In 2017, Microsoft announced the Azure Data Box, a secure and tough appliance for offline data transfer to Azure. Then, at Ignite last year, it was stated that it had now entered general availability. An added announcement accompanied this - the unveiling of a larger and more efficient version of the solution, the Data Box Heavy.
Now, Microsoft has revealed that Data Box Heavy has reached the stage of general availability in the US and EU. Furthermore, regional service of other Data Box solutions has been expanded as well.
Although quite similar to the standard Data Box in most respects, transfer rate and raw capacity is where Data Box Heavy excels. Its capacity, at 1 PB, offers 10 times more storage than the original version, while its multiple 40 Gbps connectors also shine in comparison to 10 Gbps offerings in Data Box.
A more detailed comparison between the various solutions can be observed in the table below:
| Data Box Heavy | Data Box | Data Box Disk |
|---|---|---|
| 1 PB per order | 100 TB per order | 40 TB per order/8 TB per disk |
| 770 TB usable capacity per order | 80 TB usable capacity per order | 35 TB usable capacity per order |
| Supports Block Blobs, Page Blobs, Azure Files, and Managed Disk | Supports Block Blobs, Page Blobs, Azure Files, and Managed Disk | Supports Block Blobs, Page Blobs, Azure Files, and Managed Disk |
| Copy to 10 storage accounts | Copy to 10 storage accounts | Copy to 10 storage accounts |
| 4 x RJ45 10/1 Gbps, 4 x QSFP 10/40 Gbps Ethernet | 2 x RJ45 10/1 Gbps, 2 x SFP+ 10 Gbps Ethernet | USB 3.1, SATA II or III |
| Copy data using standard NAS protocols (SMB/CIFS, NFS, Azure Blob Storage) | Copy data using standard NAS protocols (SMB/CIFS, NFS, Azure Blob Storage) | Copy data using standard NAS protocols (SMB/CIFS, NFS, Azure Blob Storage) |
As to the current availability of each of the versions, Data Box Heavy is now available in the US and EU, while Data Box is additionally being offered in Japan, Canada, and Australia. The services of Data Box Disk, aside from the five aforementioned regions, are further extended to Korea, Southeast Asia, and to the US Government.
You can learn more about Azure Data Box products here, or order one through the Azure portal. As far as pricing is concerned, the import service fee for one unit will cost you $4000, along with additional standard shipping charges that vary according to region.