Question : NetApp: Should I Pay $1,900 for Rack and Stack?

Hello,

I'm implementing a NetApp FAS2040 at my job. Here is what we are buying:

FAS2040
Dual Controllers
1 Disk Shelf: 12x600 SAS15K
SupportEdge 4Hr Replace/Install
I'm going with the BASE Software pack at this time.

The reseller wants to charge me $1,888 for a line item called "Rack and Stack". The NetApp item code is SST-INST-FAS2000-GT-NAPS.

Is this something that is really necessary? Could I do it myself? Do you know where I can find documentation or a book regarding NetApp FAS2000 Series Device Setup? I'm assuming I could easily do this myself. I'm going to buy the NetApp University Web Courses for the NCDA and NCIE SAN/Virtualization.

When the device arrives in no rush to have this setup the same day. If it takes me under 30 hours in one week to setup I'd be happy.

I'll connect 3 VMware hosts via an iSCSI fabric consisting of 2 Cisco G/b Switches to the dual controller NetApp FAS2040. I'm very comfortable with Cisco and VMware and Linux CLI. NetApp is lacking due no books being available on Amazon.

Some papers under http://www.netapp.com/us/library/technical-reports.html appear to helpful.

Answer : NetApp: Should I Pay $1,900 for Rack and Stack?

BTW.  You should configure the LUNs for thin provisioning and dedupe, this should help.

http://blogs.netapp.com/drdedupe/2010/05/netapp-luns-and-deduplication.html

Keep in mind that because the VMs are on a LUN vs NFS mount you will not see the space savings on the datastore and will keep a track of the space on the Netapp.

My $.02