WHITE PAPER INTRODUCTION TO DELL EMC XTREMIO X2 STORAGE ARRAY A Detailed Review Abstract This white paper introduces the Dell EMC XtremIO X2 Storage Array (with XIOS Version 6.0). It provides detailed descriptions of the system architecture, theory of operation, and features. The paper also explains how the unique features of XtremIO—including inline data reduction techniques, scalable performance, and data protection—provide unmatched solutions to today’s data storage problems. August, 2017 Introduction to the Dell EMC XtremIO X2 Storage Array © 2017 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................................. 1 Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 4 System Overview ............................................................................................................................................... 5 X-Brick ............................................................................................................................................................... 6 Scale-Out Architecture: Linear Expansion of Capacity and Performance ........................................................... 6 Scale-Up Architecture: Capacity Expansion ....................................................................................................... 8 System Architecture .......................................................................................................................................... 9 Theory of Operation ......................................................................................................................................... 10 XtremIO Metadata ............................................................................................................................................................. 10 Mapping Table................................................................................................................................................................... 11 How the Write I/O Flow Works .......................................................................................................................................... 11 How the Read I/O Flow Works .......................................................................................................................................... 15 System Features ............................................................................................................................................. 16 Inline Data Reduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 16 Inline Data Deduplication .............................................................................................................................................. 16 Inline Data Compression ............................................................................................................................................... 17 Total Data Reduction .................................................................................................................................................... 18 Integrated Copy Data Management (iCDM) ..................................................................................................................... 18 XtremIO Virtual Copies (Snapshots) ............................................................................................................................. 20 Thin Provisioning ............................................................................................................................................................... 22 XtremIO Data Protection (XDP) ........................................................................................................................................ 23 How XDP Works ............................................................................................................................................................ 24 Data at Rest Encryption .................................................................................................................................................... 25 Scalable Performance ....................................................................................................................................................... 26 Even Data Distribution ...................................................................................................................................................... 28 High Availability ................................................................................................................................................................. 29 Non-Disruptive Upgrade and Expansion ........................................................................................................................... 30 VMware VAAI Integration .................................................................................................................................................. 31 XtremIO Management Server (XMS) ............................................................................................................... 34 System GUI ....................................................................................................................................................................... 35 Command Line Interface ................................................................................................................................................... 36 RESTful API ...................................................................................................................................................................... 36 PowerShell API ................................................................................................................................................................. 36 LDAP/LDAPS .................................................................................................................................................................... 37 Ease of Management ...................................................................................................................................... 37 2 | Introduction to the Dell EMC XtremIO X2 Storage Array © 2017 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Replication of Dell EMC XtremIO to a Remote Array ....................................................................................... 37 Dell EMC RecoverPoint .................................................................................................................................................... 37 Solutions Brief ................................................................................................................................................................... 38 Dell EMC RecoverPoint Replication for XtremIO .......................................................................................................... 38 Synchronous and CDP Replication for XtremIO ........................................................................................................... 40 Integration with other Dell EMC Products ........................................................................................................ 41 System Integration Solutions ............................................................................................................................................ 42 Dell EMC VxBlock ......................................................................................................................................................... 42 Dell EMC VSPEX .......................................................................................................................................................... 42 Management and Monitoring Solutions ............................................................................................................................ 42 Dell EMC Storage Analytics (ESA) ............................................................................................................................... 42 Dell EMC Storage Integrator (ESI) Plugin for Windows ................................................................................................ 42 Dell EMC Storage Integrator (ESI) Plugin for Oracle VM ............................................................................................. 43 Dell EMC ViPR Controller ............................................................................................................................................. 43 Dell EMC ViPR SRM ..................................................................................................................................................... 43 Virtual Storage Integrator (VSI) Plugin for VMware vCenter ........................................................................................ 44 Application Integration Solutions ....................................................................................................................................... 44 Dell EMC AppSync .......................................................................................................................................................