* The 3PAR InServ F-Class Storage Server
3PAR recently rolled out a new midrange array – the 3PAR InServ F-Class Storage Server – that has features many associate with high-end arrays.
The F-Class scales to four clustered controllers which are Mesh-Active and feature cache-coherency. Focused on the midrange enterprise shop and budget, the Fibre Channel array lets customers consolidate midrange arrays and deploy as many as 50% fewer systems.
The Mesh-Active controller lets each LUN be active on each controller in the array, allowing more balanced performance. In addition, the F-Class array features a third-generation ASIC in each controller. In this configuration, data and metadata are handled independently by the processor/memory system, resulting in a reduced impact that sequential workloads can have on transactional database workloads.
The ASIC incorporates Thin Built In technology, which allows fat-to-thin volume conversions to take place at wire speed.
Further, the F-Class supports 3PAR’s Virtual Domains, which let users create multiple virtual and secure arrays.
Each F-Class array supports 3PAR Thin Provisioning and RAID 5. 3PAR InServ F-Class Storage Servers start at $80,000 and are available immediately.
