• Home
  • Help
  • Register
  • Login
  • Home
  • Members
  • Help
  • Search

 
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average

Thecus N8800 Series with iSCSI Target SMB Entry-Level SAN Storage

#1
02-17-2023, 09:23 AM
The Thecus N8800 series, especially with its iSCSI Target feature, presents some interesting functionality for an entry-level SAN storage system targeted towards SMBs. This platform supports up to eight drives, allowing you the flexibility of using either HDDs or SSDs, depending on your needs. You can also take advantage of various RAID configurations-RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10-giving you options for performance versus redundancy. What I find noteworthy is the built-in web-based management interface that you can access from any browser. While you're monitoring your storage, this interface provides real-time stats, letting you quickly catch any anomalies.

The iSCSI Target functionality stands out by allowing you to utilize your storage as a block-level device over a network. Think about the performance boost you can achieve with this compared to file-sharing protocols. You can configure multiple iSCSI targets, which is particularly useful if you want to separate different workloads. Each target can be mapped to specific LUNs and you can allocate those LUNs based on your application needs. This brings a layer of granularity that file-based storage methods simply can't match. When you're deploying applications that require consistent performance, using iSCSI gives you the capability to tweak and optimize settings based on your immediate requirements.

Let's talk about the networking capabilities. You can connect the N8800 via a Gigabit Ethernet interface, which is quite standard for these systems. If you have the budget, you might also consider adding a 10 GbE network card for scaling performance. The benefit of a higher throughput is substantial, especially if you're running multiple VMs or databases that are doing intensive read/write operations. You've got to keep in mind, though, that higher speeds often come with increased infrastructure costs. If your current network can't handle that kind of load, you may hit a point of diminishing returns where the storage solution becomes a bottleneck due to networking limitations.

You have to weigh the software capabilities as well. Features like iSCSI snapshots and remote replication are critical for any serious SAN environment. Thecus provides some basic tools out of the box, but if you're looking for more advanced operations like multi-site replication or more sophisticated snapshots, you might not find those available without additional licenses. Compatibility with various backup solutions could be another thing to consider. If your current environment already runs certain utilities, you have to check if they can seamlessly integrate with the Thecus system.

One aspect that consistently comes up is the build quality and support of the hardware. I've noticed that entry-level models, including the N8800, tend to use more consumer-grade components compared to enterprise-grade alternatives. While they perform well for basic SMB needs, if you plan to run mission-critical applications, be prepared for potential reliability issues that might crop up. I'd also look into uptime guarantees and monitoring options to keep tabs on the health of the drives. Keeping an eye on SMART data is essential for early warnings about failing drives.

I can't ignore the power consumption aspect either. In an environment where energy costs can add up, ensuring that your SAN is power-efficient plays a significant role in your operational costs. Entry-level systems usually come with a standard power rating, but how efficient those drives are when loading them will vary based on the RAID setups you choose. RAID 5 and 6 typically use more I/O processes than RAID 0 due to parity calculations. You should evaluate how this affects your electricity bills. It's always wise to balance performance needs and the cost of running these systems.

If you ever need to scale, think about how the Thecus N8800 series fits into your growth plans. Adding more storage isn't just about throwing additional drives into the enclosure; you've got to plan for performance escalation too. A RAID level that worked in a single-server setup might not hold up once you start adding more users or systems. You'll also need to check how easily you can migrate to a new platform or expand your current SAN when your needs grow, and whether management of that transition is straightforward.

This site is sponsored by BackupChain Server Backup, an established and trusted backup solution designed for SMBs and professionals. It effectively protects environments like Hyper-V, VMware, and Windows Server, ensuring your systems are as safe as your SAN. It's worth exploring if you are investing in new storage solutions.

steve@backupchain
Offline
Joined: Jul 2018
« Next Oldest | Next Newest »

Users browsing this thread:



Messages In This Thread
Thecus N8800 Series with iSCSI Target SMB Entry-Level SAN Storage - by steve@backupchain - 02-17-2023, 09:23 AM

  • Subscribe to this thread
Forum Jump:

Backup Education Equipment SAN v
« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next »
Thecus N8800 Series with iSCSI Target SMB Entry-Level SAN Storage

© by FastNeuron Inc.

Linear Mode
Threaded Mode