Introduction to Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection

Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection
No Batteries. No Worries.
Why protect data in the
controller cache?
What is Adaptec Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection?
Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection (ZMCP pronounced “zemcap”) is a revolutionary advancement that protects
cached data while offering lower operating costs than controllers equipped with battery backup units (BBUs).
Now in its second generation, ZMCP is sold separately as an add-on kit (AFM-600) for Adaptec Series 6 and Series
6T Unified Serial RAID controllers. Adaptec Series 5Z and Series 6Q Unified Serial® (SATA/SAS) RAID controllers
ship with a fully-integrated AFM module.
Why Do Your Customers Need It?
Your Cached Data
is at Risk:
1. Power Loss
Up to 350MB
of data is sitting in controller
cache at any given time*
2. System Failure
3. Mother Nature
*Based on 512MB controller cache
Enabling the RAID controller cache offers significant benefits, such as reduced latency in I/O requests, bandwidth
and queue depths that surpass software application limits, on-the-fly parity calculations on sequential writes, and
reduced storage power and cooling costs.
Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection
protects controller cache data without
the use of a battery.
RAID controllers typically employ Lithium Ion BBUs to protect cached data during a system power outage, but BBUs
require constant monitoring and expensive maintenance, and can only preserve data for a maximum of 72 hours
during a power loss.
ZMCP Reduced Maintenance & Costs
Item
Adaptec Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection
Standard Lithium Ion Unified Serial® (SATA/SAS) RAID
Maintenance schedule
None needed for years
Battery should be replaced every 1–2 years
Continual battery monitoring required
Maintenance impact
None
Server must be opened (usually means removal from rack) and should be taken
offline while the battery is being replaced
Data must be recovered within
Several months
Up to 72 hours, less if battery is degraded
Charge time
Capacitor charges while the system boots
4.5 to 9 hours
Time to cache protection
Immediate
24 to 36 hours for initial capacity test
Inventory requirements
None
Need to maintain at least a small inventory of emergency replacements
Disposal issues
None
Need to safely dispose of hazardous battery material
Grow Your Business with PartnerPlus
www.adaptec.com/partners/promo
Email: [email protected]
Call: 408-957-7279 or 800-442-7274
Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection
BBUs vs. Series 6 with ZMCP Cost Comparison
Parameter
Typical RAID controller
with Lithium-ion BBU
Adaptec RAID 6805
Adapter Price
$ 595 SRP
$ 550 SRP
Cost for Cache Protection
$ 175 (BBU)
$ 195 SRP
Replacement BBU
$ 175
$0
Serviceability
$ 265
$0
Disposal – Hazmat
$ 25
$0
Total 4 year cost
$ 1235
$ 745 SRP
In typical real-world scenarios, ZMCP offers cost savings of more than 40% over a four-year period.
How it Works
Adaptec ZMCP features 4GB of flash memory paired with super capacitor
technology to nearly instantly save cache contents in the event of system
power loss. The super capacitor charges nearly instantly while while the system
boots and cache protection is available within minutes of installation. And, since
it is flash-based, systems don’t need to be shut down for battery replacement.
Battery backup unit (BBU): A device installed on a RAID controller that provides
reserve power to protect stored cache data in the event of a loss of the main power
to preserve data for up to 72 hours.
Battery replacement shutdown: The need to power down a server in order to
change the battery in a RAID controller’s BBU.
Controller cache: Cache memory in the RAID controller. It improves storage
throughout and overall performance by queuing data in the cache to accelerate
read and write speeds.
Flash memory: A type of solid state (no moving parts) memory that can be erased
and reprogrammed. It is mainly used in memory cards and USB thumb drives for
general storage. Flash memory is non-volatile, which means it can retain stored
information even when not being powered.
Gigabyte (GB): 1024 megabytes (MB); 1,048,576 kilobytes (KB);
1,073,741,824 bytes.
Intelligent Power Management (IPM): An Adaptec-only innovation that can slash
storage power and cooling costs by up to 70% by allowing active disks to be spun
down to lower RPMs or stopped altogether during idle times.
I/O: Input/Output. Any operation that moves information from a disk or another
device to a computer.
Ideal Applications:
• Online transaction processing servers (OLTP)
• Digital surveillance
Glossary
• Web servers
• Streaming applications
Grow Your Business with Adaptec
Adaptec innovations like ZMCP help you meet the evolving needs of data centers. By selling Adaptec
solutions, you can build loyalty among existing customers and gain entry into new accounts.
Lithium Ion: A type of battery most commonly used in small electronic devices.
Lithium ion batteries have some significant drawbacks, including a service life that
is directly correlated to age rather than usage. High temperatures can also shorten
a battery’s lifespan.
Total cost of ownership (TCO): Total cost of ownership (TCO) – An accounting
model designed to determine the total cost of acquiring, operating, and retiring a
piece of equipment over that equipment’s entire lifespan.
For more information:
www.adaptec.com/zmcp
© Copyright PMC-Sierra, Inc. 2012. All rights reserved. PMC, PMC-SIERRA and Adaptec are registered trademarks of PMC-Sierra, Inc. “Adaptec by PMC” is a trademark of PMC-Sierra, Inc.
Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. For a complete list of PMC-Sierra trademarks, see www.pmc-sierra.com/legal. INTRO-ZMCP-041112