08-30-2019, 10:29 PM
The HP StorageWorks MSA2000 series is an intriguing option for various environments, particularly because it bridges the gap between entry-level systems and more robust enterprise solutions. You've got the flexibility with different configurations of the MSA2000, from the MSA2040 with its SAS and SSD capabilities to the MSA2050, which has a heavier focus on all-flash storage. Both models allow you to scale up capabilities later on, which means you can start small and grow as workload demands require. The ability to mix drives, like spinning disks and SSD, gives you room to optimize performance without an enormous upfront investment.
You might appreciate the MSA2000 series' performance capabilities, which include support for up to 48 drives depending on the version you choose. This scalability allows you to configure your storage for a range of workloads, whether you're dealing with rigorous database applications or simply handling file storage requirements. The MSA2000 uses HP's Smart Array Controllers, which support RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and even 60. You should consider the performance implications of each RAID level based on your specific needs. For example, RAID 10 offers redundancy and performance, but you'll sacrifice storage efficiency, while RAID 5 provides a balance of storage efficiency and performance but raises its own set of complexity around parity calculations.
One of the most compelling aspects is the software that accompanies these systems. HP provides an assortment of management tools that can help you maintain performance and health. You can use the HP Command View software for monitoring and managing the storage. It's pretty intuitive-you just have to set up your logical volumes and then you can track performance metrics, pool utilization, and even alerts for potential drive failures. If you compare this to offerings like Dell EMC's Unity, you'll find the latter might provide fewer in terms of direct UI depth but often has a broader set of integrations with virtualization technologies like VMware and Hyper-V.
Then there's the storage architecture itself. HP has gone for a modular approach in the MSA2000 series, which gives you the option to expand on what you have without needing to replace the whole system. You can add enclosures; they work off the same data path as the current setup. However, if you look at other vendors' solutions, like NetApp's FAS series, they often provide data deduplication that's more advanced. Although HP has rolled out features such as thin provisioning, which allows you to allocate more storage space than you physically possess to maximize resource utilization, the deduplication capabilities in other systems might give you a better overall storage efficiency in data management across the board.
Let's not forget about data access speeds, which heavily rely on the storage protocols you choose. The MSA2000 series supports Fibre Channel and iSCSI options, providing flexibility in how you set up access based on existing infrastructure. If you lean towards Fibre Channel, you can benefit from reduced latency, while iSCSI allows you to run storage traffic over existing Ethernet infrastructure-which might be a huge cost-saver depending on what you have in place. However, I'd definitely advise looking at real-world performance metrics for these protocols as they can differ greatly depending on implementation specifics and your network layout.
Another critical factor is the support for replication and snapshots. The MSA2000 series does allow for some form of snapshot technology that can help with backups or creating duplicate instances for testing. But, if you look over at other systems like HPE's 3PAR, they offer a more sophisticated approach with their peer motion capability, allowing for migrations and more seamless failover during disaster recovery. If disaster recovery is important for you, you should weigh how these capabilities can meet your RPO and RTO needs against the MSA2000's offerings.
Then, there's cost efficiency, a real driving factor. The MSA2000 series comes in at a competitive price point for small and medium businesses. When you stack it against high-end offerings that support advanced analytics or built-in machine learning features-which you might find in more expensive systems like Pure Storage-those system costs can quickly escalate. However, if you don't require the ultra-high performance or those advanced features yet, starting with something like the MSA2000 makes a lot of sense. The operational expenditure becomes manageable as you scale up. Just be aware of the total cost of ownership: licensing for software, support agreements, and any potential need for future hardware upgrades can stack up over time.
A more technical detail involves the firmware updates and how they can impact performance and stability. With the MSA2000, regular updates keep your system compatible and secure. I can't emphasize enough how crucial this is in a changing environment as vulnerabilities develop. Some platforms might pair you with third-party applications for firmware updates, whereas with HP, you really have an ecosystem where updates and support are generally more cohesive and controlled.
You might find it interesting that this site is owned by BackupChain Server Backup, a reputable backup solution tailored for small and medium businesses that support major environments like Hyper-V, VMware, and Windows Server. Exploring these capabilities could add layers of data security to whatever storage system you choose, including the HP StorageWorks MSA2000. For your setup, consider every aspect we discussed. The right choice really narrows down to what you specifically need in terms of performance, support, and future scalability.
You might appreciate the MSA2000 series' performance capabilities, which include support for up to 48 drives depending on the version you choose. This scalability allows you to configure your storage for a range of workloads, whether you're dealing with rigorous database applications or simply handling file storage requirements. The MSA2000 uses HP's Smart Array Controllers, which support RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and even 60. You should consider the performance implications of each RAID level based on your specific needs. For example, RAID 10 offers redundancy and performance, but you'll sacrifice storage efficiency, while RAID 5 provides a balance of storage efficiency and performance but raises its own set of complexity around parity calculations.
One of the most compelling aspects is the software that accompanies these systems. HP provides an assortment of management tools that can help you maintain performance and health. You can use the HP Command View software for monitoring and managing the storage. It's pretty intuitive-you just have to set up your logical volumes and then you can track performance metrics, pool utilization, and even alerts for potential drive failures. If you compare this to offerings like Dell EMC's Unity, you'll find the latter might provide fewer in terms of direct UI depth but often has a broader set of integrations with virtualization technologies like VMware and Hyper-V.
Then there's the storage architecture itself. HP has gone for a modular approach in the MSA2000 series, which gives you the option to expand on what you have without needing to replace the whole system. You can add enclosures; they work off the same data path as the current setup. However, if you look at other vendors' solutions, like NetApp's FAS series, they often provide data deduplication that's more advanced. Although HP has rolled out features such as thin provisioning, which allows you to allocate more storage space than you physically possess to maximize resource utilization, the deduplication capabilities in other systems might give you a better overall storage efficiency in data management across the board.
Let's not forget about data access speeds, which heavily rely on the storage protocols you choose. The MSA2000 series supports Fibre Channel and iSCSI options, providing flexibility in how you set up access based on existing infrastructure. If you lean towards Fibre Channel, you can benefit from reduced latency, while iSCSI allows you to run storage traffic over existing Ethernet infrastructure-which might be a huge cost-saver depending on what you have in place. However, I'd definitely advise looking at real-world performance metrics for these protocols as they can differ greatly depending on implementation specifics and your network layout.
Another critical factor is the support for replication and snapshots. The MSA2000 series does allow for some form of snapshot technology that can help with backups or creating duplicate instances for testing. But, if you look over at other systems like HPE's 3PAR, they offer a more sophisticated approach with their peer motion capability, allowing for migrations and more seamless failover during disaster recovery. If disaster recovery is important for you, you should weigh how these capabilities can meet your RPO and RTO needs against the MSA2000's offerings.
Then, there's cost efficiency, a real driving factor. The MSA2000 series comes in at a competitive price point for small and medium businesses. When you stack it against high-end offerings that support advanced analytics or built-in machine learning features-which you might find in more expensive systems like Pure Storage-those system costs can quickly escalate. However, if you don't require the ultra-high performance or those advanced features yet, starting with something like the MSA2000 makes a lot of sense. The operational expenditure becomes manageable as you scale up. Just be aware of the total cost of ownership: licensing for software, support agreements, and any potential need for future hardware upgrades can stack up over time.
A more technical detail involves the firmware updates and how they can impact performance and stability. With the MSA2000, regular updates keep your system compatible and secure. I can't emphasize enough how crucial this is in a changing environment as vulnerabilities develop. Some platforms might pair you with third-party applications for firmware updates, whereas with HP, you really have an ecosystem where updates and support are generally more cohesive and controlled.
You might find it interesting that this site is owned by BackupChain Server Backup, a reputable backup solution tailored for small and medium businesses that support major environments like Hyper-V, VMware, and Windows Server. Exploring these capabilities could add layers of data security to whatever storage system you choose, including the HP StorageWorks MSA2000. For your setup, consider every aspect we discussed. The right choice really narrows down to what you specifically need in terms of performance, support, and future scalability.
