Accusys ExaSAN A16S3-PS review
Is this furiously fast storage array the future for HD video editing?


The affordable ExaSAN A16S3-PS beats Thunderbolt 2 hands down for performance making it a top candidate for 4K video editing.
-
+
Excellent performer; Innovative PCIe 3.0 connectivity; Good value; HBA and QSFP cable included
-
-
Snapshot synchronisation is very slow

Easy installation
Installation is very simple with almost no difference to fitting a standard DAS array. We installed the HBA in an HP ProLiant DL380 Gen9 rack server and had it connected to the array in a few minutes.
All storage configuration is carried out from the supplied RAIDGuardX utility which automatically found the array and loaded it up in the main console. A minor annoyance is it forgets the array when it's unloaded so we had to find it again each time we ran the utility.
We installed eight 4TB WD SAS hard disks and used RAIDGuardX to create a single RAID5 array from them all which we left to build overnight. All the usual RAID suspects are supported including dual-drive redundant RAID6 arrays.
We sliced and diced our storage and created separate partitions across all disks in the same array
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
Dave is an IT consultant and freelance journalist specialising in hands-on reviews of computer networking products covering all market sectors from small businesses to enterprises. Founder of Binary Testing Ltd – the UK’s premier independent network testing laboratory - Dave has over 45 years of experience in the IT industry.
Dave has produced many thousands of in-depth business networking product reviews from his lab which have been reproduced globally. Writing for ITPro and its sister title, PC Pro, he covers all areas of business IT infrastructure, including servers, storage, network security, data protection, cloud, infrastructure and services.
-
MSPs emerge as key security partners for mid-market enterprises
News The MSP Customer Insight Report reveals 85% of mid-sized organizations now rely on MSPs for security support
By Daniel Todd Published
-
SaaS security is now a major blind spot for enterprises
News Rising SaaS security threats are being overlooked, new research shows
By Emma Woollacott Published
-
Software licensing is becoming a minefield for IT leaders – and it’s driving them into the arms of the open source community
News Oracle Java is causing particular headaches, with many saying they plan to migrate to open source alternatives
By Emma Woollacott Published