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Servers and Storage Technology for the Adaptive Enterprise

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Issue 1/2006

Grand entrance, great performance

A grand entrance followed by a first-class performance – that’s SAS. In the few short years since its launch, Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) has been readily embraced as a flexible, cost-effective and standardised storage platform – and the benefits are set to continue.

Traditionally there was limited choice when it came to storage. Three systems dominated the landscape: Fibre Channel disk storage interface and parallel based Advanced Technology attachment (ATA) and Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI). All three had advantages, but they functioned as separate, exclusive platforms, which constrained their effectiveness.

Enter SAS. Introduced in 2003, SAS offers rugged, high performance storage suitable for enterprise requirements. The standard offers outstanding levels of scalability and flexibility for connectivity, data transport and data storage. SAS also has the key benefit of interoperability with lower-cost Serial ATA (SATA) technology devices. This brings a level of flexibility and storage cost savings not previously available in storage environments.

HP was a key driver in the development and adoption of SAS standards. The company was also the first vendor to bring out a storage array that could mix SAS and SATA technologies, and the leadership continues with the latest HP Storage Blades.

Hot-plug storage drives

SAS or SATA drives can be hot-plugged into a storage blade allowing storage technologies to mix in the HP BladeSystem c7000 Enclosure. Direct-attach SAS disk drives can be used for mission-critical and performance applications, while high-capacity SATA drives can be used for disk enhanced backup or non-mission critical reference data.

Ideal for use in Citrix Terminal service farms, branch offices where SAN is not feasible, for database applications storage or for local data storage, the direct-attach storage blade provides dedicated storage to an adjacent server blade. In total, they can occupy up to a third of the half-size slots within the enclosure. Both SAS and SATA devices are managed by a single graphic user interface for easy server setup and administration.

With the total volume of storage worldwide estimated to have grown to 457 petabytes in 2005, companies need all the innovative storage solutions possible. Flexible, cost-effective SAS technology will play a key role in this, so HP continues to develop further simple, effective storage based around the BladeSystem chassis.