Synology Unified Controller

2019: Unified Controller UC3200

On November 15, 2019 the Synology company provided the Unified Controller UC3200 controller — the server with two controllers intended for high-available services of data iSCSI in crucial corporate environments and also RXD1219sas expansion unit.

"A widespread problem which face IT-administrators the enterprises is search of the solution iSCSI with almost zero downtime, the simple user interface and available total cost of ownership. The Unified Controller UC3200 controller is developed for the solution of these problems. UC3200 is the solution IP SAN with architecture of Active-Active providing the maximum time of smooth operation of services, and its intuitive operating system allows administrators to manage two controllers from one portal that simplifies management process and allows to reduce training time", Jason Fan, the product manager of Synology Inc company noted.

According to the developer, thanks to 4-core to the processor Intel Xeon with clock rate of 2.4 GHz and memories of DDR4 ECC UDIMM with a capacity of 8 GB on each controller, UC3200 provides more than 140,000 input-output operations per second at any record with blocks on 4 CBs in the aggregated environment 10GbE. Characteristics of UC3200:

• Memory. DDR4 ECC UDIMM with a capacity of 8 GB (with a possibility of expansion to 64 GB);
• Built-in ports 10GbE. 1 ports 10GbE and 2 ports 1GbE Ethernet with support of abnormal switching and Link Aggregation;
• PCIe expansion: 1 slot of PCIe 3.0 for the additional network interface card;
• Scalability. 12 compartments for disks of SAS by default, scaling to 500 TB from two RXD1219sas2;
• Modular construction. Principal components of a system, including modules of SAS and system fans, can be replaced for the maximum increase in time of smooth operation of a system.

"The Synology UC3200 setup does not require efforts, not to mention smooth abnormal switching between two controllers with architecture of Active-Active at emergence of any problems with virtual storage system. Synology UC3200 the optimal choice for the companies which need iSCSI storage for the virtualization environment as it provides high reliability and performance at the beneficial price", 'Tony Chen, the manager of department of technical support in Unitech Computer noted'

According to the statement of the developer, thanks to the hardware solution of UC3200 allows the companies to achieve almost zero downtime of services and to simplify accomplishment of IT transactions:

• Neprozrachny (NTB) Bridge. It is possible to permit one controller to switch quickly to itself work of services if other controller fails;
• The self-ciphered disk (SED). Support of data encryption for protection of crucial data at the hardware level;
• The built-in drive DOM with the SATA interface. It is possible to isolate the operating system from crucial data;
• Reliable protection cache memory. It is possible to synchronize cached data between two controllers to prevent data loss in case of failure of the controller before data writing on hard drives;
• 5-year guarantee.

As noted in Synology, UC3200 provides convenient integration of the checked virtualization of iSCSI with the most widespread hypervisors:

• Compliance to the iSCSI — ALUA standard. Allows hosts to define the optimized ways for performance improvement and efficiency of data transmission;
• Pictures of applications. Provides the plan of virtual disaster recovery for the virtualized workloads;
• Virtualization support. It is certified for VMware vSphere 6.5 Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix XenServer and OpenStack Cinder.

RXD1219sas is expansion unit 2U and an optimal solution for upgrade of a storage system for UC3200. The user can add to 12 additional compartments for the disks SAS 2.5 "/3.5" without stopping a system, having connected UC3200 and RXD1219sas devices directly through a cable of mini-SAS of HD and to replace crucial components of a system, including modules of SAS and system fans to provide the maximum time of smooth operation of a system.

Characteristics of RXD1219sas mentioned by the producer:

• Scalability. Simple design for convenient increase in volume for storage;
• Performance. Mini-SAS of HD for high-performance data transmission;
• Reliability. Reserve power capabilities for the maximum increase in time of continuous work.