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Refurbished Dell Storage Buyer’s Guide
What does "refurbished" mean?
Refurbished storage arrays can mean anything from used equipment, equipment returned unopened, factory returns, and more. But less important than the past life of your Dell storage array is its current performance–and different suppliers have different quality standards when it comes to refurbished equipment. Ask your vendor what “refurbished” means to them.
Advantages of refurbished storage over new
Compared to new systems, refurbished Dell storage arrays offer the same performance but also provide additional benefits. Compared to new systems, refurbished Dell storage:
DAS and SAN Dell PowerVault Storage
For decades, Dell has been an industry leader in storage solutions, and an innovator in the IT landscape. IDC Fintech Rankings places Dell #1 in worldwide enterprise storage, and their PowerVault Storage line is world-renowned for its high performance and reliability.
There are two types of Dell PowerVault Storage:
Direct Attached Storage (DAS)
Direct Attached Storage arrays are directly connected to a single server or small group of servers. DAS storage is ideal for small businesses or individual workstations requiring basic storage expansion.
DAS offers the same high capacity potential as SAN/DAS storage, but is smaller, has less advanced controllers, and does not allow for as many feature sets, making DAS storage typically the more budget-friendly option.
Storage Area Network (SAN)
SAN is centralized storage accessible by multiple servers over a dedicated network. SAN storage is best suited for businesses that need shared storage and high availability. SANs are also known for their high I/O processing speeds and low latency, making them ideal for high-speed transactional environments. SAN storage also offers more additions and feature sets compared to DAS.
Some Dell PowerVault servers are SAN/DAS, meaning they can be connected either directly to a single server, or as part of a multi-server dedicated network. This solution enables the advanced feature sets of SAN, combined with the lower latency of a direct server connection.
PowerVault Model Lines
Dell offers several PowerVault lines, each catering to different performance and capacity requirements. The PowerVault MD series offers scalable and versatile SAN/DAS storage, ideal for a wide range of business sizes and needs. The newer PowerVault ME series is a SAN/DAS storage array, offering current storage technologies.
Determining your real storage usage and needs
Many businesses have an inaccurate understanding of the true storage capacity they use and require. Dell offers an infrastructure analysis tool called Live Optics. It allows you to collect data on your real storage usage. The tool takes only a few days to run, and allows customers to make better-informed decisions on their performance and capacity requirements.
Factors to consider when selecting a refurbished Dell storage system
- Connectivity: How do you plan to connect your storage? Will it be connected to a single server, or to a dedicated network accessible by multiple servers?
- Capacity: How much data do you currently store, and how much growth do you anticipate? Capacity requirements will affect drive size, and if you anticipate the need for additional feature sets, consider opting for an SAN storage array.
- Applications: What applications will be using the storage? Do they require high IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second)?
- Scalability: Do you anticipate further growth? Scalability will affect both chassis size and storage capacity. We’ve found it’s typically more cost-effective to slightly overbuy upfront, which will save configuration costs down the line.
- Environmental impact: Does your refurbished Dell storage supplier adhere to a strict zero-landfill policy and ISO Environmental Health and Safety Standards?
- Testing: What testing will your refurbished storage array undergo to ensure it operates like new?
- Warranty: Make sure your system is covered by full warranty and support.
- Budget: In the long run, a more efficient storage solution will reduce your total cost of ownership.
- Compatibility with existing IT infrastructure: You can use non-Dell storage with Dell servers, or use Dell storage with non-Dell servers. If you have questions about whether Dell storage can integrate with your IT environment, our Dell-certified experts would love to help.
Ready to get started?
If you want to learn more about our fully guaranteed and rigorously tested refurbished Dell storage solutions, or are ready to start your custom configuration, get in touch with us today.