HP StorageWorks 1500CS Modular Smart Array

[gwelsh]

looking to implement a disk staging solution for our backup environment, looking at teh MSA1500CS, ive a few questions

1. does the MSA1500CS have dual fibre ports, i.e. for redundancy, or would i need two controllers

2. do the MSA1500CS attach to MSA disk cabinets using SCSI or fibre?

3. any other tips

[Uwe Zessin]

1.) A single controller has one FC port, so for redundancy you need two controllers.

2) The disk drive interface is parallel SCSI. The MSA30 disk drive enclosure uses parallel SCSI disk drives. The MSA20 disk drive enclosure uses SATA disk drives - the conversion to parallel SCSI is done inside the MSA20.

[gwelsh]

ok,
so if were after redundancy
wed need an additional FC I/O Module in the MSA1500 (we already have a SAN infrastructure with redundant paths)
i thought it was fibre from the MSA1500 controller to the SATA array

the MSA1000 does it support SATA? (it is cheaper)

[gwelsh]

also, is out of the box cache on MSA1500 256MB?

[Steven Clementi]

"so if were after redundancy
wed need an additional FC I/O Module in the MSA1500" - Yes, you do.

"i thought it was fibre from the MSA1500 controller to the SATA array" Nope, it is SCSI

"the MSA1000 does it support SATA? (it is cheaper)" No, and it is not likely to.

"also, is out of the box cache on MSA1500 256MB" Yes.. See the quickspecs...

" http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/11945_na/11945_na.html " and look att he Family Comparison section.


Steven