Dell EqualLogic’s second-generation storage arrays, powered by their advanced controllers, have set new standards in performance, scalability, and reliability. These controllers, identified by types 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, and 19, correspond to specific model numbers and are integral to the EqualLogic family, offering a range of features and capabilities tailored to meet diverse organizational needs.
Controller Models
Type 11 Controllers (PS6100 Series)
Type 11 controllers are designed for high performance and reliability in small to medium-sized storage environments. Key features include:
- Model Numbers: PS6100E, PS6100X, PS6100XV
- Network Interfaces:
- 4 x 1GbaseT
- Storage Type: SAS, NL-SAS, SSD
- Cache: 4GB Cache
- Maximum Drive Quantity:
- 24 – SAS
- 24 – NL-SAS
- 24 – SSD
- 7 – SSD + 17 – SAS
- Faceplate: Green
- Other Part Numbers: 042J59, 42J59, 7V250, HRT01, W2PM3, J3R23, W24F7, 8P6TX
- Notes: Supports vertical port failover, Cache to Flash memory destaging
The Type 11 PS6100 controller series provides outstanding value with a low TCO, improved chassis design, more memory, advanced data protection, and high performance. Built on advanced peer storage architecture, these controllers offer perpetual self-optimization with automated load balancing across disks, RAID sets, connections, cache, and controllers.
Type 12 Controllers (PS4100 Series)
Type 12 controllers offer increased performance and scalability for small to medium-sized businesses. Key features include:
- Model Numbers: PS4100E, PS4100X, PS4100XV
- Network Interfaces:
- 4 x 1GbaseT
- Storage Type: SAS, NL-SAS, SSD
- Cache: 4GB Cache
- Maximum Drive Quantity:
- 24 – SAS
- 24 – NL-SAS
- 24 – SSD
- 7 – SSD + 17 – SAS
- Faceplate: Green
- Other Part Numbers: 042J59, 42J59, 7V250, HRT01, W2PM3, J3R23, W24F7, 8P6TX
- Notes: Supports vertical port failover, Cache to Flash memory destaging
The Type 12 PS4100 controller series offers outstanding value with a low TCO, improved chassis design, more memory, advanced data protection, and high performance. Built on advanced peer storage architecture, these controllers offer perpetual self-optimization with automated load balancing across disks, RAID sets, connections, cache, and controllers.
Type 14 Controllers (PS6110 Series)
The Dell EqualLogic Type 14 PS6110 Controller is designed to deliver powerful, intelligent, and simplified management with enterprise scalability for small to medium data centers, remote offices, and existing PS Series environments. Key features include:
- Model Numbers: PS6110, PS6110E, PS6110X, PS6110XV
- Network Interfaces:
- 1 x 10GbE SFP+
- 1 x 10GbaseT
- 1 x 10/100Mb management port
- Storage Type: SAS, NL-SAS, SSD
- Cache: 4GB Cache
- Maximum Drive Quantity:
- 24x 3.5″ / 2.5″ – SAS
- 24x 3.5″ – NL-SAS
- 24x 2.5″ – SSD
- 17x 2.5″ – SAS + 7x 2.5″ – SSD
- Faceplate: Orange
- Other Part Numbers: 70-0477, 61NCV, GMH23, 73W54, 594R6, M1G5N, JD2DG
- Notes: Support for vertical port failover, Cache to Flash memory destaging, SFP+ or 10GBaseT used at any given time
The Type 14 PS6110 controller series is built on advanced peer storage architecture, featuring perpetual self-optimization with automated load balancing across disks, RAID sets, connections, cache, and controllers. This makes it an ideal solution for virtualization and business applications where capacity, performance, and low cost are all equally important.
Type 15 Controllers (PS6210 Series)
The Dell EqualLogic Type 15 PS6210 Controller is designed to deliver powerful, intelligent, and simplified management with enterprise scalability for small to medium data centers, remote offices, and existing PS Series environments. Key features include:
- Model Numbers: PS6210, PS6210E, PS6210X, PS6210XV, PS6210S
- Network Interfaces:
- 2 x 10GbE SFP+
- 2 x 10GbaseT
- 1 x 10/100Mb management port
- Storage Type: SAS, NL-SAS, SSD
- Cache: 8GB Cache
- Maximum Drive Quantity:
- 24x 3.5″ / 2.5″ – SAS
- 24x 3.5″ – NL-SAS
- 24x 2.5″ – SSD
- 17x 2.5″ – SAS + 7x 2.5″ – SSD
- Faceplate: Grey
- Other Part Numbers: 70-0425, DCY2N, K7TXY
- Notes: Cache to Flash (C2F) destaging, new battery backup for cache, hot swappable, active-hot standby redundancy
The Type 15 PS6210 controller series is built on advanced peer storage architecture, featuring perpetual self-optimization with automated load balancing across disks, RAID sets, connections, cache, and controllers. This makes it an ideal solution for virtualization and business applications where capacity, performance, and low cost are all equally important.
Type 17 Controllers (PS4110 Series)
The Dell EqualLogic Type 17 PS4110 Controller is designed to deliver powerful, intelligent, and simplified management with enterprise scalability for small to medium data centers, remote offices, and existing PS Series environments. Key features include:
- Model Numbers: PS4110, PS4110E, PS4110X, PS4110XV
- Network Interfaces:
- 1 x 10GbE SFP+
- 1 x 10GbaseT
- 1 x 10/100Mb management port
- Storage Type: SAS, NL-SAS
- Cache: 4GB Cache
- Maximum Drive Quantity:
- 24x 2.5″ – SAS / NL-SAS
- 12x 3.5″ – SAS / NL-SAS
- Faceplate: Yellow
- Other Part Numbers: 70-0478, P0GJH, X3J14, 5T3X7
- Notes: Supports vertical port failover, Cache to Flash memory destaging, SFP+ or 10GBaseT used at any given time
The Type 17 PS4110 controller series is built on advanced peer storage architecture, featuring perpetual self-optimization with automated load balancing across disks, RAID sets, connections, cache, and controllers. This makes it an ideal solution for virtualization and business applications where capacity, performance, and low cost are all equally important.
Type 18 Controllers
Type 18 controllers are optimized for environments requiring extreme performance and large-scale storage capabilities. They are well-suited for mission-critical applications. Key features include:
- Dual controllers with 32 GB of cache per controller
- Support for up to 24 drives, including high-performance SSDs
- High-speed 10GbE connectivity with multiple ports
- Sophisticated data protection and disaster recovery solutions
- Advanced load balancing and automated tiering
Type 19 Controllers (PS4210 Series)
The Dell EqualLogic Type 19 PS4210 Controller is designed to deliver powerful, intelligent, and simplified management with enterprise scalability for small to medium data centers, remote offices, and existing PS Series environments. Key features include:
- Model Numbers: PS4210, PS4210E, PS4210X, PS4210XV, PS4210XS
- Network Interfaces:
- 2 x 10GbE SFP+ for fiber or twin-ax copper cabling
- 2 x 10Gbase-T with RJ45
- 1 x 10/100Mb management port
- Storage Type: SAS, NL-SAS, SSD
- Cache: 8GB Cache
- Maximum Drive Quantity:
- 24 x 2.5″ SAS
- 12 x 3.5″ NL-SAS
- 7 x 2.5″ SSD + 17 x 2.5″ SAS
- Faceplate: Red
- Other Part Numbers: 70-0485, 3KKYP, W56Y6, JVKMH
- Notes: Advanced data management and protection features, multiple connectivity options for flexible deployment
The Type 19 PS4210 controller series offers increased memory, performance, and connectivity options. It supports hybrid configurations that auto-tier data, placing frequently accessed data on SSDs and less frequently accessed data on HDDs, optimizing performance and cost-efficiency.
Management and Support
All Dell EqualLogic second-generation controllers are supported by comprehensive management and support tools:
- EqualLogic Group Manager: Provides a unified interface for managing all EqualLogic arrays within a SAN, simplifying administrative tasks and improving visibility.
- SAN Headquarters (SAN HQ): A performance monitoring tool that provides real-time insights and historical reporting on the performance and health of EqualLogic storage environments.
- Automated Tiering: Ensures that data is automatically moved to the most appropriate storage tier based on usage patterns, optimizing performance and cost-efficiency.
Conclusion
Dell EqualLogic’s second-generation controllers—types 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, and 19—have advanced the field of enterprise storage with their intelligent automation, seamless scalability, high performance, and robust data protection. These controllers have empowered organizations to effectively manage and scale their data environments, ensuring they can meet evolving business needs with confidence and efficiency. The legacy of these controllers continues to influence the development of future storage technologies, underscoring Dell EqualLogic’s commitment to innovation and excellence in data management solutions.
