Ultra reliable midrange disk array (IBM System Storage DS6800 Model 1750-522)

Name: Stephen Holland

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Product:	IBM System Storage DS6800 Model 1750-522
Date:	28/03/07 (302 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Redundancy, feature rich, simple configuration, bullet proof, multiplatform, simple licensing model

Disadvantages: Cost per TB, slightly constrictive array model (only RAID5 and RAID 10)

We've had a DS6800 for a couple of years now. A fantastic array. From an ease of maintenance and deployment perspective it's been fantastic, and whilst we do get component failures, the array as a whole is bullet proof. I think IBM's strategy of assuming components do fail, and allowing for that with bucket loads of component redundancy is a pragmatic, albeit slightly pricey approach to delivering reliability. We've had a number of environment related issues and a couple of firmware loads that killed half the unit, and yet the primary functionality kept on going without skipping a beat. Indeed after 2 years with our unit, I'd say you'd have to try quite hard to kill it.
Also this unit comes with old fashioned IBM support, that I haven't seen with any of the other gear we have. When a DDM or Banjo fails, I get a call from IBM before I've even had a chance to notice myself, telling me the replacement should be in my inwards goods store, and sure enough it always is.
There are cheaper options for outright performance in the midrange products, but if you want reliability, you couldn't go past this system. If they ever get around to adding thin provisioning as per their original direction documents, or if you're lucky enough like us, to have SAN Filesystem or GPFS, then a DS6800 is a great solution where a DS8000 would be overkill, or for a DS8000 DR site.
Also if your like us and have a real heterogenous storage network (x86/x86_64, POWER) running win nt, aix and linux, the pricing model is simple. No host attachment licenses etc. Just a per raw TB license.
In short "loving it". Of all the systems I have, the one I'd keep if I had to choose, is the DS6800 (and of course SAN FS/GPFS)

Summary: Fantastic, near bullet proof array controller. Very very reliable.

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