Data Storage Appliance offers scalable capacity to 84 TB.
Press Release Summary:
Available in single- and dual-node versions, System Storage(TM) N5500 appliance supports entry-level and midrange customers requiring network attached storage, iSCSI, and Fibre Channel Protocol function protocols. Dual-node Model A-20 supports failover and failback functions. Providing up to 8 GB ECC memory and 1 GB NVRAM, Model N5500 supports EXN1000 SATA storage expansion unit as well as EXN200 Fibre Channels storage expansion unit.
Original Press Release:
IBM System Storage N5500 Offers Midrange Network Attached Storage
The N5500 is a storage solution designed to provide NAS, FCP, and iSCSI function for entry and midrange environments. The N5500 appliance offering includes:
Single-node Model A10, upgradeable to the Model A20
Dual-node, clustered Model A20, designed to support failover and failback function to help improve overall reliability
Support for Network File System (NFS), Common Internet File System (CIFS), Fiber Channel Protocol (FCP), and iSCSI protocols
IBM System Storage N5500 with Data ONTAP (at no charge), with additional function such as business continuance, available through optional licensed functions
Scalability up to 84 TB of physical capacity through the attachment of up to 24 EXN expansion units
Support for attachment of both Fibre Channel (EXN2000) and Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) (EXN1000) disk expansion units
For ordering, contact:
Your IBM representative, an IBM Business Partner, or IBM Americas Call Centers at 800-IBM-CALL (Reference: YE001).
Overview
The IBM System Storage(TM) N5500 appliance is available in both single-node and dual-node versions. The N5500 is designed to:
Support entry-level and midrange customers requiring Network Attached Storage (NAS), Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI), and Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP) function
Support NFS, CIFS, FCP, and iSCSI protocols
Support up to 8 GB of ECC memory
Support up to 1 GB of non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM)
Deliver scalability up to a physical storage capacity of 84 terabytes (TB)
Support for attachment of both Fibre Channel (EXN2000) and Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) (EXN1000) disk expansion units
Offer high-availability options
The N5500 appliance offering includes the Model A10, a single-node base unit, and the Model A20, a clustered, high-availability, dual-node base unit. Both models are designed to provide fast data access and simultaneous multiprotocol support with low maintenance requirements. The Model A10 is upgradeable to the Model A20. Additional functions, such as snapshot, compliance, mirroring, and business continuance capability, are available through optional licensed functions.
The N5500 appliance supports both the EXN1000 SATA storage expansion unit, as well as the EXN2000 Fibre Channel storage expansion unit. There are no disk drives included in the base N5500 unit. Physical capacity can be scaled to up to 84 TB with the attachment of up to 24 IBM System Storage N Series EXN expansion units. The EXN1000 storage expansion unit comes fully configured with 14 disk drives of 250 or 320 GB capacity. The EXN2000 storage expansion unit comes fully configured with 14 disk drives of 72 GB, 144 GB, or 300 GB storage capacity.
EXN1000 SATA storage expansion units must be on separate fibre channel loops from the EXN2000 FC storage expansion units.
Key prerequisites
The IBM System Storage N5500 requires FC, NFS, CIFS, or iSCSI protocol function on one or more host N5200 servers.
Planned availability dates
December 9, 2005
March 31, 2006: Model and feature conversions
