The PowerScale A300 delivers scalable archive NAS storage with 120 TB to 1.4 PB per 4U chassis, supporting up to 75 PB in a cluster via OneFS scale-out architecture. It features inline compression, deduplication, 96 GB memory per node, and nearline access for unstructured data, reducing TCO by optimizing capacity and performance for SMBs and enterprises. WECENT supplies this solution with expert deployment support.
What Challenges Does the Storage Industry Face Today?
Unstructured data volumes explode at 23% annually through 2025, per IDC reports, straining legacy systems in data centers. Enterprises grapple with 80% of data becoming “cold” yet needing fast access for compliance and analytics.
This growth amplifies pain points like high latency in retrieval, fragmented management across silos, and escalating costs—up 30% for many firms due to inefficient scaling.
Why Do Traditional Solutions Fall Short?
Legacy tape and HDD archives limit scalability to fixed capacities, often requiring full rebuilds for expansion. They deliver sub-100 MB/s throughput versus modern needs of 10 GB/s+.
Management silos create governance gaps, with 60% of organizations reporting compliance risks from poor visibility.
What Makes PowerScale A300 a Superior Solution?
PowerScale A300 offers a 4U chassis with 4 nodes, 60 x 3.5″ HDDs (SATA/SAS), and SSD caching options up to 7.68 TB per node. It scales seamlessly from 120 TB to 75 PB clustered, powered by OneFS for single namespace access.
Key capabilities include dual 100/25 GbE front-end, InfiniBand back-end, and inline data reduction achieving 2:1 compression ratios typically.
WECENT, an authorized Dell agent, provides A300 with customization for AI, big data, and hybrid clouds.
| Feature | Traditional Archives | PowerScale A300 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity per Chassis | 50-200 TB fixed | 120 TB – 1.4 PB |
| Cluster Scale | Multi-appliance silos | 75 PB single namespace |
| Data Reduction | Post-process only | Inline compression + dedupe |
| Access Speed | High latency (>10s) | Nearline (<1s typical) |
| Management | Multiple tools | Unified OneFS |
How Can You Deploy PowerScale A300 Step-by-Step?
Assess data growth and retention needs to size chassis count.
Rack the 4U unit (17.6″ W x 37.6″ D, 252 lbs max), connect power (1070W max), and network via 100 GbE.
Install OneFS OS, configure SSD cache (1-2 per node), and apply policies for tiering/compression.
Test throughput, integrate with backups, and monitor via InsightsIQ.
Scale by adding chassis non-disruptively.
WECENT Expert Views
“PowerScale A300 transforms archive storage by blending massive capacity with active access, ideal for data-intensive sectors. At WECENT, we’ve deployed it for healthcare clients retaining petabytes of imaging data, achieving 40% TCO savings through inline efficiencies. Our end-to-end service—from OEM customization to 24/7 support—ensures seamless integration with Dell PowerEdge or NVIDIA GPUs for AI workloads.”
— IT Storage Specialist, WECENT (128 words)
Which Scenarios Benefit Most from PowerScale A300?
Research University Archive
Problem: 500 TB+ datasets with infrequent but urgent access.
Traditional: Tape silos delay retrieval by days.
Post-A300: Sub-second access via SSD cache.
Benefits: 50% capacity savings, faster grants compliance.
Healthcare Imaging Vault
Problem: HIPAA-compliant storage for 2 PB scans.
Traditional: Tiered NAS with manual migrations.
Post-A300: Automated tiering, inline dedupe.
Benefits: 3x usable capacity, audit-ready governance.
Finance Branch File Shares
Problem: Distributed 1 PB growth across sites.
Traditional: Sync issues raise breach risks.
Post-A300: Single namespace unifies access.
Benefits: Centralized policy, 35% lower ops costs.
Media Asset Library
Problem: 10 PB video archives need preview speed.
Traditional: Separate hot/cold tiers fragment workflows.
Post-A300: Scale-out with low-latency streaming.
Benefits: Project acceleration, halved storage spend.
WECENT tailors A300 deployments for these cases, leveraging 8+ years in enterprise storage.
What Future Trends Demand PowerScale A300 Now?
AI and edge computing drive unstructured data to 175 zettabytes globally by 2025. Active archives like A300 enable analytics on cold data without migration costs.
Adopting now positions firms for hybrid cloud shifts, deferring 20-30% capex via efficiency.
Conclusion
PowerScale A300 spec sheet reveals a cost-effective powerhouse for archive-scale storage: 75 PB clusters, inline optimizations, and OneFS simplicity. Key takeaways include superior TCO, seamless scaling, and compliance edge. Actionable advice: Contact WECENT for a free assessment—integrate A300 today to future-proof your infrastructure.
FAQs
What capacities does PowerScale A300 support?
120 TB to 1.4 PB per chassis; scales to 75 PB clustered.
Does it integrate with existing Dell systems?
Yes, fully compatible with PowerScale/Isilon via OneFS and Ethernet/InfiniBand.
How effective is its data reduction?
Achieves 2:1+ ratios via inline compression and deduplication.
What are the power and space requirements?
4U rack, 1070W max per chassis, fits standard data centers.
Can WECENT customize A300?
Yes, WECENT offers OEM options, installation, and ongoing support.