
Offers substantial performance and functionality starting at entry-level prices designed
Add an expansion unit to increase capacity or performance
EXP3524 for maximum performance; EXP3512 for maximum capacity; or intermix as needed!
START with the DS3500 // Four 6 Gbps x4 SAS host connectors in a dual controller configuration
Cost-effective high performance storage for up to two direct-attached servers in a Highly Available configuration
Connectivity to redundant 16-port SAS switches supports up to eight servers in a Highly Available configuration
Provides booting and shared storage for IBM BladeCenter®
DS3524 – Best fit for environments requiring highest performance, best price/performance, or lowest power/cooling
DS3512 – Best fit for environments requiring highest capacity, or a high capacity/high performance blend
Server-led Elevator Pitch
Ask one or more of these questions
to start the discussion:
1. What application(s) will you run with
your server purchase (memory up-sell)?
Do you require continuous access
to this application?
Can the internal disks support your capacity
requirements over the next several years?
Does this data need to be shared with
other servers
2. Will you be adding servers that need access
to the same data from existing applications?
3. Are you buying more servers to satisfy your
growing needs and requirements?
4. Do you need a storage system to support the
performance and consolidation demands of
server virtualization?
5. Do your employees always have 24/7/365
access to data to remain productive?
6. Are you concerned about power consumption and
want to make a smaller environmental footprint?
7. Would you like to support your business critical
data and secondary storage with a single storage
system?
8. Do you have a disaster recovery plan?
Have you tested it and were you satisfied with
the recovery time?
9. Is your data backup process taking too long
and negatively impacting your business?
10. Do you need to secure data-at rest from
a drive loss, theft or breach?
Add a host card to expand SAS connectivity or support additional interface technology
SAS host card – adds two more 6 Gbps x4 SAS host connectors per controller
Further expands shared DAS or networked capabilities with support for eight SAS connectors (dual controller)
Interface of choice for low cost, high performance “in-the-rack” connectivity
FC host card – adds four 8 Gbps FC host ports per controller
Seamless integration into existing FC SAN implementations for workgroups, departments or remote sites
Supports enhanced remote mirroring between DS3500 systems, or with DS5000, DS4000 and/or DCS3700
iSCSI host card – adds four 1 Gbps or two 10 Gbps iSCSI host ports per controller
Simple and straightforward IP SAN solution that’s well suited for low-cost storage networking requirements
10Gbps iSCSI interface provides native connectivity into high-performance IP SAN infrastructures
Affordable storage with midrange performance and scalability
Simple yet powerful storage management software
Green efficiencies reduce energy expenditures
Concurrent host connectivity and mixed drive types lower
hardware investments
Balanced performance well suited for virtualization
Relentless security and data protection
Turbo performance premium feature provides increased
throughput for more bandwidth-demanding applications
NEBs and ETSI support for ruggedized environments
when your customers:
Purchase any System x, BladeCenter
or Power Systems servers
Implement Microsoft applications
Find their servers are running
out of internal storage capacity
Implement server or storage
consolidation projects
Install a VMware or HyperV solutions
Require a backup/recovery
or disaster recovery strategy

1. Purchase a DS3500 2. Add a host daughter card* (optional) 3. Select drives and drive expansion
units if needed Expansion options 4. If additional features are needed, make selection from list 4.
Out-of-the-box includes: four partitions, two
FlashCopy® images, and Windows, Linux (on Intel),
and VMware host attachment. Select from any of
the additional advanced features below:
DS3512 – Single Controller
DS3524 – Single Controller
DS3524 DC power – Dual Controller
AIX/VIOS Host Kit (FC host ports only)
Linux on Power Kit (Power Blades only)
6 Gbps x4 SAS 2 port host card
Initial Upgrade: 4 to 8 Partitions
8 Gbps FC 4 port host card
Initial Upgrade: 4 to 16 Partitions
1 Gbps iSCSI 4 port host card
Initial Upgrade: 4 to 32 Partitions
10 Gbps iSCSI 2 port host card
Initial Upgrade: 4 to 64 Partitions
Initial Upgrade: 4 to 128 Partitions
Additional upgrade: 8 to 16 Partitions
3.5in Drives and Enclosures
Additional upgrade: 8 to 32 Partitions
Additional upgrade: 8 to 64 Partitions
Additional upgrade: 8 to 128 Partitions
Additional upgrade: 16 to 32 Partitions
Additional upgrade: 16 to 64 Partitions
Additional upgrade: 16 to 128 Partitions
Additional upgrade: 32 to 64 Partitions
Additional upgrade: 32 to 128 Partitions
Additional upgrade: 64 to 128 Partitions
EXP3512 Expansion Unit – Single ESM**
Replication Feature Options
FlashCopy: Base
4 images per volume / 64 per system
2.5in Drives and Enclosures
FlashCopy: 8 x 64 upgrade
8 images per volume / 64 per system
Volume Copy: Base
128 Relationships per system
FlashCopy 4x64 & Volume Copy
Remote Mirroring: Base (over FC)
8 mirror pairs per system
Remote Mirroring: Upgrade (over FC)
16 mirror pairs per system
EXP3524 Expansion Unit – Single ESM**
EXP3524 DC Expansion Unit – Dual ESM
96 to 192 Drive Expansion
Competitive Overview – DS3500 Express versus:
HP P2000 G3 Disadvantages
Provides a common management interface
– minimal learning curve across the
DS5000, DS4000, DS3500 and DCS3700
No continuity across the HP storage platforms
– each array family must be learned
The DS3500 supports self-encrypting
drives (SEDs) SAS drives for securing
The P2000 G3 does not have any security
solutions for data-at-rest
EqualLogic PS4X00 Series
EqualLogic PS4X00 Disadvantages
Affordable – Fits most entry to small
midrange customers’ shrinking budgets
Poor Value – Pricing initially appears attractive
until lack of flexibility, expansion and much
Offers a range of host interface options and
intermix – SAS, iSCSI + SAS, or FC + SAS
Extremely limited host connectivity with only
two iSCSI ports
Scalability can be achieved in a cost-
effective manner by adding EXP3512
and/or EXP3524 expansion units
Scalability becomes expensive. Expansion
enclosures are not offered. A total of only two
PS4000s or two PS4100s may be configured in
the same SAN.
Wide variety of RAID levels are
simultaneously supported
Significant flexibility restrictions. Only one
drive type, drive size, drive speed and RAID
HP P4000 SAN Solution (Lefthand Networks)
Competitively priced to meet restrictive
budgets
Pricing not within most entry-level customer
budgets and high preset drive quantities
Offers a range of host interface options
and intermix – SAS, iSCSI and SAS,
Limited host interface choice with only FC
and iSCSI
No incremental software costs for
expansion
Expansion is expensive - each expansion node
requires repurchasing of “bundled” software
A single dual controller DS3500 can
provide high availability
An additional P4000 is required to achieve
redundancy and availability
For more information, visit: www.ibmdsseries.com
* Dual controller configurations require identical host interface cards for each controller
**A second ESM must be added to expansion units behind a DS3500 with dual controllers
NOTE: 3.5-in drives can only reside in the EXP3512 and 2.5-in drives can only reside in the EXP3524