Specifications
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Technology Overview
Xserve RAID
Product Overview
Key Features
Xserve RAID is a cost-eective answer to the growing storage requirements of
businesses and institutions everywhere. Its high-performance, high-availability
features include:
Massive storage. Xserve RAID holds up to 14 hot-swappable Apple Drive Modules—
now with up to 10.5TB of total storage—in a rack-optimized 3U enclosure.
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Each 750GB
hard drive connects to a dedicated Ultra ATA drive channel, eliminating a traditional
source of bottlenecks and maximizing the 400MB/s Fibre Channel host connection. By
adding more Xserve RAID systems, you’ll have virtually limitless expansion capabilities:
A standard 42U rack can hold more than 147TB of Xserve RAID storage.
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Advanced data protection. The high-availability architecture and dual independent
RAID controllers support RAID levels 0, 1, 3, 5, and 0+1. Xserve RAID also supports hybrid
RAID levels 10, 30, and 50 when used in conjunction with host-based software RAID.
High-availability design. To ensure availability of your critical data, Xserve RAID is
designed for nonstop operation. Redundant hot-swappable power and cooling modules
allow the system to keep functioning even if one module fails. All the active components
are modular, making it easy to replace them in seconds—usually without any interrup-
tion of service—and with no tools required. In the event of a failed drive, a global hot
spare provides automatic rebuilding of data, without administrator intervention.
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Fast data access. Dual independent RAID controllers provide protected storage with
unprecedented performance. In fact, Xserve RAID boasts an average read throughput
of up to 380MB/s
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and write throughput of up to 301MB/s.
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While throughput rates
are measured dierently in video applications, Xserve RAID is fast enough to support
real-time, uncompressed, high-denition (HD) and multiple-stream (SD) video editing
using Apple’s Final Cut Pro—without dropping a frame.
Intuitive management and monitoring tools. Sophisticated remote management
capabilities dramatically simplify setup and monitoring of RAID storage. The Java-based
RAID Admin application can build RAID sets on the y, allowing administrators to bring
protected storage online instantly, without waiting for initialization to complete. RAID
Admin also provides continuous feedback on system activity and health. If a problem is
detected, the remote monitoring software automatically sends notication via email or
pager, so administrators can quickly identify problems and repair them without down-
time or data loss.
Comprehensive service and support. To ensure rapid issue resolution for your server
and storage deployments, choose from a full range of AppleCare products designed to
provide integrated expert support.
Xserve
Xserve RAID works seamlessly with Xserve,
Apple’s high-density 1U rack-optimized server.
Equipped with Dual-Core Intel Xeon processors,
Xserve packs phenomenal power and a rich
feature set into an aordable, easy-to-deploy
system.
Xserve RAID
Xserve RAID combines leading-edge storage
technologies for massive capacity, fast
performance, and superior data protection.