ExaGrid Product Line

Mosaic Technology — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:33:25 +0000

ExaGrid offers a highly scalable disk-based backup system that works with your existing backup application and combines high quality SATA storage, compression and byte-level data de-duplication with a virtualized GRID architecture. This unique approach reduces the disk space required for backup by a range of 10 to 50:1, delivering unparalleled cost savings and performance at a fraction of the price of standard SATA disk storage.

Scalable GRID Architecture

There are five core ExaGrid disk-based backup servers. These servers include GRID computing software. When plugged into a switch they virtualize into one another. As a result, any of the five configurations can be mixed and matched into a single GRID system, with capacities up to 60TB, in 1TB increments. Once virtualized, they appear as a single system to the backup server. Load balancing of all data across servers is automatic and multiple GRID systems can be combined for additional capacity.

Five Core ExaGrid Server Configurations

1TB EX1000
2TB EX2000
3TB EX3000
4TB EX4000
5TB EX5000

For example, a 5TB ExaGrid server can store a 5TB full backup (5TB of primary data) plus up to 16 weeks of retention/history, while a 2TB server can take in a 2TB full backup (2TB of primary data) plus up to 16 weeks of retention. If a 20TB system is required, then four EX5000s are plugged into the switch and virtualize into a single system.

Five Mix and Match Servers

ExaGrid Model	Primary Data Capacity	Capacity for Weekly Fulls		Capacity for Daily Fulls		Backup throughput
		Copies	Total backup data	Copies	Total backup data
EX1000	1 TB	16	16 TB	75	75 TB	360 GB/hr
EX2000	2 TB	16	32 TB	75	150 TB	360 GB/hr
EX3000	3 TB	16	48 TB	75	225 TB	360 GB/hr
EX4000	4 TB	16	64 TB	75	300 TB	540 GB/hr
EX5000	5 TB	16	80 TB	75	375 TB	540 GB/hr

Examples of several common ExaGrid system GRID configurations between 5TB and 20TB

Configuration Models Used	Primary Data Capacity	Capacity for Weekly Fulls		Capacity for Daily Fulls		Backup throughput
		Copies	Total backup data	Copies	Total backup data
7 TB 1 x EX4000 + 1 x EX3000	7 TB	16	112 TB	75	525 TB	1.08 TB/hr
10 TB 2 x EX5000	10 TB	16	160 TB	75	750 TB	1.08 TB/hr
12 TB 3 x EX4000	12 TB	16	192 TB	75	900 TB	1.62 TB/hr
15 TB 3 x EX5000	15 TB	16	240 TB	75	1125 TB	1.62 TB/hr
20 TB 4 x EX5000	20 TB	16	320 TB	75	1500 TB	2.1 TB/hr

Scalability and Performance

A 1TB to 5TB ExaGrid server in combination with the virtualized GRID architecture allows for the following:

Start with the appropriate initial capacity and add capacity in 1TB to 5TB increments as needed
“Right size” capacity up front and over time by adding only the required capacity
As servers are added, additional memory, processor disk and GigE are also added resulting in no loss of performance. As data grows the appropriate amount of system resources are added.

Core Server Components

ExaGrid servers are comprised of the following:

Intel Dual Core XEON processors
Intel motherboard
Seagate SATA drives
RAID 6 hot Spare
ExaGrid Software

Each server includes the appropriate amount of processor, memory, disk and GigE for the amount of data. As each server is plugged into the switch and virtualized into the GRID it brings not only disk capacity but also processor, memory and GigE such that performance is maintained as data is added.

Summary

ExaGrid’s unique approach to scalability provides the following benefits:

Performance is maintained as your data grows – each additional ExaGrid server added to a system provides disk, processor, memory and GigE
Capacity utilization is load-balanced across servers – as a single server reaches full utilization, it can leverage space available on other servers in the GRID
Plug and play expansion – adding an additional ExaGrid server is as simple as plugging it in and letting ExaGrid’s automatic virtualized GRID software do the rest
Cost-effective, system “right-sizing” – acquire just what you need now, add more later as data grows