Discover Technology: EMC - iSilon

The are three different types of storage nodes: the S-Series, the X-Series, and the NL-Series. S-Series nodes are ultra-performance primary storage for high-transactional and IOPs-intensive applications that are for tier 0 and tier 1 workflows.
X-Series nodes make a balance between large capacity and high-performance storage. These nodes are best for high throughput and high concurrency applications for tier 1 and tier 2 workflows.
NL-Series nodes are designed to provide a cost-effective high density storage solution for tier 3 workflows that are accessed infrequently, but still must be stored and protected.
In addition to the storage nodes, EMC Isilon offers two accelerator nodes: Performance and Backup Accelerator nodes. The former adds CPU, memory and network resources to the cluster, while the latter adds CPU, memory, and Fibre Channel connectivity for connection to tape backup devices.

Storage solutions can be expensive. Tiering classifies data so that it can be stored in the appropriate cost efficient manner. In a tiered system, timely data that needs higher tiers needs faster, and more expensive, storage. In a simple 3-tiered system, tier 1 data is accessed often and is mission-critical. Tier 2 data may be used less frequently or may have fewer users, but it is still important data that users need in a timely manner. Tier 3 data is defined as seldom accessed data that is archived for historical or regulation purposes. Additionally, as the use of solid state drives, or SSDs, increases there is also a type of data that is so time-sensitive and critical to the business that it needs the most efficient storage type.
In an EMC Isilon storage cluster, you can combine SSD and SAS or SSD and SATA drives in one chassis to meet specific storage requirements. You can configure a cluster to keep metadata or data on SSDs, and even to use SSDs in one part of the cluster to store metadata for nodes that have no SSD drives.

The S-Series is purpose built for IOPS-intensive applications. It provides fast primary storage for mission critical, high transactional and random access file-based applications. S-Series nodes can use SSDs to store file system metadata, which improves performance for metadata intensive operations, and to store latency-sensitive file data. You can combine SSD and SAS drives in one chassis to meet specific storage requirements and create a tier 0 for data tiering.
EMC Isilon S-Series nodes are suitable for digital media companies and financial institutions that need high-transactional IOPs for editing and post-production, as well as calculations for business analysis. Energy and surveillance organizations would also benefit from the S-series by using nodes for performance applications that need tier 0 and 1 storage.

The EMC Isilon X-Series is a flexible and comprehensive series that strikes the right balance between large capacity and high-performance storage. The EMC Isilon X-Series accelerates high concurrent and sequential throughput applications, speeding access to massive amounts of critical data, dramatically reducing the cost and complexity of managing and storing data.
There are two types available; the 4U X400 and the 2U X200 platforms. The X400 provides more capacity at a given performance level. This node would be ideal for someone who needs more capacity then performance according to the requirements they have provided. In the X200 space, this node is purchased because there are more performance requirements than capacity. With the X200 there is also upgradability, SSDs can be added after the fact, and memory can be upgraded as well. The X400 cannot be upgraded or used with SSDs.
The EMC Isilon X-Series suitable for home directories and healthcare environments that have large files. X-Series nodes are well suited for companies that produce digital media or deliver video, audio, and image services. X-Series nodes are best used for organizations that perform heavy computation such as life science companies or energy organizations.

The NL-Series is purpose-built for large capacity storage, enabling near-line storage performance at near-tape storage costs. High density, massive capacity and maximum cost per TB are the strengths of the NL-series. No SSDs are supported on this platform.
The EMC Isilon NL-Series is ideal for complementing and improving a company’s existing tape backup, archiving, data protection strategies, and provides economical storage. This series uses low cost SATA drives. NL-Series products have the flexibility to configure different drive sizes, memory, and network interfaces giving customers the ability to customize the EMC Isilon product based on the environment.

Performance Accelerators are diskless nodes which increase overall throughput, CPU memory, and networking support throughput workflows. By seamlessly adding a Performance Accelerator to an existing EMC Isilon S-Series or X-Series cluster, you can add more than 400 MB/s of single stream throughout and up to 700 MB/s of concurrent throughput. Typically, one Performance Accelerator per storage node is recommended for supporting write-intensive applications. For read-intensive applications, up to three Accelerators per storage node is recommended.
Backup Accelerators enable high-speed backup of file system data to locally attached tape libraries or media changer devices. The Backup Accelerator can be seamlessly added to any existing EMC Isilon cluster to deliver up to 480 MB/s of performance across four concurrent streams, speeding back-up operations and reducing the risk of business-critical data loss. It is used to pre-fetch data from the file system and across the InfiniBand network efficiently push the data to tape. Each Backup Accelerator can support up to four paths via Fiber Channel ports. While EMC Isilon supports the use of Network Data Management Protocol (NDMP) for backups, the use of a Backup Accelerator enables significantly faster backups.

With greater capacity, usually comes greater performance requirements across all storage. For unstructured and dynamic data, EMC Isilon’s clustered storage provides predictable growth with predictable performance.
The S-series platform is the answer for ultra-performance primary storage, purpose built for high IOPS-intensive random access file-based applications. The EMC Isilon X-Series, is the most flexible and comprehensive storage product line, striking the right balance between large capacity and high-performance storage. The NL series focuses on cost and capacity with much less attention paid to performance. The NL-Series combines high density and efficiency, with massive capacity capabilities.