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Quantum upgrades to StorNext 6 with replication and app QoS
Quantum StorNext scale-out file system adds to cloud capability with granular replication that can operate one-to-one, one-to-many, plus provide storage QoS per application
Quantum has upgraded its StorNext scale-out file system with the addition of replication between discrete instances of the environment and shared access to a single repository for dispersed teams.
The upgrade from version 5 to 6 sees the addition of FlexSync, which is replication between StorNext instances.
That replication is asynchronous, said Quantum marketing vice-president Molly Rector. “The replication is never synchronous, but is good enough for unstructured data workloads,” she said.
FlexSync supports one-to-one, one-to-many and many-to-one replication and can be configured to operate at the level of specific files, folders or entire file systems.
By leveraging file system metadata monitoring, FlexSync spots changes to data instantly and can begin to reflect those on another system. Users can also set policies that automatically trigger copies of files so they are available at multiple sites.
Meanwhile, FlexSpace allows multiple instances of StorNext to share a single archive repository and easily access the same data set. Users at different sites can store files in the shared archive, as well as browse and pull data from the repository.
Shared archive options include public cloud storage – Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud – and private cloud storage based on Quantum’s Lattus or third-party object storage such as NetApp StorageGrid, IBM Cleversafe and Scality Ring.
FlexSpace also provides fully automated movement of files according to customer policies.
Stornext is Quantum’s proprietary file system that allows access to block storage from Microsoft Windows, Linux, AIX UNIX and Apple workstations.
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Hardware components in the Quantum Stornext universe include Xcellis primary storage (SAN and NAS) arrays and metadata heads, Lattus object storage (with the original equipment manufacturer being Amplidata), Artico NAS archives, Scalar tape and the Q Cloud Archive cloud gateway.
StorNext targets unstructured data workloads, particularly in media and entertainment, surveillance and scientific examples and general unstructured data such as in manufacturing and automation.
StorNext 6 also provides a quality of service (QoS) feature that allows users to specify bandwidth allocation across all client workstations on a machine-by-machine basis. Using QoS, an administrator can ensure storage resources are based on business priorities.
StorNext 6 adds a copy expiration feature that enables automated removal of file copies from more expensive storage tiers. Files can also be tracked for changes made across the data lifecycle with reports on who changed a file, when changes were made, what was changed and whether and to where a file was moved.
StorNext 6 will ship with all newly purchased Xcellis and Artico archive appliances in early summer 2017. It will be available at no additional cost for StorNext 5 users under current support contracts.
