Features and Benefits
ADMINISTRATION
Powerful and Intuitive Web-based User Interface
The web-based Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the Flexible Storage System (FSS) software makes remote management of the storage device a simple task. By using a web-browser, the FSS can be easily managed from anywhere within the network.
Secured Administration Access
Advanced Clustering's FSS is accessible and configured through a web-based, password-protected GUI over Secured Socket Layer (SSL) administration access.
Console Tool
Advnaced Clustering's FSS can be managed by using the console tool. For security reasons some advanced and critical administrator tasks like "removing and restoring volumes" and "checking and repairing the file system", can only be managed from the console. Through the console tool, an administrator monitors the status of the network and memory usage, install drivers and hardware and perform other tasks.
Tuning Tools (advanced users)
The server performance of the FSS server can be increased by changing the settings of disk, network, file system or network using "Tuning Tools".
Remote Access of Console Tool
The Advanced Clustering FSS supports remote access of the console tool enabling management of the server from anywhere in the network.
Multiple Management Levels
The Advanced Clustering FSS supports three levels of administrative rights: Full Access, Maintenance and Administration.
NETWORK MANAGEMENT
Multiple Network Interface Card (NIC) Support
The Advanced Clustering FSS supports usage of two or more network cards to access separate sub-networks or to increase the bandwidth and allows administrators to select services to be enabled on a specified NIC.
10 Gb Ethernet
To improve the data throughput the Flexible Storage System supports 10 GbE to increase bandwidth, improve overall performance, and reduce message latency across connections.
InfiniBand Support
Advanced Clustering's FSS supports InfiniBand cards that increase bandwidth, improved overall performance, and reduced message latency across connections.
STORAGE MANAGEMENT
E-mail Notification for RAID Issues
Email alerts are sent to the system administrator in case of issues with the RAID through the FSS software.
Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) Support
The FSS software includes S.M.A.R.T support for detecting and reporting the status of the Hard Disk Drives (HDD) anticipated on failures.
E-mail Notification for S.M.A.R.T.
Email alerts are sent to the system administrator in case of HDD problems through the FSS software.
Support for over 2TB Physical and Logical Volumes (LV)
The Advanced Clustering FSS supports logical volumes greater than 2TB and a physical size of up to 16TB.
Snapshot
Snapshot is an immediate point-in-time image of the logical volume. The snapshot image can be used for both consistent and temporary backup, while users still have uninterrupted and complete access to the logical volume. Files can be recovered from previous snapshots should a file be accidentally deleted or modified.
Multiple Snapshots with Scheduling Function
The Advanced Clustering FSS supports "Multiple Snapshot with Scheduling" to create snapshots at predefined points in time (e.g. automatically every hour).
Multiple Logical Volume & Groups
Logical volume groups allow storage administrators to create logical storage pools that span multiple physical disk drives. With it's support of multiple logical volume groups, the Advanced Clustering FSS makes it easier to meet the changing needs of users and applications while making the maximum use of available physical disk space.
Online Logical Volume Expansion
Online logical volume expansion allows administrators to change the size of storage volumes as needed without having to restart the application, recreate the volume, and back up and restore data to the volume.
Support for Online Capacity Expansion
Advanced Clusteirng's Flexible Storage System provides online capacity expansion to increase the size of existing RAID arrays without removing data.
MONITORING
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) (v2 & v3)
The FSS uses SNMP for monitoring data throughput, Central Processing Unit (CPU) and Random Access Memory (RAM) usage to name a few.
Email Notification
In the event of a technical failure of the storage device, administrators are alerted by Email.
Log Function
The Advanced Clustering log file is an effective instrument in analyzing and solving technical issues.
SPECIFIC NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE (NAS) FUNCTIONALITY
Windows Active Directory / Primary Domain Controller Support
Advanced Clustering FSS supports Windows Active Directory (AD), Primary Domain Controller (PDC), Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) and AD & NIS User-/Group ID synchronization to leverage information about users, groups, systems and other resources stored in the Active Directory. The support of Access Control List (ACL) ensures that access rights of users are automatically taken over from the Domain.
Support for Network Information Service (NIS)
The Advanced Clustering FSS supports NIS for easier and consistent access of information stored on any other data storage server using NIS directory service protocol by enabling distribution of system configuration data such as user and host names between computers on a computer network.
File System with Journaling Support
Journaling support makes the file system more reliable and allows easier, faster recovery from unexpected shutdowns.
User and Group Quota Control
Administrators can control users with large disk requirements by assigning a dedicated share or by restricting their individual usage through individual user quotas or to assign a quota to a group to which the user belongs.
Antivirus (server's shares scanning)
Advanced Clustering FSS has an integrated Antivirus software tool for scanning shares on viruses at predefined points in time. The Virus Definition Database can be updated and is stored on the NAS device.
Antivirus (online scanning)
The Data Storage Server also supports online scanning of files transferred via the SMB and FTP protocol.
USB Storage Support for Dynamic Disk
USB Units connected to FSS can be used as a Dynamic Units - which can be easily used for local backups.
Backup-Agents (Veritas, EMC Dantz, CA BrightStor) Support
Advanced Clustering FSS backup agents help administrators to backup and protect data on NAS servers with backup software from Veritas, Dantz, or CA BrightStor ARCserve thus improving data transfer, network security and real-time directory browsing, monitoring tasks and supporting cross-platform backup support.
Supported Network Clients and Network File Protocol
Advanced Clustering FSS supports the file based protocols CIFS (Common Internet File System)/SMB, NFS (Network File System), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), FTPS and Apple Talk enabling Windows, Linux, Unix and MacIntosh clients to share data on the same server.
External Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)
The Advanced Clustering FSS supports external LDAP enabling administrators to configure and manage multiple data storage servers from one single point (either an Advanced Clustering server with a LDAP database or any other LDAP server).
SPECIFIC iSCSI FUNCTIONALITY
Multiple Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocols (CHAP) per Target
In Advanced Clustering FSS, CHAP users can be assigned to a specific iSCSI target. CHAP is an authentication schema, managed by user name and password, to validate the identity of users to manage the access rights of users to targets.
MPIO Support
The Advanced Clustering FSS allows set multiple connections to one target increasing performance and reliability.
Volume Replication
Data is safe thanks to the Advanced Clustering volume replication feature creating an exact copy of source volume in real time. In the event of volume disaster, data on destination volume remains intact.
BACKUP UTILITY
Task Mechanism with Scheduling
Management of all the tasks is much easier and convenient using the unified task mechanism with scheduling for data and volume replication, backup and snapshot. Tasks are scheduled as to when to activate and may have many schedules.
Virtual Tapes
Configure tape drive emulation on share or Dynamic Volume (e.g. dynamically attached hard drive) backup for tape drives is the same as backup on virtual tapes.
Tape Library Support
Make backups with use of tape drive libraries.
Internal Database
Maintain all backup files including backup history.
Tape Retention Time
Set schedule for tapes to be rewritten for new backup.
Local Backup on Dynamic Units
A local HDD or a USB drive can be defined as a Dynamic Unit and acts like a normal tape drive which can backup the NAS server and be removed without shutting down the server.
