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 6.3.0). 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. November, 2019 Introduction to the Dell EMC XtremIO X2 Storage Array © 2019 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Dell Customer Communication - Confidential Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................................. 1 Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 4 System Overview ............................................................................................................................................... 5 X-Brick ............................................................................................................................................................... 6 Scale-Out Architecture: Linear Expansion of Capacity and Performance ........................................................... 7 Scale-Up Architecture: Capacity Expansion ....................................................................................................... 8 System Architecture .......................................................................................................................................... 8 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 ............................................................................................................................................. 15 Inline Data Reduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 16 Inline Data Deduplication .............................................................................................................................................. 16 Inline Data Compression ............................................................................................................................................... 17 Total Data Reduction .................................................................................................................................................... 18 Data Reduction Measurement Mechanisms ..................................................................................................................... 18 Cluster Level Data Savings ........................................................................................................................................... 18 Data Reduction Ratio on Volume Level or VSG (Volume Snapshot Group) ................................................................ 19 Unique Physical Space per Volume or VSG (Volume Snapshot Group) ...................................................................... 19 Copy Efficiency per VSG (Volume Snapshot Group) ................................................................................................... 19 Integrated Copy Data Management (iCDM)...................................................................................................................... 19 XtremIO Virtual Copies (Snapshots) ............................................................................................................................. 21 XtremIO Remote Protection .............................................................................................................................................. 25 XtremIO Metadata-Aware Replication .......................................................................................................................... 25 XtremIO Synchronous Replication ................................................................................................................................ 26 Best Protection .............................................................................................................................................................. 27 Unified View for Local and Remote Protection ............................................................................................................. 28 Consistency Group Protection View ............................................................................................................................. 29 Thin Provisioning ............................................................................................................................................................... 29 XtremIO Data Protection (XDP) ........................................................................................................................................ 30 How XDP Works ........................................................................................................................................................... 31 Data at Rest Encryption .................................................................................................................................................... 32 Scalable Performance ....................................................................................................................................................... 33 Even Data Distribution....................................................................................................................................................... 35 High Availability ................................................................................................................................................................. 36 Non-Disruptive Upgrade .................................................................................................................................................... 37 Scale-Up ............................................................................................................................................................................ 38 2 | Introduction to the Dell EMC XtremIO X2 Storage Array © 2019 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Dell Customer Communication - Confidential Scale-Up Process on a Single X-Brick Cluster ............................................................................................................. 38 Scale-Out .......................................................................................................................................................................... 40 Quality of Service .............................................................................................................................................................. 41 VMware VAAI Integration .................................................................................................................................................. 42 XtremIO Management Server (XMS) ............................................................................................................... 45 System GUI ....................................................................................................................................................................... 46 Command Line Interface ................................................................................................................................................... 47 RESTful API ...................................................................................................................................................................... 47 PowerShell API ................................................................................................................................................................. 48 LDAP/LDAPS .................................................................................................................................................................... 48 Ease of Management ...................................................................................................................................... 48 Replication of Dell EMC XtremIO to a Remote Array ....................................................................................... 49 Dell EMC RecoverPoint....................................................................................................................................................