Datasheet

IBM System Storage

Data Sheet

IBM Systems and Technology

Low power consumption, effective hardware utilization and

cost were at the forefront when developing the EXP3500

expansion units. EXP3500 power supplies were designed to

meet multiple power efficiency standards, such as the 80 PLUS

certified power supply efficiency standard, enabling EXP3500

to reduce annual energy expenditures throughout the life of the

enclosure.

Both of the EXP3500 expansion units can be a component of a

high-performance storage solution with IBM System Storage

DS3500. With each external SAS port on the ESM supporting

a 6 Gbps x4-wide connection, these expansion units can achieve

excellent throughput to the host. This can allow EXP3500

expansion units to effectively support data-intensive applications

as part of an overall storage implementation.

EXP3500 expansion units provide the scalability support to

help meet relentless data growth while providing the flexibility

to meet a wide range of workload requirements. When data

capacity demands call for it, EXP3512 and EXP3524 can

cost-effectively support a “start small, grow big” strategy by

connecting additional EXP3512 or EXP3524 expansion

units—up to 192 drives when expanded behind the DS3500

storage system. This can provide investment protection with

the assurance that DS3500 and EXP3500 expansion units can

grow as your organization grows.

Data-on-demand is no longer an optional capability—it is what

businesses require today. Constant access to data on EXP3500

expansion units is achieved with support of redundant power

supplies and optional second ESMs to help ensure that contact

with the drives continues even in the rare instance of an indi-

vidual component failure. Four fans provide routine cooling,

but only three are required to meet the operating specifications,

providing an “N+1” strategy for dealing with a fan failure. With

hot-swappable ESMs, drives and power supplies, components

of EXP3512 and EXP3524 can be removed and replaced with

minimal or no downtime.

Why IBM?

The struggle to manage escalating data capacities, performance

and service level agreements is expected not only to continue,

but to increase. EXP3512 and EXP3524 expansion units, with

6 Gbps SAS drive technology, can provide organizations with a

seamless path to external storage—improving performance,

storage efficiencies and total cost of ownership.