'Transportable' external storage for ProLiant?

[raadek]

Hi all,

I am struggling to meet one of our customers’ requirement re external storage for ProLiant box.

Sounds simple, but it is not actually. For security reason they are after something which can hold 4 SCSI hard drives, but can be easily disconnected & taken to a safe room every evening. Hence the MSA30 is not an option - rack mounted and too bulky. On the other hand they are not happy to just pull out hot-pluggable 'internal' hard drives (for me it's the least complicated solution though).

I found some 'industry standard' external enclosures (e.g. http://www.lindy.com/uk/productfolder/02/20665/index.php), but the question is: will they be able to talk to Smart Array controller?

Did anyone come across similar solution?

Rgds

[Oleg Mochkin]

HP SCSI HDD have special firmware from HP with protocol extensions. So Smart Array controller work with that HDDs. May be SmartArray will work with HDD from other manufacturers, may be not. Only with HP HDDs and HP external enclosures you will have reliable operation.

[raadek]

Well, I roughly know that, but how about using non hot-plug HP drives in that enclosure?

Still the SCSI backplane would be non-HP, so it's a bit flimsy.

Did anyone actually try to do something like this?

Rgds

[Torsten.]

I did not really understand the need for "disconnect the storage and take it to a safe room every evening".
Why not install the equipment in a "safe room" and access it from outside?
If you need to install the server in a public place, you should use at least a closable/lockable rack.

[raadek]

Torsten,

It's a high security type of stuff.

The room with the server is sort of secure anyway (not a public place by any means!), but they want to keep their data overnight literally in a safe (i.e. box).

Rgds

[Torsten.]

You will decrease the computers safety when you power the system on. You will decrease it another time when you put a LAN cable in
;-)

There are also "server rack safes" on the market (fire and intruder proof) - you can install the computer in a real safe.

Could this be a solution?

[raadek]

For some wierd reason they want to roam with the data (whether it makes sense or not), so a safe rack / room doesn't help much.

Rgds