Chapter 1: Overview; Block Configuration; Features - Hitachi F700 Hardware Reference Manual

Chapter 1: Overview

The Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform F700 is a versatile modular, rack-mountable all-flash
array storage system equipped with drive boxes, supporting flash module drives, scaled
for various storage capacity configurations. To deliver consistent low latency host
response times and highest IOP performance across all host connection ports,
conventional hard-disk drives are not supported in an all-flash configuration.
The storage systems provide high performance operations by using dual controllers with
high-speed processors, dual in-line cache memory modules (DIMMs), cache flash
memory (CFM), battery, fans and ports to connect iSCSI and Fibre Channel I/O modules.
Each controller has an Ethernet connection for out-of-band management. If the data
path through one controller fails, all data drives remain available to hosts using a
redundant data path through the other controller.
For reliability, essential hardware components are implemented with a redundant
configuration so that the storage system can remain operational if a component fails.
Adding and replacing components, along with firmware upgrades, can be conducted
while the storage system is active and without interruption of data availability to the
hosts. A hot spare drive can be configured to replace a failed data drive automatically,
securing the fault-tolerant integrity of the logical drives. Self-contained, hardware-based
RAID logical drives provide maximum performance in compact external enclosures.

Block configuration

A storage system configured for block-level storage provides the ability to access and
provision raw storage volumes using protocols such as Fibre Channel and iSCSI.
A block configuration consists of the following:
Two controllers
■
One or more drive trays
■
Optional service processor (SVP)
■

Features

All storage systems are highly reliable, versatile, and able to scale its performance by
adding more drive chassis and data drives. Depending on the system configuration, the
drive chassis offerings support SAS-interface solid-state and flash module drives.
Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform F700 Hardware Reference Guide
Chapter 1: Overview
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