Apple: Xserve G5 Server, Xserve RAID Array and Atempo Time Navigator 4.0
While the Apple solution consumes more rack space than any of the other solutions tested, 4RU, it does feature more drive bays than any of the other solutions with 14 in total. And Apple really packs in high capacity drives. The test unit was delivered with maximum 5.6TB, which far exceeds any of the other units tested in terms of internal capacity, and exceeds the other units' total storage capacity with external arrays.
Multiple Xserve RAID arrays can be configured to support a single partition up to 16TB. The Xserve G5is a 1RU unit, the Xserve RAID a 3RU, and there is no doubt that in terms of construction that the Apple products are the "Rolls Royce" of the storage solutions tested. The Xserve G5 is attractive, and once you take the lid off the attention to detail in the internal layout is first class. The Xserve RAID box is built like a tank, it really is a two-person exercise to move it about.
The RAID unit has two sets of "Drive Modules" -- the 14 PATA drives are divided equally into two sets of seven each with its own controller. It's a pity the drive controllers do not seem to load share or provide redundancy should one fail.
The Xserve RAID is more serious than the G5 Server with regards to redundancy -- as mentioned there are two controllers each with their own Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel and power supplies. Cooling is certainly more than adequate -- each power supply sports a large high volume fan -- and while we did not have time to dissect the case, the volume of air passed over the hard drives is also very high and should result in cool and reliable operation. The drive cradles are the most impressive we have seen with a rugged construction and smooth insertion and removal. There is also a drive lock to prevent unauthorised removal of the drives -- a wise addition.
As an Apple partner, Atempo provided its Time Navigator (TN) which was run up on an iMac. Unfortunately, as the range of products differed so much, there was no point making direct comparisons and for this reason we didn't test the Apple's performance.
As far as we know TN for Mac is the only serious high-performance enterprise backup and archiving software solution. With that said, TN also supports all the other major platforms. Through its central management TM can backup and restore your network files as well as get you on your way to government compliance. It can backup Oracle databases, SAP, Exchange, Lotus Domino, and SharePoint servers much the same as Veritas's Enterprise Vault.
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