The Sun FireTM X4500 Server caught the eye of eWEEK\'s reviewers who praised the unit's storage capabilities. Victor Loh reports writes that eWEEK found the Sun Fire X4500 "... packs an impressive processing and storage punch."

Thumper, as the Sun Fire X4500 Server is code-named, features a pair of dual-core Opteron CPUs and 24TB of raw storage in a compact 4U (7-inch) footprint. This hybrid storage/server appliance will find a ready market in cost-conscious organizations with compute-intensive high-density and high-bandwidth data storage needs, according to Loh.

The unit eWEEK tested was equipped with two Advanced Micro Devices Opteron 2.6GHz processors; 16GB of DDR (double data rate) memory; and 48 direct-attached, 3.5-inch, 500GB DeskStar SATA-II drives from Hitachi running at 7,200 rpm. It came with the SolarisTM 10 Operating System (Solaris OS) installed.

Loh writes that eWEEK's tests revealed impressive results in the Sun Fire X4500's robust data protection capabilities, thanks to its redundant failover components and ZFS technology. However, it should be noted that when using a lone X4500, its controller board is a single point of failure, he adds.

He notes, too, that while data will likely remain intact in the event of a controller failure, it will be inaccessible for the duration of the downtime needed to replace the inoperable component. IT managers should incorporate failover measures in mission-critical applications where uninterrupted service is imperative.

Finally, Loh observes that the unit's top loading design SATA drives may present a problem for managers since removing the server from the rack will be necessary should a failed drive have to be replaced.

See Sun\'s information for more details on the Sun Fire X4500 Server.

Hear the 3 minute eWeek podcast in which eWEEK Labs Senior Writer Anne Chen talks to Victor Loh about his review of the Sun Fire x4500. [...read more...]

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