User guide

1–2 Introduction
Hitachi Unified Storage VM Block Module Hardware User Guide
hardware components
The following sections describe the HUS VM storage system components.
Overview
The Hitachi Unified Storage VM storage system (HUS VM) is an entry-level
enterprise storage system offering the features and functions of a high-end
enterprise-class system with the configuration simplicity of a modular
system. At a high level, it is comprised of a controller chassis and a variety
of drive boxes in a one to five rack configuration.
The HUS VM offers an entirely new type of scalable high performance
storage, capable of supporting demanding workloads while providing great
flexibility. It offers much higher performance, better scalability, higher
reliability, and greater flexibility than any competitive offering today.
The controller design is a “compacted logical” implementation of the HiStar
design as used in the VSP system, but it uses completely different hardware
with some faster, newer generation parts. The HUS VM uses most of the
system software from the VSP system. In general, it could be seen as a
smaller VSP that provides a lot of I/O power as well as most of the features
of a VSP system.
The HiStar based controller supports the SAS cables, DDR3 cache DIMMs,
and the front end and back end connectivity modules from the HUS 100
family, as well as the HUS 100 drive boxes as described in the following
table.
Table 1-1: Supported HUS VM components
All system components are mounted in either a standard Hitachi Data
Systems 19-inch, 42U rack, or a customer-supplied rack that meets the rack
specifications listed in this manual.
The following sections provide descriptions and illustrations of the HUS VM
storage system and its components.
Drive Box Description Maximum boxes / drives per system
CBX 5U Controller chassis 1
DBS 2U x 24 SFF drives 48 / 1,152
DBL 2U x 12 LFF drives 48 / 576
DBF 2U x 12 FMD drives 8 / 96
DBX 4U x 48 LFF drives 24 / 1,152
Note: The HUS VM is an “open systems” only array. Mainframe systems
are not supported.