Lenovo ThinkSystem DE2000H Hybrid Storage Array: Enterprise-Grade Hybrid Storage for Modern Business

The Lenovo ThinkSystem DE2000H Hybrid Storage Array is a cost-conscious, high-performance storage solution designed to meet the demanding needs of today’s data-driven environments. As an entry-level yet enterprise-capable hybrid system, it blends fast solid-state storage with generous hard-disk capacity to deliver responsive performance, scalable capacity, robust security, and high availability. With enterprise-class storage management and a wide range of host connectivity options, the DE2000H is positioned to support virtualization, databases, backups, and mixed workloads across small and large organizations alike.

• Hybrid storage design for performance and capacity — The DE2000H integrates solid-state drives for hot data with traditional hard drives for bulk capacity. This tiered approach accelerates I/O-intensive applications while maintaining affordable total capacity, enabling faster response times for virtual machines, databases, and analytics without compromising on storage space or budget.
• Enterprise-grade data protection and high availability — Built with resilient architecture, the DE2000H supports multiple RAID levels and advanced data protection features. Snapshot and replication capabilities provide point-in-time recovery and disaster recovery options, helping ensure business continuity even during hardware failures or site outages. Redundant components and non-disruptive maintenance contribute to reliable operations.
• Flexible host connectivity to fit your data center — This hybrid array offers compatible host interfaces to align with existing networks, including Fibre Channel, iSCSI, and SAS connections. Whether used as a SAN or a direct-attached storage solution, the DE2000H adapts to your environment and minimizes compatibility concerns, making it easier to integrate with virtualization platforms and external storage pools.
• Simplified, scalable management for busy IT teams — Lenovo’s storage management tools provide centralized provisioning, monitoring, and performance analytics. Features such as automated tiering, policy-based data placement, and intuitive dashboards simplify daily operations, reduce administrative overhead, and help you extract maximum value from your storage investments.
• Energy efficiency, reliability, and cost- effectiveness — The DE2000H is designed with energy-conscious components and redundant power and cooling options. Its modular, hot-swappable design supports easier maintenance and upgrades while helping lower total cost of ownership over the system’s lifecycle.

Technical Details of Lenovo ThinkSystem DE2000H Hybrid Storage Array

• Model — Lenovo ThinkSystem DE2000H Hybrid Storage Array
• Form factor — Rack-mounted chassis (configuration-dependent) designed for data-center environments and space efficiency
• Drive support — Mixed solid-state drives and traditional HDDs to enable automatic tiering and optimized performance-per-GB
• Host connectivity — Flexible options including Fibre Channel, iSCSI, and SAS interfaces, depending on the configured network and workload
• RAID and data protection — Supports common RAID levels with hardware-accelerated protection, along with snapshots and replication for data protection and disaster recovery
• Management — ThinkSystem storage management software for provisioning, monitoring, alerting, performance analysis, and automation
• Power and cooling — Redundant hot-swappable power supplies and cooling fans for increased uptime and serviceability

how to install Lenovo ThinkSystem DE2000H Hybrid Storage Array

Installations of the DE2000H are designed to be straightforward, with guidance that helps IT teams deploy reliable storage quickly while ensuring compatibility with existing infrastructure. A typical deployment involves preparing the rack, connecting to your chosen host network, and configuring storage policies to meet your workload requirements. The following steps outline a practical approach to getting the DE2000H up and running, from initial site readiness to ongoing operation and optimization.

• Prepare the environment — Verify that your rack space, power, and cooling meet the device’s requirements. Ensure rack rails are properly mounted and that room conditions (temperature, humidity) comply with data-center standards. Confirm the availability of the desired host interfaces and network fabric to support Fibre Channel, iSCSI, or SAS connections.
• Unpack and physically install — Move the DE2000H into the rack, secure mounting brackets, and attach power cords. Connect the appropriate host cables to the array’s interface ports. Ensure cable management is tidy to avoid accidental disconnections and airflow restrictions.
• Power up and perform initial health checks — Turn on the system and verify that all redundant power supplies and cooling components are functioning. Access the management interface through the console or a connected management network to review the initial hardware health, firmware levels, and alert status.
• Configure storage pools and tiers — Use the ThinkSystem storage management tool to create storage pools, set up tiers (SSD vs HDD), and define policies for data placement. Establish volume/LUN mappings for your hosts and assign appropriate QoS settings to meet performance targets for critical workloads.
• Set up data protection and replication — Enable snapshots, replication, and backup integrations according to your DR strategy. Configure alerting and monitoring, define maintenance windows, and implement non-disruptive upgrade paths to keep firmware and software current without affecting availability.
• Integrate with virtualization and backup environments — Register the DE2000H with your virtualization platforms (such as VMware or Hyper-V) and configure backup software to use the array as a storage target. Validate that failover paths and RPO/RTO objectives are met through tabletop exercises or DR drills.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the Lenovo ThinkSystem DE2000H Hybrid Storage Array? — The DE2000H is a cost-efficient, enterprise-grade hybrid storage solution designed to deliver fast performance for hot data and scalable capacity for long-term storage. It combines solid-state storage with conventional hard drives in a single array and provides robust data management features, high availability, and flexible connectivity to support a range of workloads from virtualized environments to databases and backups.
• What workloads is the DE2000H best suited for? — It is well suited for mixed workloads that require a balance of performance and capacity, including virtualization (VMware, Hyper-V), database applications, backups, archiving, and development/test environments. Its hybrid design accelerates hot data access while preserving large-scale storage capacity for less frequently accessed data.
• What connectivity options does it offer? — The DE2000H provides flexible host connectivity options to fit diverse data-center architectures, typically including Fibre Channel, iSCSI, and SAS interfaces. Configuration varies by model and deployment, so you can tailor connectivity to your existing network and performance requirements.
• How is data protected and kept available? — Data protection features include hardware-assisted RAID, snapshots for point-in-time recovery, and replication for disaster recovery. The system is designed with redundant components and high-availability features to minimize downtime and support business continuity.
• How scalable is the DE2000H? — As an entry-level hybrid storage array, it supports scalable capacity through additional drives and storage pooling, with tiering that optimizes performance. Growth can be planned in stages to align with business needs, workloads, and budget constraints.
• What kind of management tools are included? — Lenovo ThinkSystem storage management software provides provisioning, monitoring, performance analytics, automation, and policy-based data placement. These tools help administrators streamline daily operations and extract maximum value from the storage investment.
• What about warranty and support? — Warranty and service options vary by region and configuration. Lenovo offers standard warranties with optional extensions and support packages to fit enterprise service-level requirements.