About storage arrays at Server Hub
Storage arrays give a server room its shared storage tier: an enclosure of drives run by its own controllers, presenting capacity to your hosts as block storage. The range covers SAN arrays that serve a virtualisation cluster over iSCSI or Fibre Channel, direct-attached arrays cabled to one or two servers over SAS, and expansion enclosures that add bays to an array you already run.
Sizing starts with the workload, not the raw terabytes. Decide how the hosts connect — SAS for a small cluster in one rack, iSCSI over your existing Ethernet, Fibre Channel where a fabric exists — then choose drives for the job: flash for databases and virtual machines, high-capacity hard drives for backup and archive. Plan RAID and a hot spare into the usable figure, and choose dual controllers for anything in production.
Every array is priced in rand with VAT included, and each product page states its condition and warranty. For file shares and backup appliances see NAS and network storage; for the hosts themselves, servers and refurbished servers; and for the enclosure to house it all, server cabinets.
Prices are shown in South African rand, with VAT included.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a SAN, DAS and a NAS?
- DAS (direct-attached storage) connects an array straight to one or two servers over SAS. A SAN presents block storage to many servers over iSCSI or Fibre Channel. A NAS serves files over the network to users and applications. Arrays suit virtualisation clusters and databases; a NAS suits shared files and backup.
What is an expansion enclosure?
- An expansion enclosure adds drive bays to an existing array or RAID controller. It has no storage controllers of its own — it relies on the array or server it is cabled to — so check compatibility with your head unit and the cabling before you buy.
Why does a storage array have two controllers?
- Redundancy. With two controllers the array keeps serving data if one fails, and firmware can be updated without downtime. For production virtualisation and databases dual controllers are the norm; a single controller suits backup targets and less critical storage.
