Dot Hill launches next-generation Hybrid Ultra48 arrays

The Ultra48, incorporating dual high performance AssuredSAN 4004 controllers, is built on the industry's first ultra-density chassis, housing nearly 58 terabytes of data on small form factor disk drives and/or solid-state devices (SSDs), in only 2U of rack space while yielding exceptional performance density. Since its launch, the Ultra48 has been recognised with a number of awards and accolades. As StorageReview noted, “Given the density versus the footprint required for other all-HDD configured systems, the Ultra48 offers a performance per rack unit profile that may not be able to be achieved with any other storage system.” Now this award-winning array is equipped with RealStor 2.0’s real-time autonomic tiering, SSDs and other enterprise-class features.

Dot Hill’s Ultra48 Next-Generation Hybrid Array with RealStor 2.0 Stands Alone
Other flash-based storage solutions fall short in their attempts to address the constantly changing data challenges faced by organisations today. All-flash arrays deliver expensive performance and unaffordable capacity, while competing hybrid storage solutions only offer read caching or batch data migration, rather than autonomic real-time tiering. Featuring multiple patent-pending technologies, the Dot Hill Ultra48 AssuredSAN next-generation solution with RealStor 2.0 raises the bar on hybrid array capability and stands alone in its ability to deliver high performance and optimal real-time data placement, while maintaining ease-of-use and best-in-class affordability and density.

“The powerful combination of the Ultra48 and RealStor 2.0 creates a unique hybrid offering which gives our customers enterprise management features and performance at an affordable price point,” said Dana Kammersgard, president and CEO, Dot Hill. “This platform combines the best of Dot Hill software and hardware innovation to deliver next-generation hybrid array solutions. Our customers told us that they have extreme floor space constraints in their data centres and lack the time and skill sets to migrate data between flash and disk manually; most certainly do not have the budgets for all-flash arrays. That’s why we developed the Ultra48 with RealStor 2.0.”

Dot Hill Ultra48, the Industry’s First Ultra-Density Array
The Ultra48 next-generation hybrid array takes advantage of powerful multiple embedded processors to provide accelerated, predictable performance for demanding workloads. With fully redundant and hot-swappable components, the Ultra48 provides easy serviceability resulting in lower support costs through the life of the product.

As with all highly reliable AssuredSAN solutions, the Ultra48 delivers proven 99.999 per cent data availability. Backed by an industry-best 37-month “bumper-to-bumper” warranty, Ultra48 storage solutions are available with the latest high-bandwidth interfaces including 12Gb SAS, 16Gb Fibre Channel, 10Gb iSCSI or dual personality 16Gb Fibre Channel/10Gb iSCSI.

Optimised Performance
· RealTier™ autonomic real-time tiering allows organisations to save up to 75 per cent on storage expenses by more efficiently using lower-cost storage. By providing real-time, autonomic data tiering, the powerful RealTier feature allows the Ultra48 to deliver performance comparable to all-flash arrays at a fraction of the price. Workload optimisation is built into the tiering algorithm, which separates streaming and transaction workflows and places data on the appropriate tier immediately to increase both read and write operations.
· RealCache™ SSD read caching provides on-demand performance for peak loads, far exceeding memory cache capabilities of the controller. SSD read cache allows SSD cache to become an extension of the controller cache, increasing effective cache capacity by up to 100x and increasing IOPS performance for read-centric workloads. Entire LUNs can also be assigned or “pinned” into solid-state storage in order to deliver predictable performance to a specific application workload.
· SimulCacheTM streamlines dual controller write operations for increased throughput performance.

Availability and Reliability
· High Availability is delivered via fully redundant hot-swap components and active/active controller failover, resulting in proven 99.999 per cent availability.
· RealQuick™ rapid RAID rebuild improves system up-time and data protection by reducing the risk of data loss in the event of a SSD or HDD failure. Rebuilding only the data that is being used, translates into up to 10 times faster restore time. With nothing to set or configure, this feature restores complete fault tolerance faster to the volume and reduces the duration of potential application performance degradation due to one or multiple device failures.
· RealSnap™ virtual snapshots dramatically streamline the action of creating point-in-time images, providing capabilities to snap volumes multiple times with no performance impact for improved backup and recovery. Snaps can be nested hierarchically and are fully writable.
· EcoStor™ supercapacitor technology with battery-free cache backup is designed to surpass the life of the system, therefore eliminating batteries entirely. This makes the controller completely maintenance-free and keeps data in cache memory permanently stored even in the event of complete loss of power.

Driving Affordability and Ease-of-Use
· RealThin™ thin provisioning for optimised capacity management offers advanced capacity management, which reduces the cost of capacity investments by up to 50 per cent. Instead of reserving and consuming storage when host volumes are created, thin provisioning only consumes capacity as needed by applications.
· RealPool™ simplifies disk management in heterogeneous environments and enables a wide array of advanced features. While competitors’ products create one pool per device type (performance, standard, archive), RealStor 2.0’s virtualised pools can combine any and all device types into a single, versatile pool. This enables users to leverage multiple device types for added flexibility and optimisation.
· Cost-effective scalability to over half a petabyte with no capacity-based license fees. Ultra-dense packaging that can be cost-effectively deployed with a hybrid mix of solid state and hard disk devices, or an all-disk array.

“The combination of RealStor 2.0 software with best-in-class tiering, caching and Ultra48 hardware configured with a right-sized mix of performance-optimised flash and cost-optimised disk delivers the best bang for the buck,” said Brian Garrett, vice president, ESG Lab. “A next-generation hybrid array from Dot Hill is the perfect prescription for IT managers who are struggling to cost-effectively meet the exploding storage demands of the business.”