Overview of Symm V-Max & DMX

Symmetrix V-Max Series

EMC Symmetrix V-Max systems are enterprise-class storage platforms intended for open systems and mainframe computing. V-Max systems run the Enginuity operating environment for Symmetrix and are offered in two models:

• The scalable Symmetrix V-Max system
• The single engine Symmetrix V-Max SE system.

[edit] The Symmetrix V-Max System

The Symmetrix V-Max system is the high-end, scalable storage array with a system bay and separate roll-up storage bays. The system scales from a single Symmetrix V-Max Engine system with one storage bay to a large eight engine system and a maximum of ten storage bays. Online system upgrades are achieved by adding single or multiple V-Max Engines or additional storage bays. Each V-Max Engine contains two Symmetrix V-Max directors with extensive CPU processing power, physical memory, front-end ports, and back-end ports. Drive capacity is increased by installing 4 Gb/s disk array enclosures to the storage bay.

The Symmetrix V-Max SE System

The Symmetrix V-Max SE system is the single engine Symmetrix system. Symmetrix V-Max SE systems offer a single cabinet configuration that contains both the system logic and drives.

Symmetrix DMX Series

The DMX family of Symmetrix disk arrays was first introduced in February 2003. This new line of arrays replaced the old direct connect line of Symmetrix with an array whose components were all interconnected together. This release delivered the first modular Symmetrix which was the DMX800 and well as the monolithic DMX1000. Later revisions of the family were named DMX2, DMX3 and DMX4.

Platform Comparisons

	Symmetrix V-Max	Symmetrix V-Max SE	Symmetrix DMX-4	Symmetrix DMX-4 950
Maximum Drives	2400	360	2400	360
Architecture	Virtual Matrix Architecture	Virtual Matrix Architecture	Direct Matrix Architecture	Direct Matrix Architecture
Maximum Integrated Directors	16	2	N/A	N/A
Connection Types	FC, FICON, Gigabit Ethernet, iSCSI	FC, FICON, Gigabit Ethernet, iSCSI	FC, FICON, ESCON, Gigabit Ethernet, iSCSI	FC, Gigabit Ethernet, iSCSI
Maximum Connectivity	Up to 128 ports depending on connection type	Up to 16 ports depending on connection type	Up to 64 ports depending on connection type	Up to 16 ports depending on connection type
Maximum SRDF Ports	32 (FC or GbE SRDF ports)	4 (FC or GbE SRDF ports)	8 (GbE SRDF ports)	8 (GbE SRDF ports)