SAN - Storage Area Network - What are your oppinions

[Santa]

We are currently looking at EMC's CX300/CX500 line with McData Fiber Switches
Anyone implement this setup?

Our sister company has an IBM SAN with Brocade switches that they seem to like alot but cost almost 2 times as much.

Now granted money isn't usually everything but when the price is twice as much its hard to really ignore the price tag.

For half the price we get the same port density and 1/3 more storage space. So Money is not the only thing.

I am trying to convince our AIX System Administrator to go EMC instead of his SSA Rack but he is weary about support and compatibility.

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[warcrow]

Originally posted by: Santa
We are currently looking at EMC's CX300/CX500 line with McData Fiber Switches
Anyone implement this setup?

Our sister company has an IBM SAN with Brocade switches that they seem to like alot but cost almost 2 times as much.

Now granted money isn't usually everything but when the price is twice as much its hard to really ignore the price tag.

For half the price we get the same port density and 1/3 more storage space. So Money is not the only thing.

I am trying to convince our AIX System Administrator to go EMC instead of his SSA Rack but he is weary about support and compatibility.

Any input would be appreciated.

We use EMCs on our network (DMX 2000 and some older celleras) and the work extremely well, have good support.....what else could you want?

 

[spidey07]

emc and brocade as well as a big HP array/SAN.

works like a champ.

 

[Freeze]

Just a note here. The CX series is a midrange performance class (the Clariion line) while the DMX2000 is a Symmetrix (high end). Two completely different storage arrays.

I'm not really qualified to comment on competitors. I'm not aware of any support or compatibility issues, but then again I'm only a driver engineer.

*Not Speaking for EMC*

 

[Santa]

Our company would probably fall into needing the midrange SAN at this point. We are trying to consolidate at this point where we are purchasing alot of DASD which makes the most sense.

Anyone out there ever have a problem with IBM's HACMP with EMC's SAN? Only person speaking to it is this IBM rep right now and I have a feeling that he is already a little bias because if we chose EMC SAN he would loose a sale of SSA or FastT storage. So its hard to know whether to trust him or not.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Santa
Our company would probably fall into needing the midrange SAN at this point. We are trying to consolidate at this point where we are purchasing alot of DASD which makes the most sense.

Anyone out there ever have a problem with IBM's HACMP with EMC's SAN? Only person speaking to it is this IBM rep right now and I have a feeling that he is already a little bias because if we chose EMC SAN he would loose a sale of SSA or FastT storage. So its hard to know whether to trust him or not.

first rule of thumb
"Never listen to sales reps"


Also if it is a large purchase you can get a demo in, get references from other companies in town and get their story.

 

[Santa]

I have a contact at Honda I am trying to get ahold of. They are running the exact configuration we are looking to put together. Hopfully they can give us a good thumbs up. Awaiting call back.