Solved: FAS2240 or FAS3210? - Page 2

GIACOMO_NICHELE · ‎2011-12-31

Hello everybody, i'm new in the community and in January 2012 i need to change my old EMC clarrion with a brand new Netapp.My enviroment is 3 hosts with Vmware.

I ask to my dealer and i've received 2 configurations, one with the new 2240 with 28 disks 2,5" 10krpm, 4FC port and another with 3210 and 28 disks 3,5" 15krpm and 4FC port, the price

is 4.000€ in favour of 2240, but isn't a problem.

My dealer told me that the 3210 is old than 2240, but is an high level SAN than a 2240, but i've several doubt, because i've read the new 2240 have a new processors, is a 8gbs FC vs 4gbs in 3210, also the cache is bigger in 2240. Only disks seems to be better in 3210 ( 15k rpm) than 2240 (10k rpm).

In the papaer seems to be better the 2240 than 3210, but is it true?

Thanks in advance

vmsjaak13 · ‎2012-01-05

Don't be alarmed by 10k SAS disks. They offer about 15-20% less iops per drive compares to their 3.5" 15k SAS counterparts.

In most VMware environments this isn't an issue, but YMMV.

It is also good to note that the 2240 can hold 24 disks internally (not 28).

SAS Expansion shelfs can also hold 24 disks (DS4243 (SAS/SATA/SSD) or DS2246 (only 10k RPM SAS).

If your dealer really quoted you 28 disks, then perhaps they offered an empty 2240 with 2 DS14Mk4 FC shelfs (they hold 14 disks each) ?

On a 2240 I would never use FC shelves, because then you need the FC mezzazine for shelf connectivity.

Go with SAS shelves ! Also on the 3210.

Regarding networking: dual 10Gbit in a 2240 controller is nice. But you'd need two 10Gbit switches, and two 10Gbit nics per server.

Regards,

Niek Baakman

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89sigo · ‎2012-01-06

Netapp is pulling back support for Flash Cache in the FAS3210 due to memory issues with that model, so I would not count on using flash cache if you decide on the FAS3210. My Sales rep just substituted a FAS3240 for the FAS3210 due to this memory problem.

THEHAWK73 · ‎2012-02-11

Hi Everybody,

i think that the support to Flash Cache is important like the ssd support.

How much is more expensvie the 3240 than the 3210, regarding the same hardware configuration and licensing ?

Another question, what is the appliance Fas3210a ?

rprudent · ‎2012-04-02

Note that the 2240 would support 900 GB SAS drives come June or July.

radek_kubka · ‎2012-04-03

I don't want to be too picky, but I guess 3210 will support these new drives as well (don't see any reason why not).

Regards,
Radek

D_BEREZENKO · ‎2012-07-24

As far as I know 3210 will not support Flash Pool technology in the future.

So if you want to use it or you think you probable will use it - the better choice is 2240.

If you do not need it at all, 3210 is a bit "faster" system and it can have FC (4FC embedded and you can install 8FC) and 10GB ports simultaneously.

radek_kubka · ‎2012-07-24

I'd be very careful in saying that 3210 is "faster" than 2240 - maybe only because it can support more spindles. Both systems have the same number of CPU cores & 2240 has a little bit more RAM (as already mentioned above in this thread).

Systems with 4GB of RAM (like 3210) are not getting much "love" recently due to increased memory footprint in ONTAP 8.1.

Regards,
Radek

danpancamo · ‎2013-01-27

I dont see an answer... I'm considering a move from 2500 VDI from a 3160HA to a 6280HA for our VDI environment...

I'm trying to come with with some some real world VDI performance factors for the 6280's over the 3160's

And, I'm also considering a possible large cluster mode of 2240's since i don't really like the idea of having 4000 VDI workstations all one 6280HA pair.

Virtualization is starting to get too complicated.

radek_kubka · ‎2013-01-28

I'm also considering a possible large cluster mode of 2240's

Hmm, not ideal platform for cluster mode I am afraid - you have to put 10GbE card into the only mezzanine slot for back-end cluster comms, so you end up with rather limited front-end connectivity (4x 1GbE per controller).

thomas_glodde · ‎2013-01-28

Do NOT go with a FAS3210 as it has 4GB of memory only and ontap 8.1.1 will kill it. FAS2240 is fine if you do not need 10GB Ethernet AND 8GB FibreChannel. Otherwise you would need a FAS3220 (tech refresh of FAS3210 with more memory & cpu).

milm · ‎2013-01-30

Matt from NetApp here. You are correct that the memory footprint of the 3210 limits its capabilities, esp regarding flash support. The newly released 3220 more than doubles the memory and processing power of the 3210, and fully supports features like Flash Cache and Flash Pools. Performance will also outpace the 2240 as well, but if perf is not the primary concern, 2240 could fit the bill. Thanks for posting.