Dell DX6000 Object Storage Platform
Efficiently Store, Access and Distribute Digital Content
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Overview:
Data volumes are growing exponentially, and Dell has an evolutionary and comprehensive Intelligent Data Management (IDM) strategy to help give you back control. Dell's IDM portfolio includes platforms, software, applications and services that are designed to give you efficiency and visibility into your organization's data access and usage requirements so that you can align storage tiering and management policies to the changing business value of information. In particular, storage of unstructured content such as rich media, presents a challenge which must be dealt with for compliance and business requirements. Use of traditional SAN and NAS disk for secondary storage of content or data objects comes with a high price tag and tapebased systems bring their own access challenges. To meet these needs, Dell created the DX Object Storage Platform as part of its IDM strategy to offer an affordable peer-scaling object storage architecture based on industry-standard hardware.
Intelligent Data Management is an evolutionary lifecycle approach to information that manages capacity optimization along with automated policies that utilize metadata along with storage management software to automatically place content on the right storage tier and type. A key pillar of this strategy is the Dell DX Object Storage Platform - a complete, integrated hardware and software solution designed to handle storage of files and accompanying metadata on disk-based storage nodes. The platform scales to handle billions of objects through the use of unique file identifiers created from one enormous, flat, non-hierarchical address space. A basic DX configuration consists of either 2Ux4 drive or density-optimized 2Ux12 drive x86-based "storage nodes" and one out-of-band cluster services node. Each storage node can contain between 1 to 24TB of raw data. Use of standards based hardware and DX Object Storage software creates a lower cost solution than traditional SAN storage and easier, smarter management and scalability than traditional NAS platforms.
The Dell DX Object Storage Platform is designed to intelligently access, store, protect and distribute fixed digital content. From Web publishing to archiving, the Dell DX Object Storage Platform offers a powerful combination of data and storage management features, and an elegant, self-managing, peer-scaling architecture.
- Simple - Simple to implement, manage and adapt
- Scalable - Scalable from a few terabytes to multiple petabytes; store billions of files and get broad access through HTTP and with the new DX6000G, via standard file protocols (CIFS and NFS)
- Affordable - Self-managing and self-healing with x86 hardware and integrated software
What is object storage?
Object storage is the intelligent evolution of disk storage - creating, storing and distributing variable-sized data objects, and their associated metadata, rather than simply placing blocks of data on tracks and sectors. Each object has its rich metadata inextricably linked to it, enabling long-term preservation while ensuring data remains safe and accessible over time.
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Simple architecture A flat-address-space design removes file-system complexity and the need to manage logical unit numbers (LUNs) and RAID groups. Cost-effectiveness Metadata Enhanced scalability |
Powerful data management
Information is only valuable when it can be accessed, but keeping it readily available can be cumbersome and expensive. With the Dell DX Object Storage Platform, you can simplify data management while easily expanding capacity.
Object-based and metadata-aware disk storage lets you identify and retrieve information quickly; better leverage your data for decision-making; automatically manage that data from creation through deletion; and minimize your dependence on complex and sometimes unreliable tape storage.
- Policy-based management provides automated, object-level retention and deletion based on metadata, eliminating the human errors, access and preservation problems that increase risk and drive up costs.
- Self-healing functionality continuously self-manages the integrity of stored objects to detect and repair errors and automatically reconfigures and regenerates objects without the need for IT intervention.
- Easy interface employs simple HTTP, optional DX6000G for CIFS/NFS, and offers a native API SDK integration toolkit.
- Dell ProConsult Services offer collaborative consultation to help you design a system that fits your specific needs.
You can now reduce your storage footprint and improve storage utilization and optimization with the new DX6000G Storage Compression Node (SCN). This feature can transmit compressed or decompressed data, using policies to intelligently move archived objects based on your need for high compression or fast rehydration.
The Dell DX Object Storage Platform is also supported by a large and ever-growing number of independent software vendors (ISVs) who can help maximize your investment with a common object-storage pool for multiple applications.
Scale to billions of objects
You can be confident that DX Object Storage will scale to keep pace with your growth. Ideal for large-scale digital content and long-term data storage, object storage empowers your organization to add capacity without the setup and management complexity, or the costs of performance storage. Now, with the new DX6000G SCN option, you can maximize capacity utilization for infrequently accessed content through object compression. This policy-based storage optimization can be achieved by moving data automatically between two types of compression modes.
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Superb cost management
DX Object Storage can help cut storage costs versus traditional performance storage methods, allowing you to affordably store and access your digital content without locking yourself into a costly, inflexible strategy.
- Standards-based x86 hardware
DX Object Storage is built on Dell's rack-based server platforms that have been optimized for storage. - End-to-end solution
The fully integrated hardware and software solution comes with available design, implementation and support services. - Transparent upgrades
As storage needs evolve, you can easily add, replace or retire nodes without any manual migration requirements. - Power optimization
Configure power-optimization features, such as drive spin-down, to meet specific use-case and cost priorities. - Scaling options
Storage nodes are available in either 4-drive or 12-drive configurations to meet your initial capacity needs, provide flexible capacity upgrades and achieve your unique performance requirements.
Configuration flexibility
Dell DX Object Storage Platform offers several configurations to meet current and future customer needs:
 DX6000 |
DX6000 Cluster Services Node provides content routing, network and replicator services for the DX solution. |
 DX6004S |
4-drive DX storage node |
 DX6012S |
12-drive DX storage node |
 DX6000G CFS |
DX6000G Cluster File Server (CFS) provides standard CIFS and NFS file protocol access to the DX solution (optional) |
DX6000G SCN |
DX6000G Storage Compression Node (SCN) provides object compression (optional) |
Key Benefits:
Store content in context
Object storage allows the attachment of metadata, which is additional identifying information, to unstructured data like files, video, and images. This metadata enables automated policy-based management features on the DX Object Storage Platform, such as object-level retention, protection and deletion, eliminating the human errors, access and preservation problems that can increase risk and drive up costs. It also facilitates enhanced discovery for compliance, data analysis and decision-making, enabling you to bring more value from your data.
Massive scale without complexity
You can be confident that DX Object Storage will scale to keep pace with your data growth. Ideal for large-scale digital content and long-term data storage, it empowers your organization to add capacity in amounts as small as 1TB scaling up to petabytes and to billions of objects without the set-up and management complexity and costs of traditional file and block storage. With two different storage node options, you can place clusters in branch/remote offices and replicate to a larger central office cluster. Or you can start smaller and flexibly scale at your own pace, ensuring a perfect balance between capacity and throughput thanks to a flexible, peer-scaling architecture. As a foundational storage tier, DX Object Storage provides access to unstructured data for multiple applications, securing data in one place for risk and cost management and enhancing your discovery and decision-making capabilities.
Access the right files at the right time
Help meet data management and governance needs with policy-based retention and selectable content control permitting only authorised users to reference, alter and delete data. Selfhealing functions continuously self-manage the integrity of stored objects to detect and repair errors and automatically reconfigure and regenerate objects without the need for IT intervention. Customizable replication options between local clusters and across multiple sites provide you the control to meet your access and protection needs.
Solutions designed for your unique needs
Dell Consulting Services* services can work collaboratively with you to determine a blueprint that will fit within your needs, but ultimately help you meet your data management goals without adding unnecessary cost or complexity. We work with you to automate, standardize and reduce complexity to help improve the efficiency of your IT operations. Dell Consulting Services begin with approximately half-day workshops to identify and prioritize your challenges, introducing well-defined engagements designed to deliver predictable outcomes on defined timelines.
Cost-effective storage
Align the relative business value of your data with the appropriate storage cost with DX Object Storage which utilizes Dell's standards-based x86 server hardware that is optimized for storage. It is a fully-integrated end-to-end hardware and software solution with power optimization features, such as drive spin-down, to meet specific use-case and cost priorities. The modular design makes it possible for you to purchase storage on demand and easily add, replace or retire nodes without any manual migration requirements - ending the "refresh or renew" paralysis. You can gain control over your capital and are able to make more confident decisions about your infrastructure. When you choose Dell's Object Storage solutions and services, you can get a clear picture of your data-where it's coming from, what it is, and how it's being used by your organizational or business units-so you can implement consistent storage and retention policies without unnecessary costs or sacrificing flexibility and better use this data for operational and strategic decision-making.
Solution ecosystem
The DX Object Storage Platform uses an easy interface that employs simple HTTP and Native API integration. It is supported by a comprehensive and ever-growing ecosystem of independent software vendors (ISVs) who can maximize your investment by leveraging a common object-storage pool for multiple applications. Dell is developing integrations with partners in areas like medical archiving, file, email and sharepoint archiving, eDiscovery and enterprise content management.
Product Views:
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Front View
Front Open (6 Drives with DVD-ROM) View
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| DX Cluster Services Node The cluster services node helps simplify and enhance cluster deployment and management through an intergrated suite of network services, content routing and monitoring tools. |
DX Cluster File Server The DX6000G is a network protocol gateway, allowing standard file protocols (CIFS/NFS) to access the DX Object Storage platform. |
Technical Specifications:
A basic configuration consists of Two DX Cluster Services Node and two of the same type DX Storage Nodes.
| Features | DX6000 Cluster Services |
DX6000G Cluster Services |
DX6004S Storage Node |
DX6012S Storage Node |
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| Great For | Service node for all DX Object Storage Platform configurations. | Optional CIFS/NFS gateway to the DX Object Storage Platform. Deployed with DX6000 Cluster Services Node and DX6004s or DX6012s storage nodes. | Medium to large DX solution deployments. Deployed with the DX6000 and optional DX6000G Cluster File Server. | Low capacity entry point into the DX solution. Deployed with the DX6000 and optional DX6000G Cluster File Server. |
| Software | DX Object Storage Software | DX Object Storage Software | DX Object Storage Software1 | DX Object Storage Software1 |
| Software Features | Content Routing, Selectable Immutability, Network Services, Replicator Services | Content Routing, Selectable Immutability, Network Services, Replicator Services | Object Storage Management, Storage Optimization | Object Storage Management, Storage Optimization |
| Storage | Six 3.5" SATA (7.2K) Hard disk drives. Available capacities: 250 GB, 1 TB |
Six 3.5" SATA (7.2K) Hard disk drives. Available capacities: 250 GB, 1 TB |
Four 3.5" SATA (7.2K) Hard disk drives Available capacities: 250GB , 500GB , 1TB , 2TB |
Twelve 3.5" SATA (7.2K) Hard disk drives. Available capacities: 250 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB |
| Maximum Internal Raw Capacity | 6 TB | 6 TB | 8 TB | 24 TB |
| Peripheral Bay | DVD-ROM | DVD-ROM | N/A | N/A |
| Data Protection | RAID 5 through PERC H700 (6Gb/s) with 512MB battery-backed cache | RAID 5 through PERC H700 (6Gb/s) with 512MB battery-backed cache | User-defined object replication (no RAID required) | User-defined object replication (no RAID required) |
| Communication (Standard) | Four embedded Broadcom NetXtreme II 5709c Gigabit Ethernet NIC with failover | Four embedded Broadcom NetXtreme II 5709c Gigabit Ethernet NIC with failover | One Dual-Port Broadcom 5716 Gigabit NIC | One Dual-Port Broadcom 5716 Gigabit NIC |
| Communication (Optional) | Broadcom NetXtreme II 5709C Quad-port Gigabit Ethernet Adapter | Broadcom NetXtreme II 5709C Quad-port Gigabit Ethernet Adapter | Broadcom NetXtreme II 5709 Dual-Port Gigabit Ethernet Adapter | Broadcom NetXtreme II 5709C Quad-port Gigabit Ethernet Adapter |
| Power | Two hot-plug 870W power supplies | Two hot-plug 870W power supplies | One non-redundant 350W power supply Two hot-pluggable redundant 400W hot-plug power supplies | 750W non-redundant or redundant hot-plug power supply |
| Availability Features | Hot-plug hard drives, Hot-plug redundant power, Hot-plug redundant cooling, ECC memory, Spare Row Single Device Data Correction (SDDC), iDRAC6 Enterprise or iDRAC6 Express, Tool-less chassis, Cluster support |
Hot-plug hard drives, Hot-plug redundant power, Hot-plug redundant cooling, ECC memory, Spare Row Single Device Data Correction (SDDC), iDRAC6 Enterprise or iDRAC6 Express, Tool-less chassis, Cluster support |
Hot-swap hard drives, redundant power, ECC memory, Quad-Pack LED, iDRAC6 Enterprise or iDRAC6 Express | Hot-swap hard drives, redundant power, ECC memory, Quad-Pack LED, iDRAC6 Enterprise or iDRAC6 Express |
| Chassis Dimensions | 2U Height: 8.64cm (3.40") Width: 44.31cm (17.44") Depth: 68.07cm (26.80") |
2U Height: 8.64cm (3.40") Width: 44.31cm (17.44") Depth: 68.07cm (26.80") |
1U Height: 42.4mm (1.67") Width: 434.0mm (17.10") Depth: 610mm (24.00") |
2U Height: 8.67cm (3.42") Width: 44.52cm (17.53") Depth: 66.46cm (26.17") |
| Weight (maximum configuration) | 26.1kg (57.54lbs) | 26.1kg (57.54lbs) | 15kg (33.02lbs) | 29.0kg (63.8lbs) |
| System Management | Dell OpenManage™ featuring Dell Management Console Lifecycle Controller iDRAC6 Enterprise (Optional) VFlash (Optional) |
Dell OpenManage™ featuring Dell Management Console Lifecycle Controller iDRAC6 Enterprise (Optional) VFlash (Optional) |
BMC, IPMI 2.0 compliant Lifecycle Controller enabled via iDRAC6 Express or Enterprise VFlash - Unified Server Communicator (optional). |
BMC, IPMI 2.0 compliant Lifecycle Controller enabled via iDRAC6 Express or Enterprise VFlash - Unified Server Communicator (optional). |
| Acoustics | Idle:LwA-UL2 = 5.5 bels, LpAm3 = 39 dBA | Idle:LwA-UL2 = 5.5 bels, LpAm3 = 39 dBA | Idle:LwA-UL2 = 5.5 bels, LpAm3 = 39 dBA | Idle:LwA-UL2 = 6.4 bels, LpAm3 = 51 dBA |
| Rail Support | ReadyRails sliding rails for 4-post racks, static ReadyRails for 4-post and 2-post racks, and optional support for cable management arm |
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| Regulatory and Environmental Compliance | Regulatory Model: E02S Regulatory Type: E02S001 |
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1 During the netboot process, the Storage Node retrieves this image from the Content Services Node and runs it out of memory. 2 LwA - UL is the upper limit sound power levels (LwA) calculated per section 4.4.1 of ISO 9296 (1988) and measured in accordance to ISO 7779 (1999). 3 LpAm is the average bystander position A-Weighted sound pressure level calculated per section 4.4.4 of ISO 9296 (1988) and measured in accordance to ISO 7779 (1999).
Services:
Dell Services IT Consulting
Dell Services leverages a targeted consulting methodology based on experiences gained through thousands of customer engagements keeping projects on time and on task. Dell can collaboratively help you plan, assess and implement data management projects, and provide the training and knowledge handoff to help ensure your storage system's effectiveness.
| Phase | Description |
| Storage Simplification Workshop Understand the potential |
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| Backup, Recovery & Archiving Assessment Make informed decisions |
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| Design Lay the path for success |
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| Implementation Capture the Value |
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Data archiving and Dell Services
By leveraging proven experience and methodology, Dell Services can help you identify, design, implement, and maintain the right data archiving solution for your environment.
Backup, recovery and archiving assessment
Dell assesses the customer's data archiving needs and provides actionable recommendations.
Data archiving design
Data archiving solution designs are tailored to meet customer needs with solutions that include DX Object Storage, Symantec and CommVault products.
DX Object Storage solution design
DX Object Storage-specific data archiving design services help ensure successful implementation and deployment in complex environments.
Dell ProSupport
Dell breaks the mold of traditional IT support with Dell ProSupport - a 100 percent configurable suite of professional support services that can simplify your IT from the desktop to the datacenter.
With Dell ProSupport you can customize your support services based on who you want supported, how you want them supported, and your preferred speed of response. Customize your support even further for specific needs such as asset and data protection or proactive support.
The Dell ProSupport portfolio can provide:
- Expertise for specialized applications and technology, such as virtualization, systems management, Microsoft Exchange and more
- Proactive problem avoidance services to help ensure you achieve maximum uptime
- Rapid response to help reduce unplanned downtime
- Tech-to-tech support with Fast-Track Dispatch for certified IT professionals
- Laptop tracking and data protection services help enable your mobile workforce while helping to protect your investment
To get started, simply choose the Dell ProSupport for IT service model designed for IT professionals like you, and then take advantage of the Dell ProSupport Options and recommended solutions that align to how you use your technology.
Documentation:
Pricing Notes:
- All Prices are Inclusive of GST
- Pricing and product availability subject to change without notice.