FAQ

 

What is a storage grid?
A storage grid provides network-attached storage (NAS) which is readily scalable and users can quickly accommodate increases and decreases in their storage needs.

What is NAS (Network Area Storage)?
NAS uses RAID connected to a network, which is also protected using snapshot technologies.

MORE DIFFERENCES
NAS SAN

Only server class devices with SCSI Fibre Channel can connect to the SAN. The Fibre Channel of the SAN has a limit of around 10km at best.
A NAS identifies data by file name and byte offsets, transfers file data or file meta-data (file's owner, permissions, creation data, etc.), and handles security, user authentication, file locking. A SAN addresses data by disk block number and transfers raw disk blocks.
A NAS allows greater sharing of information especially between disparate operating systems such as Unix and NT.
 File Sharing is operating system dependent and does not exist in many operating systems.
File System managed by NAS head unit.
 File System managed by servers
Backups and mirrors (utilizing features like NetApp's Snapshots) are done on files, not blocks, for a savings in bandwidth and time. A Snapshot can be tiny compared to its source volume. Backups and mirrors require a block by block copy, even if blocks are empty. A mirror machine must be equal to or greater in capacity compared to the source volume.

Almost any machine that can connect to the LAN (or is interconnected to the LAN through a WAN) can use NFS, CIFS or HTTP protocol to connect to a NAS and share files.

What is the difference between the tiers?
Tier I and II are fully managed USG service offerings.

Tier I disk is the highest performing USG disk, comprised of Fiber and SAS drives. The primary target for this service offering is high transaction database servers. The cost of this disk is $0.80 per GB/year, which includes an additional copy of the data in a secondary location, for backup purposes.

Tier II disk is a great performing disk, and is comprised of large SATA disks. This type of disk is best suited for file services, application services, and email systems. The cost of tier II disk is $0.35 per GB/year, which also includes an additional copy of the data in a secondary location, for backup purposes.

What is the difference between using a Virtual Server as a file server versus managing a Virtual Filer?

Virtual Server
Virtual servers (vServers) run in UBC's highly available virtualization environment. UBC IT can quickly turnaround orders for servers with less than 1Tb of storage. All of UBC IT's vServers are automatically backed up in two locations, with daily backups kept for 28 days, and weekly for 12 weeks.

A virtual file server running Windows can also be used for other purposes, like a Departmental Active Directory Server or print server. Some departments may choose to implement virtual file servers using Linux systems running Samba + LDAP, but in most cases, Windows is an easier option.

Managing a virtual Windows file server is the same as managing any other Windows server. Patching and user management are the only regular tasks needed on a Windows File Server. Patching may require restarts and short downtime, but in general availability is still very good (99.5%+). If the server is configured with Volume Shadow Copy, end users can easily recover previous versions or deleted copies of individual files and folders.

Virtual Filer
Virtual Filers (vFilers) directly share storage from the USG to end user systems, using the common Windows SMB/CIFS protocol. Currently, setting up vFilers is a manual process that can take an extended period of time to plan and configure (or reconfigure). Departments will still require an additional Active Directory server for management of accounts and access.

With a vFiler, a portion of the management can be done using a snap-in for Microsoft MMC interface, but some tasks still need to be performed by UBC IT via the command line. Snapshot (backup) schedules are customizable based on departmental requirements.

From a management aspect, it is far simpler to manage a Windows file server than to add in a vFiler to a small environment. However, a vFiler may be a more appropriate solution for larger environments (i.e. more users), as it can provide slightly higher availability (99.9%+). From the cost perspective, storage on a vFiler is not cheaper than a vServer.

How is the UBC Storage Grid managed?
The UBC Storage Grid is a fully-managed service, so service users only need to purchase space and use it. The actual storage and security of data is handled exclusively by Information Technology.

(applicable to tiers 1 and 2)

What block and file protocols are supported?
The UBC Storage Grid supports FC, iSCSI, NFS and CIFS protocols.

How does the UBC Storage Grid work?
The UBC Storage Grid uses several proprietary software applications:

FlexVol™ software ensures high data scalability, by managing on-the-fly increases and decreases of storage volume. Snapshot™ software increases data backup speed by making time-stamped copies of data. SnapRestore™ software allows large quantities of data to quickly be restored to earlier versions. SnapVault™ software provides the link between the primary and secondary storage sites.

Is there a minimum block of storage?
The minimum storage block available for purchase is 100GB. There is no limit to the amount of data you can store.

Is there a minimum time period I can buy the storage for?
The standard storage time period is one year; however, UBC Information Technology is flexible in accommodating temporary space and peak period requirements.

What is the future of the UBC Storage Grid?
In the future, we anticipate being able to mirror critical data between UBC's Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, whereby each campus would be able to act as the other's disaster recovery site.