Promise VTrak E5800FD SAN Storage System

The Promise VTrak E5800FD SAN Storage System is engineered for data centers that demand uncompromising performance, reliability, and scalability. Designed to handle demanding workloads—from large databases and virtualization to backup, archival, and intensive media workflows—the E5800FD delivers enterprise-grade storage with a dual-controller architecture, high-speed interconnects, and intelligent data management features. With four 16Gb Fibre Channel ports and two 12Gb SAS ports per controller, this system creates fast and flexible pathways between hosts and storage, enabling low-latency data access, efficient I/O distribution, and smooth operation under heavy load. The VTrak E5800FD unifies the benefits of Fibre Channel SAN simplicity with the versatility of SAS connectivity, offering a robust foundation for today’s mission-critical applications and tomorrow’s growth.

• High-performance, enterprise-grade storage: Four 16Gb Fibre Channel ports per controller deliver blazing data throughput and low latency for demanding workloads, ensuring fast application response, rapid backups, and quick data recovery.
• Uncompromising availability: Built around a dual-controller architecture, the VTrak E5800FD provides active-active redundancy, non-disruptive firmware upgrades, and hot-swappable components to maximize uptime and minimize maintenance windows in production environments.
• Flexible connectivity and scalability: Per controller, two 12Gb SAS ports complement the FC fabric, enabling efficient storage access for direct-attached disks or expansion via SAS-based shelves—supporting growing data needs without compromising performance.
• Advanced data management for growing environments: Comprehensive features such as RAID protection, thin provisioning, snapshot capabilities, cloning, and options for high-availability replication help protect data, optimize capacity, and simplify disaster recovery planning.
• Seamless integration and ease of management: Designed to integrate with existing data-center tools and management workflows, the VTrak E5800FD offers centralized administration, monitoring, and control to streamline day-to-day operations and accelerate provisioning for new hosts and workloads.

Technical Details of Promise VTrak E5800FD SAN Storage System

• Port configuration per controller: Four 16Gb Fibre Channel ports and two 12Gb SAS ports
• Controller architecture: Dual controllers designed for active-active operation to maximize throughput and fault tolerance
• Connectivity scope: Fibre Channel SAN interfaces complemented by SAS data pathways for flexible storage access
• Reliability and availability: Enterprise-grade reliability with redundancy in critical components and support for non-disruptive maintenance
• Storage management capabilities: Includes features for RAID protection, provisioning, and efficient data management to optimize capacity and performance

How to install Promise VTrak E5800FD SAN Storage System

• Prepare your data center environment: Ensure adequate rack space, cooling, power, and cable management. Confirm compatibility with your existing Fibre Channel fabric and any SAS storage shelves you plan to attach.
• Unpack and inspect: Verify that all components are present, undamaged, and free of physical issues. Follow your organization’s asset-tracking and safety procedures during installation.
• Rack installation: Mount the VTrak E5800FD in a suitable 19-inch rack. Secure the chassis with screws, ensuring proper ventilation and clearance for cable management.
• Cabling and connectivity: Connect the four 16Gb Fibre Channel ports per controller to the FC fabric fabric switch or fabric storage network using appropriate high-performance cables. Connect the two 12Gb SAS ports per controller to the SAS storage devices or expansion shelves as required. Label cables clearly to simplify future maintenance.
• Power and initial boot: Apply power and boot the system. Access the management interface through the recommended console ports or management network. Verify hardware health, fan operation, and redundant path availability.
• Initial configuration: Use the built-in management tools to configure the dual-controller setup for high availability, set up initial storage pools or RAID configurations, and define LUNs or volumes for host access. Establish zoning and mask policies in coordination with your FC fabric administrator to ensure secure, direct access for your host systems.
• Performance optimization: Enable features such as thin provisioning, compression if supported, and caching policies appropriate for your workloads. Fine-tune IO scheduling, queue depth, and path management to maximize throughput and minimize latency.
• Host integration: Present LUNs or volumes to your host servers, install any required host-side drivers or BHAs, and confirm connectivity with basic I/O tests. Validate that data can be read and written reliably across all paths.
• Monitoring and maintenance: Set up ongoing monitoring, alerts, and reporting for capacity, performance, and hardware health. Schedule regular firmware updates and maintenance windows that minimize impact on production workloads.
• Backup and recovery planning: Integrate with your existing backup solutions, configure replication or snapshots as needed, and test recovery procedures to ensure data protection aligns with your RPO/RTO goals.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the Promise VTrak E5800FD SAN Storage System? The VTrak E5800FD is a high-performance, high-availability SAN storage solution designed for enterprise workloads. It features dual controllers with four 16Gb Fibre Channel ports and two 12Gb SAS ports per controller, providing fast access to stored data and flexible connectivity for diverse environments.
• What workloads is it best suited for? It is well-suited for mission-critical databases, virtualized environments, large-scale backups, archival storage, and other data-intensive applications that require low latency, high throughput, and reliable availability.
• How many controllers does it use, and what interfaces does it offer? The system employs dual controllers for redundancy and performance. Each controller provides four 16Gb Fibre Channel ports and two 12Gb SAS ports, enabling a robust mix of FC SAN connectivity and SAS data pathways.
• Can I scale capacity with this system? Yes. The architecture is designed to accommodate growth through expansion shelves or compatible storage components, allowing you to increase capacity while maintaining performance through smart provisioning and tiering.
• How do I manage and monitor the system? Management is centralized through the built-in administration tools, with options for monitoring performance, health, and capacity. Integration with standard enterprise management workflows (such as SNMP, alerts, and logging) helps streamline operations.
• Is this system suitable for non-disruptive upgrades and maintenance? Yes. The dual-controller design supports high availability and non-disruptive maintenance, enabling firmware upgrades and component replacement with minimal or no downtime to host connections.