HP Server + Storage

[Steve_3]

Currently we are connecting our HP server to an EMC storage. Management decided to get rid of EMC. I was wondering what kind of storage you have in your shop? Compaq? Shark? Others?
Please let me know what you are using and the kind of performance you are getting.

Thanks,
Steve

[Sandip Ghosh]

I don't know the amount of storage you are using, but fc60 is a good one you can consider or you can go for VA7400 .

Sandip

[Jordan Bean]

We're still happy with our EMC Symmetrix 8430 and 3430. What do you have: Symmetrix, Clarion, Celerra? Why is your management tossing it? Have you concidered going with HP's XP line?

[Steve_3]

We have 2 Symmetric 3400. Cost...

[Roger Baptiste]

hi,

Any reason for getting rid of the EMCs?? They are good reliable servers.

If you want to replace EMC, a reasonable substitute would be XP512 or XP256 (both are high end array storage from HP).

I have both EMC and XP storage. They are a sort of standard in the HP-ux world for a high range of arrays with capacities running into terabyte(s).


-raj

[harry d brown jr]

Currently we have four symmetrix's SRDF'd (two per location). And soon, when new datacenters are built, we will have an EMC SAN with connectrix and NAS at both (five symm's per data center). And probably EDM to back them up.

If you just need a lot of storage with some raid capabilities - without the need for remote mirroring, then the VA7400 is the choice in my mind (what a small mind it is). THe VA7400 is easy to operate and configure.

live free or die
harry

[Konrath]

First of all I would critisize your managements decicion. You can't save money by replacing EMC with HP XP512. If they think HP storage is better you should change to HP. But to save real money, you have to study the storage market. There are much cheaper solutions. But who would run the risk of problems? Who does the support?

[Kenny Chau]

Please go to this link for information:

http://forums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,,0x40908cc5e03fd6118fff0090279cd0f9,00.html

Regards,
Kenny.

[Vincent Fleming]

I see you have received many varying opinions as to what you should choose for storage... Here's a few pointers to help you pick something:

1. If you require remote mirroring or true zero-downtime operation, then you should be looking at Enterprise Storage. There are only 2 solutions supported by HP (in a zero-downtime environ, it's important to get something supported) - they are HP XP series and EMC Symmetrix series arrays.

2. If you don't require remote mirroring, and can stand some downtime once in a while (not that it would fail, but for maintenance), then you can use midrange storage devices. The only supported midrange storage on HPUX is HP storage (sorry). Support is less of an issue if you're not 7x24, though. I would not suggest FC60 (they're being discontinued soon), so it's the VA series, such as the VA7400. There are literally dozens on options from other vendors, but your HPUX support will suffer. Other vendors include EMC Clariion, Compaq StorageWorks, HDS 9200, etc.

Chances are, HP can save you money with XP's vs. EMC Symmetrix. HP's maintenance is much cheaper in the long run, the performance is better, and you never have a bin file charge (there are no bin files!) Generally, HP will be very competitive when competing with EMC, and they'er just dying to gain back your disk business at EMC's expense.

As for the midrange, the VA7400 really is very easy to setup and maintain, and delivers very god performance.

I hope this helps...

Good luck!

[Steve_3]

Thanks for everyone's input.

Steve