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General discussion

Aggregating NAS servers

Dec 3, 2010 3:41AM PST

Hi all --

I currently have a 40TB Windows Storage Server NAS, and 2x 24TB NAS Servers running Xp with some proprietary software over it. The latter boxes run like garbage, and I'd like to wipe em out, install a server OS, and then aggregate them to appear as 1 volume. What OS and/or Software would you all recommend I use to accomplish this?

Thanks!

~ Mike

Discussion is locked

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Something odd here.
Dec 3, 2010 3:46AM PST

My lower home NAS solution is some netbook running whatever OS it came with (7 basic!) and some TB external. Performance is limited to the network speed so I can't say it's the OS.

If I were to replace the OS I would go for Linux.
Bob

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Hrmmm...
Dec 3, 2010 5:27AM PST

Those servers are at work, they're not my personal machines. I'm thinking Linux also, but we'll see. I want to make sure it's stable and well tested.

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Linux is not stable or well tested.
Dec 3, 2010 8:58AM PST

Of course I wrote that to bring out the hordes to dispute that!

Can I ask what makes you think otherwise?
Bob

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Not Linux
Dec 3, 2010 11:35AM PST

I meant the implementation of NAS aggregation. I run linux on 2 separate machines, both Fedora and Ubuntu. I have run virtually every distro there is to run and am a Win/Mac/Linux server admin and web developer by trade.

I'm concerned with clunky, sloppy, immature software that can sometimes creep into distros before it's ready. NAS aggregation isn't an easy task to accomplish. Combining non-volatile storage devices over a network into one logical volume and keeping things tidy takes a robust piece of software, and other than Redhat's GFS I don't know of any other linux software.

I was hoping there were people out there that could give me some options, both Linux and Windows and share their experiences.

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We have to take a step back and cover some basics.
Dec 3, 2010 4:30PM PST

For decades UNIX and now Linux has aggregated storage space across servers. This is not a new idea. I do see folk sticking new acronyms on old concepts.

If I step back and look again at how UNIX and Linux file systems work, there are not drive letters and a remote FS is mounted in our / (slash) file system. We have aggregation. Maybe your definition includes some GUI slopped on top but this is something UNIX and now Linux has done since I first worked on UNIX back in the 70s.

--> But look at today's users that don't want to learn about this area. They need the five minute solution and don't want to plan mount points, learn about automount and more.

Bob

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Not the same thing
Dec 4, 2010 2:43AM PST

Your assuming that I'm not aware of NFS, mount points, etc is ignorant at best.

The fact of the matter is I'm not referring to simply mounting some volumes to a mount folder on a linux server. I'm not slapping a 'new label' on any concept. I'm actually trying to combine multiple remote storage devices into a single logical volume. The space should all appear as a single drive in a single mounted location and any data should be distributed and indexed across this logical volume.

This is something you have not been able to do since the 70's. But in practice none of the technologies (from TCP/IP to disk drives, etc.) even existed back then.

What I was NOT asking for, was an ignorant *nix zealot to make assumptions about what I do or do not know and make assumptions about what I and 'today's users' are looking for. Thank you for response, sir, but your response was nothing more than a misguided attempt at making it sound like I'm some 'whippersnapper' who was looking for an easy fix. Regardless, if you'd kindly go away and keep your rude $.02 to yourself, that would be much appreciated.

What I was asking, is for anyone who has experience accomplishing this. I was asking for opinions on best platform, software involved, and overall experience.

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That's what folks are working on today.
Dec 4, 2010 5:09AM PST

As you know about NFS and more, then you are current with the tech and more.

-> All apologies but users of all experience levels show up here and I apologize if I offend an advanced user when I try to step back and simplify it.

As you are this advanced I'm a bit taken aback that you know the answer but don't come out and state it.

However if you look at linux, it will likely be the one that will get it done first. Also you would look at EMC's offerings.
Bob

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Now that we know you a little better.
Dec 4, 2010 5:14AM PST

I see you lead off with this statement:

"aggregate them to appear as 1 volume. What OS and/or Software would you all recommend I use to accomplish this?"

Today we have that. But your spec runs deeper than what you wrote in your first post.

I can see where you may write later that "space should all appear as a single drive in a single mounted location and any data should be distributed and indexed across this logical volume."

Now that is quite a lot more than your first question and a harder spec to hit.

Did you consider researching CLOUD COMPUTING and it's technology?
Bob