Infortrend EonStor DS 1012 SAN Storage System

The Infortrend EonStor DS 1012 SAN Storage System is engineered to deliver reliable, scalable, and cost-effective SAN storage for small and medium-sized businesses. Built to handle growing data demands, this 12-bay, 2U chassis provides a balanced blend of performance, durability, and affordability. Ideal for mixed workloads that require fast block storage, enterprise-grade data protection, and straightforward management, the DS 1012 is designed to simplify storage infrastructure while enabling you to scale as your business expands. With a SMB-friendly price point, the DS 1012 brings enterprise-grade features to a compact footprint, making it an excellent choice for teams that require dependable storage without overprovisioning.

• 12 hot-swappable drive bays in a compact 2U chassis offer flexible capacity planning and easy serviceability. The DS 1012 supports a mix of HDDs and SSDs, enabling you to optimize performance and cost for databases, virtualization, backups, and file services. With a robust modular design, you can replace drives on the fly without interrupting critical operations, helping you stay productive while maintaining data availability.
• Scalability meets practicality through expansion options that grow with your needs. The DS 1012 is designed to scale beyond its 12-drive base by interfacing with expansion enclosures, allowing you to reach higher total drive counts while preserving a familiar management experience. This makes it an ideal long-term solution for SMBs planning gradual growth in data volumes and performance requirements.
• High availability and data protection are at the core of the DS 1012’s value proposition. It delivers robust RAID capabilities, snapshot-like protection, and disaster recovery options to guard against hardware failures and data loss. The system is designed to minimize downtime and simplify recovery, helping you meet service-level targets and maintain business continuity even in challenging circumstances.
• Flexible connectivity and protocol support enable this system to integrate smoothly into existing networks. The DS 1012 supports common SAN protocols and delivers responsive performance for block storage workloads. Its flexible network options help ensure reliable throughput, low latency, and efficient data movement between servers, applications, and storage, all while keeping management straightforward.
• Intuitive management and energy-conscious design round out the DS 1012 experience. The interface is designed for ease of use, reducing administration time and training costs. In addition, the system emphasizes power efficiency and thermal management, which can lower operating expenses and contribute to a greener IT footprint for SMB environments.

Technical Details of Infortrend EonStor DS 1012 SAN Storage System

• Drive bays: 12
• Form factor: 2U rackmount
• Drive interfaces: SAS and SATA support for flexible media choices
• Expansion capability: Scalable up to higher drive counts via expansion enclosures
• Connectivity: Flexible SAN networking with support for common block protocols
• RAID and data protection: Multiple RAID levels with data protection features and recoverability options

How to install Infortrend EonStor DS 1012 SAN Storage System

• Plan your rack-space, cabling, and power requirements before unboxing. Ensure you have a clean, organized rack with proper grounding and ventilation. Prepare the network layout, including where you will place the DS 1012 in relation to servers and core switches.
• Install the DS 1012 into a suitable 19-inch rack in a vertical orientation, using compatible mounting rails. Secure the chassis firmly to prevent movement during operation and ensure there is enough clearance for airflow around the rear panel and cooling fans.
• Insert compatible drive media into the 12 bays. If starting from scratch, install drives in matched pairs to optimize performance and balance the load. If expanding later, plan for a uniform drive type and size across all bays to avoid compatibility issues.
• Power up the system and connect the DS 1012 to your management network and servers. Use the provided management port(s) and any additional network interfaces to ensure reliable access for initial configuration and ongoing administration. Verify that all fans and indicators are functioning normally.
• Run the initial setup wizard to configure basic system parameters, create storage pools, set up RAID protection, and assign LUNs or iSCSI targets as needed. Validate connectivity from hosts, perform a basic data test, and implement backup or replication policies to align with your DR plan. Document the configuration for ongoing maintenance.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What workload profiles is the Infortrend EonStor DS 1012 best suited for?
  A: The DS 1012 is well suited for mixed workloads, including databases, virtualization data stores, backups, and shared file services. Its scalable architecture makes it a practical choice for SMBs that anticipate data growth and require a balanced mix of performance, capacity, and reliability.
• Q: Can I mix HDDs and SSDs in the same DS 1012 system?
  A: Yes. The DS 1012 supports flexible media configurations, allowing you to deploy HDDs for cost-effective capacity and SSDs for performance-critical workloads. You can tailor your storage tiering strategy to your specific application needs.
• Q: What kind of data protection features does the DS 1012 offer?
  A: The system includes RAID protection options, data integrity safeguards, and recovery features intended to minimize data loss and downtime. For SMB use, these features help ensure business continuity through hardware failures and routine maintenance windows.
• Q: How scalable is the DS 1012?
  A: The DS 1012 is designed to scale by integrating expansion enclosures, increasing total drive count and capacity while maintaining a consistent management experience. This allows you to expand storage as your organization's needs grow without replacing the core system.