RAID Storage
CASE STUDY
[At-a-Glance]
> CHALLENGE
To find a cost effective RAID
storage solution to offload a
vastly increasing library of
data, audio and video files
currently over-burdening existing server storage space.
> SOLUTION
Nexsan’s high density 4TB
SATABlade storage array
> BENEFITS
• Extremely low cost per
terabyte
• Significantly faster time
to disk
• Easy accessibility
• Fully compatible with
existing operating system
and server
• Compact, 1U high form
factor
• Convenient top load
design with individual
drive independence
• Unique cooling design
for unrestricted air flow
University of Maryland
‘‘
The SATABlade from RADirect cost us about
$2,500 per terabyte. None of the other vendors
offered enterprise class solutions that even came
close to that.
’’
James White, IT Support Specialist
NATIONAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
Research Institute at the University of Maryland
Offloads Large Library of Files to RAID Storage Array
Rewarded with Lower Costs, Improved Storage Utilization and
Faster Time to Disk
The National Foreign Language Center (NFLC) is a research institute at the
University of Maryland that works to define current and future language needs of
the United States and helps build capacity to meet those needs. Since its founding in 1986, the NFLC has served as the nation’s principal institutional resource
for strategic planning and drafting of policy for language in the country.
Until recently, all of the NFLC’s 40+ users had relied on the organization’s existing Windows-based Dell PowerEdge 2600 server with internal disk only for storing their data, audio and video files. With the server quickly nearing capacity, IT
support specialist James White knew that it wouldn’t be sufficient for much
longer. “When I realized that we had accumulated 300-400GB of data in less
than two months, it was clear the time had come to find a new storage solution.”
White took to the Internet, and his search for “storage units” led him to valueadded reseller RADirect, Inc. (www.rad-direct.com). Because he was still unsure
of capacity required and budget, RADirect presented him with a range of RAID
storage options. His search didn’t end with RADirect though. The university
issued a call for bids, which resulted in proposals from several additional vendors, including Dell.
Ultimately, RADirect won the bid. The NFLC purchased a fully-populated (8 x
500GB drives) 4TB Nexsan SATABlade storage array. For White, the decision was
easy. “The SATABlade from RADirect cost us about $2,500 per terabyte. None of
the other vendors offered enterprise class solutions that even came close to
that.”
Although price for capacity was the biggest selling point, the SATABlade also
offered other features that made it an attractive choice. The compact 1U high
form factor, top load design with individual drive independence for easy access,
and unique cooling design for unrestricted air flow were all, as White puts it, “a
nice bonus”.
RAID Storage
University of Maryland
‘‘
Everyone is thrilled that it’s now so much easier
and faster to access and copy files.
’’
James White, IT Support Specialist
NATIONAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
CASE STUDY
ABOUT RADIRECT
RADirect is a value-added reseller
offering a specialized portfolio of
products and solutions for a variety
of network access and storage
networking applications. Founded
in 2000 as a member of the
RADirect arranged for a quick delivery of the SATABlade unit, and it wasn’t long
before White had it up and running. “After setting up the disks in the Drive
Manager, I had to re-boot the server to make them visible to the rest of the system, and voila! All volumes are visible on the network, and access is fast.”
internationally renowned RAD Group
of companies, RADirect's product
portfolio includes such reputable
vendors as SANRAD, Nexsan, RAD
Data Communications, Radware,
Initially, White had a few users test the access with a few large Word and Adobe
Acrobat files. Once these proved successful, they began migration of a 500+GB
chunk of files to the SATABlade. Noted White, “We were all very pleased to discover that the SATABlade was fully compatible with our Exabyte VXA
PacketLoader and Veritas Backup Exec system. Migration would have been
stymied if I could not guarantee a backup of the data.”
FibroLAN, Ceragon Networks,
Today, the SATABlade is dedicated to a specific group of “power” users with the
largest need for data. These users rely heavily on thousands of large audio (MP3
and WAV) and video/movie files, in addition to smaller text, spreadsheet and database files. User feedback so far has been positive. “Everyone is thrilled that it’s
now so much easier and faster to access and copy files,” says White. The remainder of the users with smaller storage requirements continues to use the Dell server which has now re-claimed much of its storage space previously hoarded by the
large audio and video files.
• RAID Storage
While White is still unsure as to how long it will be before the SATABlade reaches
full capacity, he is certain that when the time comes, he will undoubtedly choose
another RAID storage solution from RADirect. Of his experience with RADirect he
says, “From systems engineering to sales, everyone I dealt with was absolutely
focused on getting this project quoted, sold, shipped and up and running within a
remarkable timeframe. Thank you!”
• And much more
PacketLight Networks and PineApp.
SOLUTION OFFERINGS
• IP SAN
• Fiber Access
• xDSL Last Mile Access
• Migration of Legacy Services to IP
• Voice over IP
• Load Balancing
• Fixed Wireless
900 Corporate Drive
Mahwah, New Jersey 07430
Tel: (201) 512-9697
Toll Free: (866) 299-0989
Fax: (201) 221-8124
Email: sales@rad-direct.com
URL: www.rad-direct.com