Ultra3 -to- Ultra3
External RAID Controller
Overview
The NS-RC controllers are designed for
fast, flexible RAID operation using Ultra3 SCSI and Fibre
channels. With the help of a high-performance 64-bit PowerPC
CPU and sophisticated Infortrend RAID ASIC, I/Os are rapidly
processed and distributed to array hard drives. Data is
transferred between the host and the drives via a high-speed
64-bit data path at a burst rate of533MB/second. The result
is a controller which excels in applications that require
both high sustained data rates and fast I/O turnaround.
High Flexibility
All SCSI channels can be defined as either a drive channel
or a host channel. This allows users to change the host
and drive deployment for connecting multiple host systems
through independent channels.
Firmware upgrade does not affect the single or redundant
controller configuration. Controllers can shift I/Os
temporarily to allow both firmware's to be updated.
In the unlikely event of controller failure, a failed
unit can be replaced with one running later version
of firmware.
SAN Application
NS-RC controllers have all the necessary protocols
for SAN applications. These include extended LUN capabilities
such as LUN filtering, also known as SAN mapping or
masking, and multi-file systems lock support. 64 array
partitions and 128 LUN filter entries per controller
are supported.
Fibre to SCSI
The NS-RC series is ideal for a mixed Fibre-to-SCSI
solution with the flexible connectivity of arbitrated
loop, point-to-point, and switched-fabric. By combining
a pure Fibre or Fibre + SCSI daughterboard with the
controller's base channels, the controller is ideal
for SAN environments where features like LUN masking
and multi-RAID partitioning can be applied.
High Data Availability
With a multitude of RAID functions, the NS-RC
series gives users the highest data availability. NS-RC's
capabilities include: automatic drive failure detection,
background rebuilding, and bad sector reassignment.
When the controller detects a hard drive failure in
a RAID 1, 3, or 5 logical drive, the disk array will
instantly replace the failed disk with a hot-spare drive.
Data is reconstructed into the hot-spare drive, while
the host remains uninterrupted. In the absence of a
hot-spare drive, users can hot-swap the failed drive
with a new one and initiate an automatic rebuild.
The battery backup option protects write-back cache
data from sudden power interruptions. The battery supplies
auxiliary power (see specifications for details) to
the controller's cache memory for up to 72 hours.
Hot-Swappable Mechanism
The controller itself is hot-swappable for full non-stop
redundant operation. The backplane holding the cable
connections is joined by and separated from the main
controller board with docking connectors. A faulty unit
is easily removed and replaced.
Bad Sector Management
NS-RC controllers detect bad sectors on SCSI
drives during diskreads or writes. They will recover
the data from parity fault and perform bad sector reassignments.
Bad sector management is fully transparent to the host.
Active-Active Redundancy
NS-RC controllers support active-active redundancy
with a synchronized write-back cache. Each controller
has a dedicated high bandwidth channel for cache synchronization.
While in redundant mode, a failed controller automatically
shifts I/O functions to the secondary controller. Failover
and failback are totally transparent to the host.
Redundant Chassis (2500R1, R2,
R3)
The NS-RC-2500R series consists of two controllers
housed in a single 5.25" full-height chassis. A
dedicated high-bandwidth channel is used for cache synchronization.
The 2500R is a cableless solution designed for ease-of-integration.
Zero Down-Time Technology
The controller is designed from top to bottom to be
hot-swappable. Implemented with features like the automatic
failover/failback, auto hot-spare engagement, advanced
failed drive management, to name a few, disk array operation
is protected from possible causes of downtime.
Board-Only Solutions for OEMs
NS-RC controllers are the deal solutions for
OEM customers who design their own backplanes. The controller
board can be readily integrated with a cableless and
hot-swappable enclosure design via two docking connectors.
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