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Q & A - What Matters to IT about IP Video - the NetApp advantage!

Matt Golueke October 6, 2015 14:20 PM

NetApp-logoAlex Sammer from NetApp sat down with us to discuss the differentiators that brought Bosch and NetApp engineers to the same table to solve a growing problem for IP video solutions. While we had the "smart guys" in the room, we couldn't help but ask some pointed questions about the synergy between the two companies and how some of the technology works. Here's some of what they had to say...

? Why can’t I use a standard (COTS) iSCSI from Dell, EMC, etc. in a Bosch Security Systems VMS solution?

Bosch_logo_small_web

Each standard storage system is designed to serve a limited amount of direct connected servers with mostly more read than write workload. NetApp changes the standard iSCSI rules of engagement.

The advantage of the Bosch iSCSI recording solution is that each camera, which has an iSCSI intiator inside, directly records to the storage system without a server in-between.

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A standard storage system is mostly limited to only 64 or 128 concurrent ISCSI sessions and is optimized for a robust, but more time consuming, ISCSI failover/error handling. The Bosch DSA E-Series storage system by NetApp is optimized to handle 600 ISCSI sessions per controller on only two ports and providing an optimized speed for ISCSI logins and error handling for such an amount of concurrent sessions.Since each ISCSI camera can be compared to direct connected server the number of concurrent ISCSI sessions is most limiting factor for the storage system.

So using a non-Bosch-ISCSI optimized storage system will lead to recording gaps and to unpredictable behavior of the storage system with this huge amount of ISCSI connections. Plus, you may be very limited in the total number of cameras you can connect via iSCSI initiator to the iSCSI target. 

? Why does the NetApp solution scale with only one VRM server?

The Bosch direct ISCSI recording solution virtualizes the given storage to the cameras. This is a scale-out solution by design where the high upscale NetApp E-Series systems offers a perfect fit.

This means that with less storage systems to manage, still the needed throughput and camera connection can be given. 

Up to 2000 cameras can be managed with only two E-series storage systems and one Bosch VRM server which offers unique cost savings compared to the market offerings.

? Why did NetApp and Bosch engineers get together for this partnership?

Since it is uncommon in the IT datacenter to have more than 20-30 direct connected servers via iSCSI, there is no proven solution out there to let 600 iSCSI connections make a proper login to a single storage controller.

The Bosch and NetApp engineers worked one year to optimize both products to achieve the best possible performance and maximum of ISCSI connections. Further they tuned the cameras and storage to get the needed error handling which is required for a 100% write workload of the cameras. 

? Why will I use less power with a NetApp solution?

The NetApp E-Series storage system offers the best performance per density today. With the high density tray, 60 data disks are deployed on 4 HE. This means less computing power for more disks compared to standard NVR server with 8-16 disks per tray.

?Will I save time with programming a large NetApp solution over a standard Bosch solution?

The DSA E-Series is integrated in the Bosch Video Management System software and will be automatically configured for best practice use with the solution. So in simple words this means just rack and stack the storage, connect the network and IP address and then click on the “one button configure to use” – done. 

?Why does TCO matter?

For IT managers TCO is the absolute critical decision for choosing a product. Most often are the operational costs much higher than the product costs over the planned lifetime of a solution.

As an simple example just calculate only the power and cooling costs for 2PB usable capacity with $0.20/KWh you will pay over $850K in 5 years.

Also consider IP port consumption, physical footprint, and high reliability resulting in fewer disk failures and maintenance time. So a total cost of ownership calculation will be a crucial part of a solution.

?Can I leverage existing NetApp storage that I already have?

Since NetApp and Bosch qualified some specific NetApp systems like the FAS systems running Ontap 7.3. and the E-Series it is recommended to check this at first stage. Further mixing IT related workload which are most often read intensive with an additional 100% write workload might affect the overall system performance.

So e.g. for higher HD camera counts (>50) it is mostly recommended to use separate storage systems for the video surveillance systems.

However it absolutely depends on the project size and the existing storage system.

?Can I use SANtricity for my IP video system and my business operations system?

Yes Santricity can be used to manage all existing NetApp E-Series systems connected to the network. 

?Why does a service uplift make a difference? Can’t I do a disc replacement it myself?

Bosch offers a service uplift which will be fulfilled by the NetApp service organization. This provides a “4h parts replacement” where the spare part and an engineer will arrive in the given time.

There is also the “4h parts delivery” service options available where the end user will replace the spare part. This is more cost optimized and can also be used in restricted security areas.

 

Learn more about the NetApp and Bosch engineered IP video solution here.

 

 

Topics: IP Video Market Development for IT VAR’s

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