Server Storage Notes/Thoughts
Network Attached Storage (NAS)
Network Attached Storage (NAS) seems a good solution to our issues w/ managing RAID setups on multiple servers, saving us time and energy and making installation/reinstall of server software and/or adding servers easier. Assuming we use powerful and robust hardware for our NAS server, it will allow us to continue our use of cheap PCs as Linux servers.
Benefits to NAS:
- Adding storage capacity becomes much easier - we don't have to take down a server to add more disks
- Rebuilding meridian or other servers is faster as huge RAID directories (user data, system data, etc.) do not need to be restored and rebuilt
- NAS systems can support hot spares to replace failing drives, monitor drive status, and alert us (IT staff) to any potential drive issues
- Multiple servers (meridian, lighthouse, Deidre's Windows boxes, etc.) can use this RAID storage with little additional effort
Drawbacks:
- Putting all our eggs in one basket
- Costly - $7,000 for our own big server + software NAS, easily $20,000 for a packaged NAS solution (hardware and software)
- Increase in network traffic - most storage read/writes are now sent across the network
NAS Links:
- ClarkConnect - not sure, maybe a distribution or something?
- Openfiler - Linux-based "Storage Management Operating System"
- FreeNAS - FreeBSD-based NAS (also free as in beer)
Random links in pursuit of NAS enlightenment:
Interesting Openfiler-related links:
Looks interesting, haven't read it: http://forums.storagereview.net/index.php?showtopic=26126&pid=246509&mode=threaded&start=
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi