmetrix Service Credential, Secured by RSA, prevents unauthorized service actions on the service processor. Integration with RSA enVision ® provides auto- mated, policy-based audit log management across the enterprise. EMC Certified Data Erasure for Symmetrix disks eliminates exposure to data theft. The enhanced Symmetrix Audit Log provides a comprehensive, tamper-proof view of management and support actions.
At the system hardware level, EMC starts with the most reliable components available. Then we add 100-percent internal redundancy to ensure that no single fault can stop the flow of information. Multiple redundant power supplies connected to independent power sources provide additional protec- tion. Battery backup of all power systems ensures that all data in memory is safely written to disk before the Symmetrix array initiates an orderly shutdown in the event of complete power loss. Additional reli- ability features include permanent spares, compensative cooling, and extensive environmental monitor- ing. Before each Symmetrix VMAX system is shipped, it undergoes rigorous thermal, vibration, and operational checks to make sure it arrives fully functional in your virtual IT environment.
At the software level, advanced integrity features ensure your information is always protected and available. A choice of RAID 1 (mirroring), RAID 10, RAID 5 (3+1 and 7+1), and RAID 6 (6+2 and 14+2) protection enables you to apply the protection level most appropriate to the value and performance requirements of your information.
Symmetrix VMAX—highest performance and scalability
The Symmetrix VMAX array enables massive consolidation and incremental scalability, so you get all the benefits of tiered storage on one platform, as well as the flexibility to rapidly address the changing needs of your business. For the most extreme and demanding storage environments in the world, Symmetrix VMAX is a powerful solution that’s remarkably simple to manage. Symmetrix VMAX systems offer:
- Reduced cost and optimized service-level delivery via scale-out and tiering
- Deliver performance on demand, automatically optimize service levels in tiered environments, and scale storage capacities while reducing costs
- Management abstraction enables ease, speed, and automation
- Quick, easy, and automated provisioning of storage for virtual servers with a single action
- 24x7xforever application availability
- Eliminate unplanned and planned outages with fully non-disruptive operations and achieve zero data loss with extended-distance replication
Symmetrix VMAX systems are ideal for the most extreme application demands, such as where large-scale consolidation is required by the world’s most information-intensive enterprises. The revolutionary Virtual Matrix Architecture with its scalable performance and capacity provides the most configurable and flexible high-end storage array so that your enterprise realizes even greater ROI in your EMC investment.
Symmetrix VMAX system configurations
The Symmetrix VMAX series includes the Symmetrix VMAX SE configuration which provides an entry point into high-end storage. The Symmetrix VMAX SE delivers high levels of performance and avail- ability in a small footprint for open systems and mainframe environments. Symmetrix VMAX SE arrays are configured around an integrated system bay capable of holding up to 120 drives along with the addition of one adjacent storage bay to add an additional 240 disks for a total of 360 disks.
Symmetrix VMAX SE Series: High-End Entry Point
The Symmetrix VMAX SE configuration provides an entry point into high-end storage, delivering high levels of performance and availability in a small footprint for open systems and mainframe environments.
Symmetrix VMAX systems with the scale-out Virtual Matrix Architecture can be configured with 96 to 2,400 drives for a maximum capacity of up to two petabytes. Systems provide up to 1 TB of memory and up to 128 Fibre Channel ports, or 64 FICON ports, or 64 Gigabit Ethernet ports, or 64 iSCSI con- nections. Symmetrix VMAX series is a distributed multi-engine storage system that can non-disrup- tively scale from one to eight VMAX Engines. Systems are configured around a central system bay and adjacent storage bays of up to 240 disks each. You have a full range of drive options—from ultra-fast Enterprise Flash drives to the highest capacity 1 TB SATA-II drives available.
Symmmetrix VMAX arrays support the latest front-end connections with 8 Gb/s Fibre Channel and 8 Gb/s FICON ports.
Symmetrix VMAX systems are available in a wide variety of channel connection, processor power, global memory size, disk drive performance and capacity, and data protection combinations. Your sales representative can assist in determining which Symmetrix VMAX system is the most appropri- ate solution for your high-end storage needs.
