MBX Released 60-Drive, 4U Storage Server

Custom server appliance manufacturer MBX Systems announced a 60-drive, 4U storage appliance for video, cloud and other software applications requiring turnkey appliances with high density capabilities.

Configurable to meet a range of application needs, the new MBX X-60 unit conserves both power and rack space by packing up to 60 discrete 3.5" drives into a chassis that typically can accommodate no more than 36. It also capable of handling both big storage and processing requirements in one integrated unit, delivering flexibility and space-saving benefits.

The new super-sized storage and processing box – which will be introduced at MBX booth at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, NE – speeds time to market for application providers by eliminating the need to design and spec a custom high density chassis and component platform for a server appliance from scratch. It is also competitively priced, pre-engineered 60-drive server option that utilizes quality components to ensure reliability and peak performance.

Key MBX X-60 features include:

• Suitability for a range of applications, including video streaming, broadcasting, video on demand, media storage, public or private cloud storage, email archiving, data warehousing, file and web servers, and more
• Up to 240TB of storage, depending on the customer’s needs  
• Configurable SAS2 backplanes with 6GB SAS expanders delivering up to 5 discrete backplane configurations with performance up to 30Gb/s
• Support for ATX or Extended ATX motherboard form factors, providing the flexibility to add expansion slots as well as the power to support both big storage and processing in one unit – leveraging EATX’s 512GB of memory plus the system’s power supply, cooling and expansion design
• Support for a variety of x86 or ARM architectures depending on the motherboard configuration
• Integrated individual drive activity and fail LED indicators
• Dual fan banks for distributed cooling to acclimate to operating environment extremes  
• Tool-less maintenance with captive thumb screws for easy front and rear lid removal

Application vendors also have access to the MBX engineering team to configure the optimal hardware system for the customer’s application requirements. MBX will also manufacture the appliances, load customers’ software onto the finished units, and provide customized faceplates if desired.

"With the surge in big data as well as the ongoing explosion in application-related storage and processing needs, application providers have an urgent need for appliance solutions with extreme storage density as well as the flexibility to meet their specific configuration and componentry requirements," said Jeff Luckett, MBX director of engineering. "The MBX X-60 offers an affordable, best-in-class solution that provides both storage and processing power in a high density package that can be quickly configured to individual specifications without the long lead times of building a fully custom server."  

The MBX X-60 appliance is available from MBX Systems and includes a three-year warranty on the chassis and power supply.