I've worked with the EMC VNXe. The good parts: * They're fast * They're multiprotocol: They do iSCSI, NFS and CIFS/SMB. Theoretically, you could use one to replace a Windows or *NIX+Samba file server. * They integrate with enterprise backup solutions, so that your backup solution uses the integrated snapshot facility to read your data directly from the storage appliance
I've not used the CIFS feature, as I've only ever used them in conjunction with VMware vSphere aka ESXi, both as an iSCSI target and as an NFS server. The limitation you mention is not the only one. I've not run into it, but it's one I'll keep a look out for. I speak from experience that the 1.99TB limitation is due to their iSCSI target. I've created 4TB NFS exports on one, using NL-SAS drives, for use with VMware. Other stupid limitations: * They are VERY VERY STRICT about your allowable RAID configurations. For example, if you put 12x 1TB SAS drives in it, you have 2x 6 drive RAID6 arrays at roughly 4TB each. If you put 12x 15k SAS drives in it, you have 2x 5 drive RAID 5 arrays and 2 hot spares. Period. You have no other RAID set options. * As an iSCSI target, they don't multipath. Period. Redundancy is handled by migrating the iSCSI service (or NFS service, or CIFS service) between the controller cards. Truly and honesty, if you want an entry-level iSCSI storage box your best bet is one of these devices: * Dell MD3200i * IBM DS3512 * HP P2000 G3 All three of those boxes are the *exact same device*; the OEM is LSI. They are all just as fast as the EMC - faster even, since they support multipath! - and do not suffer from the arbitrary storage limitations of the EMC. The downside is they only support iSCSI (or SAS)... but you can also say they do one thing and do that one thing VERY well. -----Original Message----- From: Kurt Buff [mailto:kurt.b...@gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 6:22 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: EMC limitations? I've got a new-ish (January) EMC VNXe 3100, and have run into a troubling limitation - in use as an iSCSI device, it doesn't support LUNs larger than 1.99tb. According to a post by EMC staff on their community forum, it's doe to the implementation of the SCSI II protocol. I don't know if this limitations affects its use as a NAS, but that's disturbing. My Lefthand units support larger LUNs with no problem. And, otherwise, it's performed just fine - no problems at all. Does anyone out there now if other EMC products have this limitation? Kurt ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to listmana...@lyris.sunbeltsoftware.com with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to listmana...@lyris.sunbeltsoftware.com with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin
