Emerging Storage Options Emerging Storage Options for Server Blade Architecturesfor Server Blade Architectures
Server Blade Summit
2005
2
Storage Options Storage Options for Server Blade Architecturesfor Server Blade Architectures
Today’s blade server landscapeToday’s blade server landscape
Where are we going next?Where are we going next?
New blade server architectural challenges and New blade server architectural challenges and their impact in the data centertheir impact in the data center
Blade server storage choices and their key Blade server storage choices and their key value propositionsvalue propositions
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Blade Server ComplexityBlade Server Complexity
Back Plane SupportBack Plane SupportInfinibandInfinibandFibre ChannelFibre Channel
CPU(s)
2 Local 2 Local Mirrored Mirrored DiscsDiscs
Chipset
Memory
EthernetEthernet
EIF
S
SASSAS
Design Complexity
2 separate backplane fabrics2 separate backplane fabrics
Multiple “I/O down” ICs per bladeMultiple “I/O down” ICs per blade
2 drives per blade (mirrored pair)2 drives per blade (mirrored pair)
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Storage Connectivity for Server Blades Storage Connectivity for Server Blades Back Plane SupportBack Plane SupportInfinibandInfinibandFibre ChannelFibre Channel EthernetEthernet
CPU(s)CPU(s)
ChipsetChipset
MemoryMemoryEIF
S
SASSAS
DASDAS
SANSAN
NASNAS
LANLANTYPES OF TYPES OF GATEWAY GATEWAY
SAS
iSC
SI
TO
E
iS
CSI
FC
FC
FC
SCSI
SAS
SATA
Storage Connect
Gateways are used for near line Gateways are used for near line storage as well as fabric storagestorage as well as fabric storage
FC and iSCSI are SAN connect FC and iSCSI are SAN connect for block level transfersfor block level transfers
SAS and iSCSI is used for SAS and iSCSI is used for near cabinet storagenear cabinet storage
NAS is used for ease-of-use and NAS is used for ease-of-use and access to storage as the file access to storage as the file transfer modeltransfer model
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Blade Chassis StorageBlade Chassis Storage
Back Plane SupportBack Plane SupportInfinibandInfinibandFibre ChannelFibre Channel
CPU(s)
Chipset
Memory
EthernetEthernet
EIF
S
SASSAS
DASDAS
SANSAN
NASNAS
LANLANTYPES OF TYPES OF GATEWAY GATEWAY
SAS
iSC
SI
TO
E
iS
CSI
FC
FC
FC
SCSI
SAS
SATABlade Chassis Blade Chassis
StorageStorage
Blade Chassis Storage
““Semi-local” storage shared by a Semi-local” storage shared by a small number of bladessmall number of blades
It is not truly “SAN” because it is It is not truly “SAN” because it is not available to all servers on the not available to all servers on the FabricFabric
It is not truly “DAS” because it It is not truly “DAS” because it is not exclusively owned by a is not exclusively owned by a single serversingle server
It is a new “intermediate” level in It is a new “intermediate” level in the storage hierarchythe storage hierarchy
It is a compromise between the It is a compromise between the need to eliminate per-blade need to eliminate per-blade storage, yet maintain adequate storage, yet maintain adequate performance for the virtual performance for the virtual memory and high-use cached memory and high-use cached objectsobjects
Architectural variances existArchitectural variances exist
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Diskless Server Blade ArchitectureDiskless Server Blade Architecture
Server blades are diskless, stateless and used as pool of generic Server blades are diskless, stateless and used as pool of generic assignable “workers”assignable “workers”
Simple “size” parameters such as compute power (CPU), memory Simple “size” parameters such as compute power (CPU), memory capacity, aggregate I/O bandwidth capacity, aggregate I/O bandwidth
A Global Resource Manager can assign and select desire boot A Global Resource Manager can assign and select desire boot image, applications or selective links to appropriate data volumesimage, applications or selective links to appropriate data volumes
Chassis Storage provides low latency access to storage for the Chassis Storage provides low latency access to storage for the server bladesserver blades It is a compromise between per-blade drives and SAN-It is a compromise between per-blade drives and SAN-
resident drivesresident drives It is especially critical for per-blade virtual memory (page It is especially critical for per-blade virtual memory (page
swap)swap)
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Impact on Data Center ArchitectureImpact on Data Center Architecture
server chassisserver chassis
leafswitch
leafswitch
server chassisserver chassis
leafswitch
leafswitch
Racks ofRacks ofserver bladesserver blades
RAID
Hard storageHard storageassetsassets
RAID
RAID
Other StorageOther StorageElementsElements
tape, routers, etctape, routers, etc.
Sto
rag
e M
anag
emen
t &
S
tora
ge
Man
agem
ent
&
Sto
rag
e V
irtu
aliz
atio
n L
ayer
Sto
rag
e V
irtu
aliz
atio
n L
ayer
Multi-tiernetwork
Infrastructure
Cluster ofCluster ofintelligent Gatewaysintelligent GatewaysSAN or appliancesSAN or appliances
Blade ChassisBlade ChassisStorageStorage
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SAS is an ideal storage interconnectSAS is an ideal storage interconnectfor Blade Server Chassisfor Blade Server Chassis Low latency to disks is critical for many applications Low latency to disks is critical for many applications
(Transactional)(Transactional) Multiple servers running different applications and different OS, will place Multiple servers running different applications and different OS, will place
highly random load demands on diskshighly random load demands on disks Transactional performance is critical where multiple servers collectively Transactional performance is critical where multiple servers collectively
present diverse loadpresent diverse load
Advantage in Price/PerformanceAdvantage in Price/Performance Storage amortized over multiple blades provides better cost structureStorage amortized over multiple blades provides better cost structure
Reliability (MTBF) is criticalReliability (MTBF) is critical Multiple servers dependent on the storage for boot and application -Multiple servers dependent on the storage for boot and application -
therefore reliability is criticaltherefore reliability is critical Storage disks mechanically will work hard, therefore robustness is criticalStorage disks mechanically will work hard, therefore robustness is critical
Ability to mix and match based on storage needsAbility to mix and match based on storage needs SAS – SAS or SAS – SATASAS – SAS or SAS – SATA
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SAS/SATAIC or HBA
End user ability to match drives to balance storage to the job and trade-off End user ability to match drives to balance storage to the job and trade-off performance, capacity, reliability, and costperformance, capacity, reliability, and cost
Server vendor can create multiple market segments for the server blades Server vendor can create multiple market segments for the server blades
I/O Vendor will benefit from having single chip or adapter serving multiple I/O Vendor will benefit from having single chip or adapter serving multiple segments of server blade marketsegments of server blade market
Server blades for the midrange market will be first to adopt SAS as the Server blades for the midrange market will be first to adopt SAS as the replacement to U320replacement to U320
SAS/SATA Value Proposition SAS/SATA Value Proposition
server chassisserver chassis
leafleafswitchswitch
leafleafswitchswitch
SAS/SATA Usage Model
High PerformanceHigh PerformanceSAS Drives for Data SAS Drives for Data
Reliable SAS DrivesReliable SAS Drivesfor Mirrored Boot Pairfor Mirrored Boot Pair
High CapacityHigh CapacitySATA Drives for BackupSATA Drives for Backup
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SAS and SATA DrivesSAS and SATA DrivesEnterprise vs. Desktop ApplicationsEnterprise vs. Desktop Applications
Power managementPower management
Greatest device flexibilityGreatest device flexibility
Simplest configuration setupSimplest configuration setup
Highest reliability and availabilityHighest reliability and availability
First to volume disk interconnectFirst to volume disk interconnect
Greater scalabilityGreater scalability
Most cost effective for reference & sequential-type dataMost cost effective for reference & sequential-type data
Best performance for transactional dataBest performance for transactional data
Lowest cost per gigabyteLowest cost per gigabyte
Highest performance capabilityHighest performance capability
SAS (SCSI, FC)SAS (SCSI, FC)SATA (ATA)SATA (ATA)
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Desktop vs. Enterprise Drive ParametersDesktop vs. Enterprise Drive Parameters
Enterprise ClassEnterprise ClassDesktop ClassDesktop Class
PerformancePerformance
Variable Sector Variable Sector SizeSize
IndicatorsIndicators
Rotational Rotational VibrationVibration
ReliabilityReliability
Dual PortDual Port
Data IntegrityData Integrity
13msec@ 720013msec@ 7200
NoNo
NoneNone
5-12 radians/sec/sec5-12 radians/sec/sec
600K hours @ 8x5 duty600K hours @ 8x5 duty
NoNo
NoNo
5.7msec@ 15K5.7msec@ 15K
YesYes
LEDLED
>>21 radians/sec/sec21 radians/sec/sec
1.2M hours @ 24x7 duty1.2M hours @ 24x7 duty
YesYes
YesYes
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Contact InformationContact Information
Ken ZarrabiKen Zarrabi
Strategic Marketing & Business Development Strategic Marketing & Business Development
RAID Storage Adapters, LSI LogicRAID Storage Adapters, LSI Logic
Tel : 408-433-4527Tel : 408-433-4527
Fax: 408-433-4380Fax: 408-433-4380
Email: [email protected]: [email protected]
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BiographyBiography
Ken Zarrabi joined LSI Logic in 2002 as a senior product marketing manager for the RAID Storage Adapters division.
Mr. Zarrabi has more than 18 years of marketing, engineering and management experience in the high-tech industry. Prior to joining LSI Logic, he created and implemented marketing and business development plans for Adaptec and zDrive. His career experience also includes positions as a director of customer and product engineering at Fujitsu and six years as manager of customer engineering and program management at Quantum.
Mr. Zarrabi earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in computer science from the University of Colorado.
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