Alternative to xSAN?

[Aaron Vaughn]

You haven’t mentioned what applications and functionality you require, that really is the best identifier on what protocol to run for your storage. If you need video feeds for editing, or database applications, I would recommend a faster protocol and a storage array that can push IOPS. If a simple file share or back up repository is needed, then lower IOPS and ease of expansion are the best ways to determine storage need.
To load xSan you are giving some decent management capabilities to the Promise storage, however, you will have additional costs incurred, simply because of the nature of shared storage. The least expensive way is for a Gbit network or iSCSI route. This gives you the flexibility of a file share, but also good controls for management, but lacks in performance with those protocols.

Before investing in a costly fiber solution that involves licensing and HBA’s, that can at best give you 8gb, you can migrate over to a 10Gbe. This will also add cost for 10gb cards and about 8k for a netgear 10gbe switch (least expensive I’ve seen), but the advantage is it’s still faster than 8gb fiber, and costs you less being that no licensing is required and 10gbe cards still are lower in cost than a fiber solution.

I’m not sure if your promise is rated for 10gbe, and from the sounds of it, you are not ready to replace the promise box, but hopefully my information is helpful. There are many inexpensive alternatives on the market for storage, but identifying the # of users, types of applications being used, and total budget are typically the best ways to decide how to build your storage network.

Let me know if this helps.

Aaron Vaughn
https://www.arcstorage.com