IBM Storwize V5000

IBM Storwize V5000 is a flexible, easy to use virtualized, storage system that enables midsize organizations to meet the challenges of rapid data growth and limited IT budgets.

As an intermediate Storwize family offering, it enables organizations to consolidate and provide new capabilities to their existing infrastructures.

Storwize V5000 is available in the following models:

• Control enclosures:
• Large form factor (LFF)
• Small form factor (SFF)

Expansion enclosures:

• LFF
• SFF

Storwize V5000 control enclosure models include two node canisters each with 8GB cache for a system total of 16GB cache. 6Gb SAS and 1GbE iSCSI connectivity is standard and both models are additionally configured with either 8Gb FC or 10GbE iSCSI/FCoE connectivity.

The LFF enclosure models support up to twelve 3.5-inch drives, while the SFF enclosure models support up to twenty-four 2.5-inch drives. High-performance disk drives, high-capacity nearline disk drives, and SSDs are supported. Drives of the same form factor can be intermixed within an enclosure, providing the flexibility to address performance and capacity needs within a single enclosure. You can also intermix LFF and SFF expansion enclosures behind either a LFF or SFF control enclosure.

A Storwize V5000 system scales up to 480 drives with the attachment of 19 Storwize V5000 expansion enclosures. They can be clustered to help deliver greater performance, bandwidth, and scalability. A Storwize V5000 clustered system can contain two Storwize V5000 systems and up to 960 drives.

All Storwize V5000 functional capabilities are provided through IBM Storwize Family Software for Storwize V5000.

Key prerequisites
Storwize V5000 requires Storwize Family Software for Storwize V5000 version 7.4, or later, for operation. Use of the software is entitled through the acquisition of Storwize V5000 software licenses.

Planned availability date: January 13, 2015