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This provides increased performance and access to up to 56 terabytes of protected storage. The Fusion RAID Expander is an external expansion of the existing PCI Express (PCIe) bus with seven additional PCIe slots. Installation is plug-and-play: the operating system recognizes the expansion without further configuration.
“The new Fusion RAID Expander expands our professional-storage portfolio with uncompromising performance and reliability. It enables customers to expand their systems’ storage and performance step by step,” said Robert Farnsworth, CEO of Sonnet Technologies. “With robust construction, simple configuration, and plug-and-play operation, the Fusion RAID Expander makes expanding existing systems easier.”
Using several storage systems on one computer primarily increases performance, in addition to increasing storage capacity. For example, the Fusion RAID Expander enables two 8 TB Fusion D800RAID arrays to be connected to one computer. When combined into a secure 16 TB RAID 5 system, these achieve transfer rates of 645 MB/sec writing and 670 MB/sec reading.
The Fusion RAID Expander overcomes the limited space and small number of PCIe slots in many computers. Such computers often offer only three or four slots, one of which is occupied by the graphics card. This frequently limits professional users’ options. The Fusion RAID Expander contains seven full PCIe x4 slots. The quiet 4U enclosure includes its own power supply. It connects to the host computer through an adapter card occupying a single x8 PCIe slot. The additional PCIe slots create interfaces for up to seven Sonnet Fusion SATA RAID desktop or rackmount storage systems with a total volume of up to 56 TB.
Two especially quiet fans cool the 400-watt power supply and slot area. The enclosure accepts PCIe cards of all common sizes, including RAID controllers as well as FireWire, USB, capture, and other interface cards.
Fusion RAID Expander overview
· Connects up to seven Fusion RAID storage systems to one computer
· Access to up to 56 TB of storage
· Seamless integration, plug-and-play, no configuration required
· x8 interface card in the computer
· Supports most PCIe cards in various form factors
· Supports servers
· Power supply: 400 watts, 100–240 V, 50–60 Hz
· LED status indicators
· Supplied: 4U enclosure with removable carrying handles, half-height PCIe adapter card, PCIe extension cable, power cable, manual
· Meets RoHS requirements
Compatibility
· Mac Pro
· Power Mac G5 with PCI Express slots
· Xserve with PCI Express slots
· PC with PCI Express slots
· Mac OS X 10.4 and later
· Windows XP with SP2 or Windows Vista
· Linux
Price and availability
The Fusion RAID Expander (FUS-EXP7) was available immediately at a recommended retail price of €2,935 including VAT.
