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R/Evolution Storage Architecture


Volume Storage Market

Dot Hill has pioneered a revolutionary new storage architecture for the Volume Storage Market: the Rapid Evolution Storage Architecture™. This highly modular, highly dynamic system is designed to rapidly evolve and support OEM technology, enabling OEMs to quickly achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the Volume Storage Market.

The Rapid Evolution Storage Architecture, or R/Evolution™ Architecture, delivers the high levels of performance, storage density, time-to-market leadership and - most importantly - configuration flexibility required in the Volume Storage Market. Using modular and bladed components, the R/Evolution Architecture provides OEMs with a "Configure-to-Product" model (not just "configure-to-order") that lets them customize Volume Storage Market solutions quickly, easily and precisely. This unique model revolutionizes how OEMs bring storage products to market by ensuring opportunities for product differentiation, even between different companies that simultaneously OEM product from Dot Hill. Important benefits of the R/Evolution Architecture include:

  • Significantly faster time-to-market that allows OEMs to quickly roll out highly targeted Volume Storage Market solutions and preempt their competition.
  • Lower OEM costs at every stage of new product introduction. These substantial development and introduction savings help enable market leading pricing for Volume Storage Markets and enhance OEM profitability.
  • Faster, easier integration of OEM value-added technologies or capabilities, providing greater opportunities for differentiation in the Volume Storage Market.

Key Macro Trends Impacting the Volume Storage Market

The Volume Storage Market is under intense pressure. New regulatory requirements and evolving business demands are driving the need for Volume Storage Market solutions that hold down costs, yet deliver more and more enterprise-level features, capabilities and software. Why? Data from applications like file serving, disk-to-disk backup, short-term archiving and near-line storage of bulk data must be quickly and readily available to multiple users. Yet because this data is not always mission-critical, it is uneconomic to store it on high-availability, mission-critical storage systems with prohibitive per-GB-costs. In addition, regulations like Sarbanes-Oxley and HIPAA mandate the ability to rapidly access enormous quantities of financial and medical data. Although this data may be months or years old, nonetheless, tape archive is not a viable solution due to the extensive time required to restore from tape. Thus, tiered storage strategies—which seek to properly balance costs and capabilities in order to efficiently store this rapidly expanding pool of "in-between" data—are becoming critical in the Volume Storage Market.Below are key macro trends that are driving the Volume Storage Market:

  • Tiered Storage - In the broad and highly diverse Volume Storage Market, one size does not fit all. Organizations need storage solutions that mix and match performance, availability, cost and capabilities to address the specific needs of each storage tier in the organization. In addition, new technologies and the application of existing/repackaged technologies, such as ILM (Information Lifecycle Management), D2D (Disk-To-Disk) backup, CAS (Content Addressable Storage), and CDP (Continuous Data Protection) are requiring greater flexibility and intelligence in every dimension of the storage solution…not just at the time of purchase, but over the lifetime of the storage solution. Thus, the increasing need for tiered storage that can evolve and adapt, efficiently and gracefully.
  • Regulatory - New regulations such as SEC 17a-4, SarBox section 404 and HIPAA are driving new mission-critical, tiered storage strategies in every organization. Data such as financial information, medical records, and email correspondence must not only be tracked, protected and secured, but also must be globally available upon demand. Given the dynamic nature of these requirements, storage solutions with architectures that embrace modularity, "pay-as-you-go" economics and easy scalability/upgradeability throughout the product lifecycle are likely to work best for IT customers.
  • Security - The ability to ensure trusted access to data is one of the factors driving enhanced intelligence, access control and authentication capabilities in the storage market. As in the networking and telecommunications industries, the ability to enhance security while still providing productive access for authorized users is vital for business success.
  • Blades and Grids - The growth of blade servers and grid computing is driving new SAN (Storage Area Network) configurations and interface requirements. As the networks for communication, networking, cluster computing and storage move closer together, flexible, intelligent and "grid-aware" storage platforms are required. Storage platforms must be ready for this unified networking environment and provide a graceful path to moving/migrating between or across these varied networking requirements. More than hardware, this must include intelligent data and virtualization software services to deal with the myriad of combinations and configurations.
  • Business Continuance - Ensuring that operations continue without disruption is a leading priority for IT organizations worldwide. This requirement has lead to an increased use of disk-based solutions for replication of data in remote sites for business continuance, using disk-to-disk (versus tape) for backup to make recovery instantaneous and using tiered disk-storage strategies for cost-effectively archiving data online in order to meet regulatory requirements.
  • Object-Based Storage - Object-Based Storage (OBS) is vital to the next generation of file systems such as Microsoft's WinFS. OBS will require a new approach to storage access, security, intelligence and management. Without a solid, well conceived architecture, current storage solutions could have difficulty migrating to OBS technology. Thus, it's essential that Volume Market storage solutions have designs that can easily accommodate the new layers of capability and intelligence that manage not only the primary data, but the meta-data that will be vital to the next generation of optimized data access, search and retrieval.
  • Disk Storage Growth - Disk storage is growing in three principal ways. First, the number of files generated by computers continues to grow at an accelerated rate. Second, customers are using formats that generate larger file sizes, so the same number of files takes up more disk space. Finally, files that previously were stored on tape are now being stored on disk for data protection and for regulatory purposes (due to access time requirements). These factors require not only more storage, but storage that is optimized (cost and performance) for each application.

Volume Market Storage Requirements

Five years ago, the storage market was much simpler. The very high end of the mainframe and mission-critical markets demanded the highest performance and availability. The Volume Storage Market supported work groups and non-mission critical applications, and the entry-level market was a collection of small/standalone systems that were very low cost, and not very functional.

Today the storage industry is much different. Although the volume of data continues to grow exponentially, enterprises are no longer willing to endlessly invest in high-end storage systems. Further, there is an ever-increasing volume of data that falls "in-between" these high-end, online storage systems (with their high cost-per-GB), and low-cost, high-capacity tape archival systems (with their slow, labor-intensive data retrievals). What's more, the availability, access, protection, security and performance requirements for this "in-between" data can vary greatly, depending on its particular use:

  • Databases and e-commerce that require high performance, I/O-intensive application computing
  • High-capacity, cost-effective storage to meet regulatory requirements
  • Near-line archive of infrequently used data that nonetheless must be available at all times
  • Cost-effective storage of data generated by email and office productivity applications

For IT managers, tiered storage offers a solution to this dilemma. Yet tiered storage solutions must do more than merely provide high capacity, optimal performance, low cost-per-GB and easy integration into established enterprise infrastructures. They must also be able to adapt and evolve rapidly so that they can deliver the optimal balance of cost/performance levels for every type of data. In short, the Volume Storage Market can be characterized by its overarching requirement for configuration flexibility. This requirement has made the Volume Storage Market the most challenging and exciting segment in the storage business. It also demands a much more modular and flexible architecture, one that can be quickly and cost effectively optimized to balance the various metrics that define storage solutions:

  • Performance - IOPS (Inputs/Outputs per Second) and data rates (the speed at which the data is transferred during IOPS) are the two fundamental measurements of performance. These benchmark numbers are the basis for defining storage performance in the market. The ability to provide and optimize IOPS and data rates for key applications is vital to providing the right solution for each application.
  • Manageability - The ability to control, configure, allocate and deploy storage resources is perhaps the greatest factor in the ultimate cost—and value—of a storage solution. Reducing human interactions and increasing automated/proactive operations are two key factors impacting overall efficiency and lowering total cost-of-ownership.
  • Protection - New regulations and competitive requirements make the cost of data protection one of the key decision points in selecting any storage solution. Every level of the storage solution should offer various levels of data protection to meet the specific needs of each class of data.
  • Cost - The market is segmented based on the cost to achieve desired levels of performance, manageability, protection, and density/capacity. Acquisition cost is most visible, but cost of ongoing operations/management has the greatest effect on total cost of ownership.
  • Density/Capacity - Measurement of the number of disks that can fit into a standard unit of rack space. By maximizing density and capacity, IT departments can get more total IOPS and greater overall data throughput rates per individual rack.
  • Storage Tiers - While one size does not fit all, one integrated storage strategy is vital to getting maximum value out of capital dollars invested. Tiered Storage provides the ability to integrate various storage personalities under a single architecture.

While the first five metrics apply to all segments of the storage market, the final metric—Storage Tiers—is unique to the Volume Storage Market. It is the critical factor for delivering the most cost effective solutions, optimized across a broad range of features, functionalities and capabilities. For OEMs, success in this arena lies in the ability to capitalize on a storage architecture that is modular and flexible enough to meet all of these widely varying demands—both when the solution is purchased and over the life of the solution. At the same time, the architecture must share core technologies so that it is completely interoperable across different configuration and iterations.

This is why Dot Hill has pioneered the Rapid Evolution Storage Architecture. It is a single, integrated storage platform that can deliver maximum configuration flexibility in Volume Market storage solutions. Its extreme modularity and "Configure-to-Product" model provide the ability to rapidly create solutions that can be selected by each OEM to meet the specific needs of their targeted markets and the positions they wish to claim. The Rapid Evolution Storage Architecture, or R/Evolution Architecture, not only allows OEMs to balance the features and capabilities so critical to success, it also provides the tools to optimize for only one of the metrics, or all six metrics of the Volume Storage Market.

Rapid Evolution Storage Architecture

Rapid Evolution Storage Architecture

OEMs require a Volume Market storage platform that gives them market flexibility and product adaptability so they can deliver storage solutions that successfully address the market factors previously outlined. Further, their solutions must offer their customers investment protection, with the ability to easily and cost effectively adapt as new demands and/or requirements are placed upon their storage strategies. The R/Evolution Architecture does this, providing:

  • Core technologies shared across chassis platforms
  • Highly modular, blade-driven architecture
  • Easy integration of OEM value-add/storage applications
  • Advanced file and storage management services
  • Common spares and field upgrades

These foundational attributes of the R/Evolution Architecture are further enhanced by Dot Hill's corporate culture of responsiveness and flexibility. As a partner, Dot Hill has a proven track record of supporting innovative business models in order to meet the needs of its OEM customers, as well as their end-user customers. The net result: the benefits of off-the-shelf pricing and flexibility, combined with the ability to radically customize the features and functions of storage solutions... during development and after deployment.

Rapid Evolution Phase 3

The R/Evolution Architecture provides a roadmap for the future of the many market factors driving storage today. Its common technology core supports a dynamic path to expanding performance, capabilities, capacity and manageability, protecting against obsolescence and allowing OEMs and their customers to easily and affordably meet evolving storage needs over the lifetimes of their storage systems. This provides a higher level of investment protection, without the overhead inherent in solutions that don't use the R/Evolution Architecture. In sum, the products that OEMs build will now be as dynamic as the markets they work in…today and tomorrow.

Tiered Storage Modules (TSM)

The R/Evolution Architecture Tiered Storage Modules support RAID, SBOD (Switched BOD) and JBOD configurations that deliver some of the industry's highest levels of drive density and the most efficient use of standard rack space. The R/Evolution Architecture supports multiple chassis configurations and can support Fibre Channel (FC), Serial-Attached SCSI (SAS) and Serial ATA (SATA) drives, all in a single system…all in the same rack. This flexibility allows OEMs to precisely balance the metrics of cost, protection and performance in their Volume Storage Market solutions.

The R/Evolution Architecture provides 20% more disk drives in a typical rack. This means greater capacity, better performance and greater cost effectiveness, which translates into higher data rates/IOPS-per-rack in the data center.

Tiered Storage Modules

Host Iinteface Modules (HIMS)

HIMs are one of the components of the PDC module. A HIM allows the controller connection to the host to be changed between interfaces. Initially, R/Evolution Architecture will support 4Gb FC, 3Gb SAS and 1GbE iSCSI connectivity. In addition, the HIM offers the ability to easily add new interfaces such as 10Gb iSCSI, 8Gb FC, Infiniband and other host interconnections. This allows OEMs and their customers to readily anticipate and adapt to the convergence of storage interfaces.

R/Evolution Architecture vs. Conventional Architecture

Performance Data Controllers (PDCS)

The core controller technology of R/Evolution Architecture provides performance where and when it is needed. The flexible design is capable of moving data at up 1.5GB/s and at over 200K IOPS, delivering up to twice the performance of competitive Volume Storage Market solutions. With multiple performance and protection parameters available, the PDCs provide a modular approach that allow OEMs to finely balance cost and performance metrics. They also provide post-deployment adaptability for end user customers. The PDC supports multiple CPU speeds and cache increments from 512MB to 2GB per controller. The PDC is comprised of three components: the RAID I/O module, the Host Interface Module (HIM) and the Drive Module (DM). The RAID I/O module is the RAID engine for the R/Evolution Architecture. Not only is it a highly flexible software core for RAID capabilities, the RAID I/0 also hosts the Dot Hill Storage Services software and includes the management engine for the R/Evolution Architecture. Dot Hill's unique PowerFlex RAID technology and our patent-pending SimulCache provide industry-leading write performance. In addition, PowerFlex RAID allows the flexibility to run either Dot Hill or OEM RAID cores to improve OEM integration. (The HIMs and DMs are discussed in other sections.)

PDCS

Drive Modules (DMS)

DMs are one of the components of the PDC module. A DM provides the flexible option for adding, changing or expanding new drive interfaces in a single architecture.

DMS

Storage Application Blades (SABS)

The high speed back plane of the R/Evolution Architecture supports multiple types of blades, including server blades, cluster fabric blades, and other OEM application hardware blades. Using industry standard interfaces, SABs of the R/Evolution Architecture can adapt to the needs of the environment, providing differentiation opportunities as well as investment protection. OEMs can use these blades to host value-added software and build solutions that target multiple verticals and/or enterprise applications…all on the same core platform. In this era of commoditization and shrinking margins, SABs may provide the best opportunity for solution differentiation and greater profitability.

Dot Hill Storage Services (DSS)

  • Snapshots - Snapshots provide the ability to create a Point-In-Time copy of a disk volume. Dot Hill Storage Services can create full snapshots of volumes or delta snaps of recent changes. It provides customers the ability to roll-back to any point in time. These disk images can be used to replicate data, create a new working volume or as a business continuance volume
  • Remote Replication - One of the keys to ensuring business continuance is the ability to protect data over distances in case of local/regional events such as fire, hurricane or earthquake. Dot Hill Storage Services provides the ability to replicate and protect data over any IP network to anywhere across the globe. Remote volumes can be read, read-write and boot volumes if the OS permits remote boot devices
  • RAIDar Manager - Dot Hill's RAIDar Manager provides the ability to create, configure and control disk volumes dynamically without interrupting operations. It provides users with complete control and reporting tools over every aspect of their storage system
  • Storage Presentation Services - Dot Hill's storage presentation services provide the ability to present storage in a variety of ways. It enables file services, storage virtualization, resource management, cross-vendor APIs, flexible software and feature licensing, as well as support for industry standards such as SMI-S. These services enable OEMs to build solutions that are tightly integrated into existing product lines and create unique value-add.
Volume Storage Market Sub-Segments

The R/Evolution Architecture Advantage

At the heart of the R/Evolution Architecture is our highly modular, blade-driven design. This "modular core" provides a comprehensive range of configuration options to OEMs, as shown in the diagram below. Each module component allows OEMs to craft a personality and target application for their solutions, all with a low-cost, build-to-order model. In addition, this highly modular, blade-driven design provides easy, future upgradeability for OEM end-user customers, ensuring investment protection and long-term ROI.

The ability to select specific module components and options within the R/Evolution Architecture makes possible virtual "off-the-shelf" solutions that target various sub-segments of the Volume Storage Market. In addition, it allows OEMs to create highly differentiated solutions within their own niche segments. The diagrams shown here and the chart further down demonstrate how various configurations can be quickly identified, illustrating that even though one size does not fit all in the Volume Storage Market, one architecture can…and does.

Server Modular Core

Finally, the R/Evolution Architecture not only meets the needs of the Volume Storage Market today, it provides a compelling roadmap to the future. As the storage market continues to evolve on a daily basis, most changes will be small and incremental. Yet even if they are sudden and dramatic, the bladed, modular, interchangeable nature of the R/Evolution Architecture will allow OEMs and their customers to rapidly and painlessly adapt to these changes. One of the best examples is the change in storage networking performance. While a major jump in performance may send some market players into a frenzy of "market-tecure" or "slide-ware" in order to define how they will cope with the new changes, the R/Evolution Architecture provides OEMs with a simple solution that will allow them to effectively manage these changes in advance.

Core Module Configurations

Business Advantage For OEMs: R/Evolution Architecture + Dot Hill

Dot Hill provides a revolution in how OEM's bring storage products to market. The R/Evolution Architecture helps OEMs accelerate their time-to-market and reduce development costs, while providing an integrated storage platform that makes it easier to incorporate value-added offerings that enhance differentiation and increase profitability.

Time-to-Market Advantage

The R/Evolution Architecture creates a single design core that can be used across multiple families of products. The products can bridge different chassis sizes, host connections, drive types and price points. It provides a common parts and service capability across those product families. In short, the R/Evolution Architecture enables OEMs to capitalize on a "Configure-to-Product" model to dramatically reduce time to market.

Development Savings

The R/Evolution Architecture lowers the cost of new product introduction at every stage for OEMs—from concept to design to manufacturing. This enables substantial development savings for OEMs, delivers market leading pricing for Volume Storage Markets and enhances OEM profitability. But the advantages are not just about products. They extend to Dot Hill's flexible business model and ability to support any level of joint development and go-to-market model on a global basis. This allows OEMs to focus on the part of the program/product that creates the maximum value for OEMs and their customers.

Storage Integration Platform

The R/Evolution Architecture provides a host platform for OEM value-add applications. As software value-add continues to define differentiation in the market, Dot Hill is committed to providing the ideal Volume Market storage platform to enable these profitable solutions. The combination of Dot Hill's core Storage Services software and OEM value-add applications can create a powerful force in the market.

Summary

As the Volume Storage Market continues to evolve, Dot Hill and its R/Evolution Architecture will continue to meet the needs of OEMs and their customers. The ever-increasing need for modularity, flexibility, performance and enterprise data management features will only grow. The R/Evolution Architecture is the integrated platform that provides a complete, flexible template for OEMs to build winning solutions for every segment of the Volume Storage Market, and for their customers to have access to simple, cost-effective upgrades in the future, protecting their investments.

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