The ActiveRAID ES represents a new standard in affordable high performance RAID storage for Apple users.
The ActiveRAID ES is the affordable high performance RAID storage solution for Apple users. Active Storage designed ActiveRAID ES using the same principles of the original ActiveRAID, while achieving a previously unobtainable level of value by providing the capabilities of the ActiveRAID in a lower cost configuration that does not sacrifice the performance, reliability or ease of management. The ActiveRAID ES was carefully designed for use in business critical applications where organizations require a high level of data integrity with ease of installation and management.
The ActiveRAID ES provides redundant power, redundant cooling and redundant Fibre Channel connections, and the same powerful, yet easy to use management suite of the original ActiveRAID. The ES differs from the original ActiveRAID in that it has a single high performance RAID controller and uses business class hard drives with a smaller cache size. This results in a very robust RAID solution ideal for business class applications.
Performance of the ActiveRAID ES is an impressive 800MB/s throughput and will easily handle most Mac OS X Server applications. The ActiveRAID ES is the ideal storage for business class applications such as File serving, database services, web hosting, calendar, Wiki, Mail, iChat and much more. The ActiveRAID ES is also ideal as archive storage device for near-line and Disk-to- Disk backup of the ActiveRAID or other Enterprise Class storage. Its speed and ease of management make it the perfect choice in tiered storage environments.
LIGHTWEIGHT RAID KERNEL
The Linux operating system provides a stable environment for the Active Storage RAID kernel and allows Active Storage to finely tune the system’s performance while taking advantage of a world-class TCP/IP networking stack and 128-bit SSL security. The lightweight RAID kernel maintains a small memory footprint for fast execution, and is enhanced with hardware accelerated X-OR calculation. This hardware/software combination gives the ActiveRAID ES excellent storage performance in all parity RAID levels.
The Active Storage RAID kernel has been specifically tuned to deliver maximum RAID 5 and RAID 6 performance. When running in single controller mode, the kernel provides a more balanced write to read ratio, as the system does not require cache coherency to be maintained. Latency and small file performance are improved in most operations such as database look-up and file serving. The system delivers excellent performance while guarding against any data loss by utilizing hardware-accelerated parity RAID. Dual 4Gb Fibre Channel ports on the RAID controller deliver near “line speed” performance, and support Apple multi-pathing and load balancing when using multiple LUNs.
FAULT TOLERANCE
The ActiveRAID ES is a true business class fault tolerant RAID system. Each active component in the system is field replaceable and in most cases hot swappable. All mechanical components such as cooling modules and hard drives are redundant and hot swappable, guarding against the most common downtime causing failures found in lowcost RAID systems today. This design also provides excellent time to repair in the field. Like the original ActiveRAID, system power is provided by industry standard dual redundant and fully load sharing, hot swappable power supplies. A power distribution network built into the system controls the power supplies. The Active Storage design is far more sophisticated than other systems in this price range. The power supplies are integrated into the system design in order to allow trickle power for remote turn on, shutdown, and restart. This design also allows a soft power system, which provides cache flush and proper shutdown at the power switch, preventing back-up battery drain and providing the best insurance against data loss due to improper shutdown. This also guards against unintended operator error.
The SAS expansion port on the RAID controller offers a dual, bi-directional 3GB/s throughput speed allowing the secondary expansion system to provide full-speed operation when connected to a primary RAID system. The Primary and Secondary expansion systems work together seamlessly to provide optimal performance and low-cost expansion, all with simplified user interaction like the original ActiveRAID.
The optional battery backed RAID controller cache system employs a sophisticated charging circuit designed specifically for the needs of the ActiveRAID and not an off-the shelf design as deployed by many of competitors. The charging circuit maintains the highest level of charge while constantly conditioning the battery. This prevents the common and often less than adequate number of hours of protection seen in some other systems, especially after months or years of operation. The ActiveRAID ES with the optional battery back up module will maintain your data in cache for a minimum of 72 hours. The ActiveRAID ES constantly monitors the battery condition and state providing early warning, and will even suggest replacement when necessary.
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIPS
Active Storage maintains relationships with all popular Fibre Channel infrastructure vendors to ensure Interoperability and best performance. Active Storage is currently partner with QLogic, Brocade, Cisco, ATTO Technology, LSI Logic, and Emulex. Active Storage continually tests and monitors conformance and compatibility with critical infrastructure partners.
The exceptional affordability of the ActiveRAID ES makes it ideal for tiered storage environments where it will provide high-capacity, low cost storage in tertiary tiers behind larger enterprise storage systems, or ActiveRAID systems. Active Storage works closely with BakBone, Atempo, Archiware, and Solutioneering to provide ILM, software backup and archive software solutions. We also work with tape library manufacturers to ensure compatibility with their products.
MODERN STORAGE MANAGEMENT MADE EASY
Active Storage set the standard for ease-of-deployment and monitoring of self-contained RAID systems for Media and Apple users by developing the worlds first Native Mac OS X storage management suite.
In our quest to deliver the best experience possible, we introduced the first iPhone Storage Monitoring App.
Once again we are re-inventing the ease of management by bringing our ActiveRAID storage managements suite to Windows. Same familiar look and feel, same ease of use.
The Apple XserveRAID set the high-water mark for storage management on Mac OS X. Other RAID systems with clunky Windows Explorer-like browser based interfaces, difficult to use command line interfaces and even cryptic LCD displays seemed antiquated and out of place, and more importantly not particularly Apple-friendly. At Active Storage, we knew we could do better—and only Active Storage has it.
ACTIVERAID ES PERFORMANCE
The ActiveRAID ES was designed by Active Storage to deliver best in class price performance in common Mac IT environments. The ActiveRAID ES is a solid performer delivering excellent overall performance in Mac OS X server applications, and is well suited the average business class deployments such as Mac OS X Server based applications in small to medium sized companies, universities, and as primary storage when used with departmental servers.
The ActiveRAID ES shares the same high throughput and fault tolerant architecture of the original ActiveRAID, making it a proven performance platform. This allows the ActiveRAID ES to deliver consistent and repeatable performance in demanding business applications.
Like all of Active Storage products, the ActiveRAID ES undergoes extensive testing and optimization by our trained Mac OS X Server certified technicians to ensure it delivers the best performance and most reliable operation possible. The goal at Active Storage is to deliver the highest performing and most reliable RAID systems right out of the box.
The ActiveRAID ES uses a single high performance RAID controller and is ideal for business server applications. Additionally, the ActiveRAID ES is a perfect companion to the original ActiveRAID as a lower cost disk archive solution delivering substantial throughput and low latency required for optimum performance when used with ILM, video archive and disk-to-disk applications software.
Active Storage sees our users as partners, and value user input on testing, configurations, and interoperability. We want to hear from you on what works and what doesn’t. Active Storage will answer your requests, and provide feedback and enhancements, as they are available.
