As your customers grow, their needs for data storage follow instep. As a result, complex workloads present unprecedented challenges. Thankfully, Dell Technologies has redefined entry-level storage for the small to medium-sized business (SMB) market with its Dell PowerVault ME5 storage appliances.
Below we examine the challenges facing SMBs and review how the PowerVault ME5 delivers value.
Non-stop data growth
With the combination of Edge and mobile computing and HPC, enterprises are creating more data than ever. So it is not unusual to see once robust storage platforms need expansion. For example, the Dell PowerVault ME5 series delivers capacities greater than 6 Petabytes with compatibility with multiple SAN/DAS protocols, including SAS, FC, and iSCSI - complete with various 2U and 5U expansion enclosures.
These improvements entail a 2X improvement over the Dell PowerVault ME4 generation with greater IOPS bandwidth, scale, and connectivity options.
Simplifying operations
More data stored by more devices in more locations combine to create an unprecedented management challenge. Included with the PowerVault ME5 is the PowerVault Manager, which enables IT leaders to conquer complexity within a single GUI with support for CLI APIs or Redfish/Swordfish REST. In addition, the PowerVault integrates seamlessly into Dell's Open Management Enterprise (OME) framework, which allows it to be managed alongside Dell servers, networks, and other infrastructure.
Also, with Dell's CloudIQ integration, PowerVault can provide predictive analytics like capacity projections and operational health.
Catering to today's workloads
Never before has enterprise computing relied on high-performance storage as today. Applications like HPC and AI demand that storage systems deliver more data performance than ever. In response, Dell Technologies has created validated designs for several HPC scenarios. Some of these include:
- Clusters as a Service (CaaS) with Bright Computing
- GPU as a Service (GPUaaS)
- HPC for AI and Data Analytics
- HPC for AI and Analytics with One Convergence Dkube
- Virtualized HPC (vHPC) with VMware
As a result, the PowerVault ME5 can deliver a 15x acceleration in research value recognition and 18x faster AI models.
Other improved workloads include Microsoft and VMware virtualization (up to 500 desktops), cloud gaming, and oil and gas use cases.
The PowerVault ME5 - in-depth
When you're ready to upgrade your storage environment, Dell Technologies is there to support you with several software utilities, including:
- Virtualization integration with VMware vSphere, vCenter SRM, and Microsoft Hyper-V
- An SSD read cache that stores previously read data for quicker execution
- Three levels of auto-tiering to provide the best possible performance without wasting resources
- A replication function that enables data to be sent to any location and PowerVault ME storage environment
- Volume Copy to allow for the easy relocation and or disk-based backup and recovery
- Snapshots, a system that provides easy point-in-time data storage and recovery
- ADAPT (distributed RAID) provides improved data protection functionality with better drive rebuild times
- Thin provisioning which creates disk pools to optimize physical storage capacity
PowerVault ME5 performance
Dual-active controllers with Intel Xeon processors drive this generation's PowerVault storage arrays. As a result, it offers:
- 12 GB/s sequential read and 10 GB/s sequential write throughput
- IOPS performance of up to 640K
- 6.72 Petabyte storage capacity
- ME5 firmware is designed to support up to 8 Petabytes of capacity
- 12 Gb SAS backend for scalability
Ending the SDD vs. HDD debate
SDDs have their advantages over older HDDs, like latency, for example. However, from an economic point of view, HDDs have the Edge making them the practical choice in many situations. To maximize performance, the ME5 generation's auto-tiering function analyzes data patterns and can appropriately store data on both SDDs and HDDs.
Deploying the PowerVault ME5
With the assistance of PowerVault Manager, the ME5 provides an HTML 5-based interface to guide you through installations that can take minutes instead of hours. In addition, the ME5 arrays are designed to connect directly to other Dell-based platforms like PowerEdge servers.
However, chances are, your team's focus is on your solution as a whole, not just hardware, especially if your growth is global. Therefore, it's best to leverage a hardware partner with global reach and relationships with tier one suppliers like Dell Technologies to facilitate maximum scalability.
To power up your solution's data storage, partner with UNICOM Engineering
In addition to being a three-time Dell Technologies Americas OEM Partner of the Year, UNICOM Engineering has spent decades providing expert systems integration support and advice. Today, we leverage our position as an Intel Technology Provider and a Dell Technologies Titanium OEM Partner to drive seamless transitions and support for even the most demanding applications.
Armed with a variety of experts, we can not only help power your existing solutions but limit the risk of bringing new ones to market. To learn more about how UNICOM Engineering can help drive your solution forward, watch our Why Build on Dell Video or visit our website to schedule a consultation today.