A Windows-based Storage server can utilize its internal disk drives, or connect to an external storage array, which provides more flexibility for expansion and allows file services to be integrated into an existing SAN.
Scalable NAS and SAN storage systems using Melio ClusterFile System with Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003 R2
SANBOLIC WHITE PAPER
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Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 has evolved into a very flexible solution for both file serving and blockstorage applications. It combines the familiarity of the Windows operating system, file serving using CIFS or NFS, andnow iSCSI storage for applications requiring block storage access. AWindows-based Storage server can utilize itsinternal disk drives, or connect to an external storage array, which provides more flexibility for expansion and allowsfile services to be integrated into an existing SAN.
Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003 is frequently deployed in small or midsize applications. I/O performance isdetermined by the disk drive configuration and the server hardware, typically an industry standard Intel-or AMD-basedserver. Many customers have viewed Windows Storage Server as an excellent small NAS solution, but have moved tolarger, proprietary file server appliances when their needs expand beyond the capacity of a single Window StorageServer. This approach typically adds considerable expense and the complexity of introducing a new proprietary islandsystem to manage.
With the introduction of the enhancements in Windows Storage Server 2003 R2, more capable multi-core industry standard servers, and Sanbolic's Melio clustered file system (Melio FS), customers now have the option of expandingtheir Windows Storage Server 2003 -based file serving system dynamically as needed, to meet the needs of applicationsrequiring petabytes of storage capacity and gigabytes/sec of throughput. These clustered systems using cost effectiveindustry standard hardware have inherent redundancy and provide a single name space, as all Storage Servers in thecluster access a common file system. The solution allows administrators to continue to use all the Windows management tools, as Active Directory, DFS, Windows Security and other Windows tools are fully supported.
Scalable File Serving Using External StorageUsing Melio file system, multiple Windows Storage Server 2003 file servers can be clustered into a common file system on external SAN storage. All storage servers have concurrent read and write access to the shared storage usingSanbolic's clustered file system, so a file call can be processed by any of the Storage Servers. Microsoft DFS can beused to fail over, load balance, and distribute CIFS file calls among the Storage Servers and provide a single networkaddress to clients on the network. Alternatively, a hardware load balancer can be used to balance both NFS and CIFSnetwork calls in environments where multiple client operating systems are used. Additional servers and additional storage arrays can be added dynamically to the cluster to expand I/O performance or storage capacity without I/O interruption while client systems continue to access data.
Scalable File System using External Storage
Windows 2003 Storage Server 1, 2, 3, 4...
12 Fibre Channel or iSCSI Storage Array 1, 2, 3, 4...Melio FS Storage Pool 3 Multiple servers access "one pool" of scalable storage.4...
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I/O performance scales linearly as additional Windows Storage Server 2003 machines are added to the cluster. Clustersof up to 64 machines have been demonstrated, and larger clusters are possible.The system can provide aggregatethroughput of several gigabytes per second. Melio FS is a 64 bit file system, which provides support for volume sizesup to 18 million terabytes.
The external storage connected to the Windows Storage server cluster can incorporate multiple tiers of disk arrays.Sanbolic's file management product, SILM, can migrate or copy files across storage tiers based on administrative basedpolicy settings.
Scalable File Serving Using Internal StorageWindows Storage Server 2003 R2 introduces the capability to present internal and external storage as an iSCSI target.Using this feature, Melio FS and LaScala volume manager allow the internal disk drives of multiple Windows StorageServer 2003 machines to be clustered into one large storage pool. The storage pool then can be made accessible toclients using CIFS or NFS though the Windows Storage Servers, or to application servers using block-level iSCSIaccess.
Industry standard servers... [download for more]
