FAS2240: An Inside Look

Tech OnTap Newsletter Article
FAS2240: An Inside Look

NetApp has a longstanding In this article I’ll describe the unique
Steven Miller commitment to design storage systems design features of the FAS2240,
Senior Technical that let you start right, keep it simple, including:
Director and and grow smart. If you’ve been reading
Platform some of the recent case studies in Tech • Integration of controllers within
Architect OnTap® — including the case study on NetApp SAS disk shelves
Be the Match (https://communities. • I/O and performance enhancements
Steven has been the platform netapp.com/docs/DOC-12885) and • New resiliency and availability
architect for NetApp for over the article on Broome-Tioga (https:// features
six years and was responsible communities.netapp.com/docs/DOC-
for the FAS3100, FAS3200, Table 1 lists key FAS2240 features.
12739) — it’s clear that one of the
FAS6200, and FAS2240 as well things that administrators really like Good Things Come in Small Packages
as the Performance Acceleration about NetApp® storage is the ability With the FAS2240, we set out to up
Module (PAM) and Flash Cache to start with a small system and then the ante. Starting in 2009, NetApp
(PAM II). He is also the NetApp steadily evolve that system as needed committed to the Storage Bridge Bay
Engineering liaison to the National over time without having to perform (SBB) standard (http://media.netapp.
Security Agency (NSA), National complicated data migrations to move com/documents/wp-7074.pdf), a
Geospatial-intelligence Agency from one platform to the next. choice that has allowed us to deliver
(NGA), and Central Intelligence
the FAS2240 in a package that is
Agency (CIA). Steven is currently Facilitating this ability was very much
smaller and denser than anything we’ve
involved with several IEEE and on our minds when we set out to
built before. At the same time, the
industry groups. He is credited design our new entry-level storage
new design makes upgrading from the
with 26 issued patents and 19 system, the FAS2240. We also
FAS2240 to another platform a breeze.
pending applications in the areas wanted to significantly enhance the
of storage and high-performance reliability, availability, serviceability, We designed the controllers for the
computing. and manageability (RASM) features of FAS2240 as SBB canisters that plug
the new platform to bring them in line directly into our SBB-compliant
with the capabilities we offer on the DS4243 (www.netapp.com/us/
Tech OnTap provides monthly IT FAS3200 series (www.netapp.com/us/ communities/tech-ontap/tot-sas-
insights plus exclusive access to communities/tech-ontap/tot-fas3200- disk-storage-0911.html) and DS2246
real-world best practices, technical boost-1101.html) and FAS6200 series (https://communities.netapp.com/docs/
case studies, and behind the scenes (www.netapp.com/us/communities/ DOC-9216) disk shelves. As a result,
engineering interviews. To subscribe tech-ontap/tot-fas6200-under- you can have a full HA storage system
visit https://communities.netapp.com/ hood-1103.html). in the space of a single disk shelf as
community/tech-ontap.
small as 2U in height.

Table 1) Key FAS2240 features.

Feature Benefit
Disk shelf conversion If you outgrow FAS2240 capabilities, you can convert it to a disk shelf, add a new
storage controller, and avoid the need for data migration.

High-performance I/O options 10GbE and 8Gb FC help eliminate the possibility of network bottlenecks.

2–3x performance increase Performance to fully utilize high-performance I/O options.

2U and 4U footprints Performance-oriented 2U footprint optimized for deployment in minimum space.
4U footprint optimized for capacity.

Improved RASM Same service processor (SP) management system used on NetApp midrange and
high-end platforms.

Same microarchitecture as FAS6200 series Enhanced compatibility across the product line.

Flexible Configurations Easy Upgrades: run on each core, essentially doubling
The FAS2240-2 provides up to 24 No Data Migration Required the number of independent threads that
small-form-factor SAS disk drives If you outgrow your FAS2240-2 or Data ONTAP can execute in parallel.
using the 2U, 19” deep chassis of FAS2240-4, you can convert your base With Jasper Forest on the FAS2240,
the DS2246 disk shelf. This makes chassis into a standard disk shelf by NetApp now offers a full 64-bit
it the ideal candidate for extreme replacing the FAS2240 controller(s) architecture across its entire product
environments, but it’s also a great (which we call processor controller line. Data ONTAP has supported native
option for any situation where space modules, or PCMs) with the appropriate 64-bit hardware since 2006, making the
is limited or maximum simplicity is I/O modules (IOMs). Connect the FAS2240 another in a long line of fully
desired such as in remote offices converted shelf to the NetApp controller 64-bit storage systems.
without dedicated IT staff. head of your choice, and you are back
Optional I/O Using “Mezzanine” Cards
in business with no data migration
The FAS2240-4 provides up to 24 required and a minimum of downtime. The new processor architecture is
SATA disk drives using the 4U chassis paired with optional mezzanine cards
of the DS4243. (SAS disks are not Under the Hood: (one per PCM) that let you add—and
supported in the base chassis of Processors and I/O take full advantage of—10 Gigabit
the FAS2240-4.) The choice of SATA To deliver great performance today Ethernet or 8/4/2Gbps Fibre Channel
makes the FAS2240-4 a more capacity- and prepare the FAS2240 to support (two ports per card). You can use
oriented option, delivering up to 72TB Data ONTAP® well into the future, 10GbE to support Cluster-Mode
in only 4U of rack space. we’ve equipped it with Intel® Jasper configurations under Data ONTAP 8.1
Forest processors. This line of or for high-speed client connections.
No matter which model you choose, processors, designed specifically for The 8Gbps Fibre Channel card can
you can configure up to 120 additional embedded and storage applications, be configured as either a target or an
external disks (for a total of 144 disk brings the same 64-bit architecture initiator, allowing you to connect to SAN
drives) using whatever disk shelf and we use in the FAS6200 series hosts or Fibre Channel disk storage
disk media technology suits your (www.netapp.com/us/communities/ shelves and tape devices if desired.
needs. If you start with SAS, you can tech-ontap/tot-fas6200-under-
add SATA (or a mix of both) at a later Onboard I/O on each PCM includes
hood-1103.html) — Nehalem-EP —
time, and vice versa. Fibre Channel disk four Gigabit Ethernet ports for LAN
to our entry-level platform. Choosing
drives are also supported as well as connections and two 6Gb wide SAS
the same microarchitecture further
external solid-state drives (SSDs). ports for connecting to internal and
enhances compatibility, allowing
external SAS and SATA disks or SAS
the two platforms to run the same
tape devices. The result is a lot of I/O
microcode. Intel Hyper-Threading
in a very small package.
Technology enables multiple threads to

Figure 1) FAS2240-2 rear view.
HA configuration shown. Standalone configuration uses a single PCM.

Figure 2) FAS2240-4 rear view.
HA configuration shown. Standalone configuration uses a single PCM.

Comparison with FAS2040 • Monitor LED status about is the ability to go into the
Table 2 shows how the FAS2240HA • Force core dumps (replaces NMI processor and read out its internal
stacks up to the previous-generation button on controllers) state even when it’s not running.
FAS2040. The combination of core dumps and
For out-of-band management of internal processor state gives us the
In terms of performance, the NetApp SAS disk shelves, the FAS2240 detailed forensics to understand exactly
FAS2240 delivers roughly 2 to 3 times service processor also provides what was happening when a problem
the performance of the FAS2040 NetApp Alternate Control Path (ACP) occurred so we can correct it. We
depending on the application. technology. ACP enhances data can even single step the main CPU to
availability by giving a storage controller pinpoint failure modes. While you might
Resiliency, Availability, the ability to reset a storage channel never need to take advantage of these
Serviceability, and Manageability without having to communicate over capabilities, they can help us isolate
On the resiliency and availability front, that channel. If a channel is down hardware failures much more quickly,
we’ve added a number of features to or misbehaving, a quick reset can reducing their potential impact. This
enhance the FAS2240, bringing it on par bring it back online without external type of capability is not common on
with the FAS3200 and FAS6200 series. intervention. ACP allows a storage entry-level storage.
system to recover from faults that
Service Processor System-Level Diagnostics
might otherwise require it to reboot,
Our previous entry-level platforms and that’s a big advantage. We’ve also included the same system-
had a more basic service processor level diagnostics used on FAS3200 and
than our midrange and enterprise ACP gives you a “back door” into your FAS6200 to help you better identify
storage platforms. We’ve updated disk shelves. It is completely separate hardware problems. You can run
the FAS2240 to use the same service from the SAS data path and provides system-level diagnostics after one of
processor design as our higher end new options for nondisruptive recovery the following events:
platforms. The service processor of shelf modules, including the ability
remains operational even when the to reset or power cycle an individual • Initial system installation
rest of a storage system is down I/O module or an entire domain. We • Addition or replacement of hardware
and provides capabilities such as designed in the ability to power cycle components
remote power cycle, call home an entire shelf as well. ACP technology • System panic caused by an
notification of down system, and enhances the ability of Data ONTAP unidentified failure
always-on access for troubleshooting. to automatically reset a misbehaving • Access to a device that becomes
Additional features include: component in order to return it to a fully intermittent or unavailable
operational mode without disruption. • System response time that becomes
• FRU reporting and tracking sluggish and other troubleshooting
• Advanced current/voltage and From an engineering standpoint, the has not resolved the issue
temperature sensor reporting resiliency feature I’m most excited

Figure 3) PCM showing indicator LEDs, standard ports, and optional ports on mezzanine card.

Multipath HA for Internal Disks Conclusion
The FAS2240 is capable of providing We designed the FAS2240 to give Finally, we took special care to
MP-HA for all attached disks, both you more flexibility than we’ve ever engineer the FAS2240 for non–data
internal and external. MP-HA is the offered in an entry-level platform, while center environments where space is
capability to provide redundant paths engineering in a level of resiliency and at a premium. The FAS2240-2 delivers
between storage controllers and disks availability that would normally only a complete high-performance, fault-
for dual-controller (HA) configurations be found in higher end, enterprise- tolerant storage system with up to
and reduces the chance of a failover class storage. As an added bonus, 24 SAS drives in a 2U chassis that’s
occurring as the result of path failures. the FAS2240 includes all storage just 19” deep.
Having a second path to reach storage protocols at no additional charge:
protects against a variety of possible NFS, CIFS, Fibre Channel, and iSCSI.
About NetApp
failures, such as: This is just the latest effort to build in
more software value for the entry level. NetApp creates innovative storage
• Port failure and data management solutions that
• Controller-to-shelf cable failure Our unique design based on the deliver outstanding cost efficiency and
(in configuration with multiple Storage Bridge Bay standard allows accelerate business breakthroughs.
disk shelves) both standalone and HA storage Discover our passion for helping
• Shelf module failure configurations to be housed in a single companies around the world go
• Dual intershelf cable failure disk shelf. As a result, if your business further, faster at www.netapp.com.
• Secondary path failure (in HA outgrows the FAS2240, you can simply
configurations) convert your base system to a disk Go further, faster ®

shelf and connect it to a FAS3200
While MP-HA increases overall storage or FAS6200 series storage system
resiliency, it also enables Data ONTAP without the need to migrate data. All
to perform maintenance activities NetApp platforms run the same Data
such as disk firmware upgrades ONTAP operating environment, and,
nondisruptively. Performance can also because the FAS2240 uses the same
improve because MP-HA provides microarchitecture as the FAS6200,
twice the bandwidth to your storage. compatibility between platforms is
greater than ever.

Table 2) Comparison of the FAS2040HA and the FAS2240HA.
Learn More About New
FAS2040HA FA2240HA NetApp Hardware and Software
Processor cores 4 x 32-bit 4 x 64-bit You can learn even more about
NetApp hardware and software
Hyperthreading CPU Yes Yes
platforms from the following Tech
Physical memory 8GB 12GB OnTap articles:
Onboard I/O 4 x FC 8 x GbE • FAS3200 Dramatically Boosts
8 x GbE 4 x 6Gb SAS Expandability (www.netapp.com/
2 x 3Gb SAS us/communities/tech-ontap/tot-
fas3200-boost-1101.html)
I/O expansion option Yes Yes
• Shared IT Infrastructure with the
Optional 10GbE or 8Gb FC Yes Yes FAS6200 (www.netapp.com/us/
communities/tech-ontap/tot-
Maximum spindles 136 144
fas6200-under-hood-1103.html)
Converts to shelf Yes Yes • Get Future Ready with Data
ONTAP 8 (www.netapp.com/us/
Management BMC SP
communities/tech-ontap/tot-data-
Data ONTAP support 7.3.2, 8.0, 8.1 8.1 ontap-8-1011.html)

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© 2012 NetApp, Inc. All rights reserved. No portions of this document may be reproduced without prior written consent of NetApp, Inc.
Specifications are subject to change without notice. NetApp, the NetApp logo, Go further, faster, Data ONTAP, and Tech OnTap are trademarks or
registered trademarks of NetApp in the U.S. and other countries. Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation. All other brands or products are
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FAS2240: An Inside Look

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