Overview

The AV-STOR-DSS (Data Storage Server) is an all-in-one IP-Storage Solution offering NAS and iSCSI (target and initiator) functionality in a single unit with excellent enhanced management and superior reliability to organisations of all sizes.

The AV-STOR Data Storage Server provides a fast, reliable, and scalable platform for IP-Storage. Whether your need is for file sharing, storage consolidation, backup and recovery, virtualization or replication, the AV-STOR Data Storage Server offers excellent price-to-performance ratio, enhanced manageability, and increased productivity.

Highlights

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Capacity

The AV-STOR6000-DSS is designed to provide general data storage. A single 3u system holds from 160 GB up to 12.00 TB of data.

Dual Gigabit Network Interface

The AV-STOR6000-DSS has dual on board 10/100/1000 Mbps (Gigabit) Ethernet ports which can be configured as follows:-

• Stand Alone - Both adapters simultaneously receive and transmit data as a two logical channels. Ports can be connected to one or two different subnets.
• Fault Tolerance - The second port automatically takes over on upon any failure of the primary connection (cable, adapter or port). If the connection to the primary adapter is restored, control passes automatically back to the primary
• Load Balancing - If data flow increases to one network connection, traffic is automatically redistributed to ensure optimal network performance.

Installation & Management

The AV-STOR6000-DSS can be configured with a static IP address, or a dynamically assigned address can be set by a DHCP server on your network. Further network and operational settings are configured using a web-based management interface by entering the AV-STOR's IP address into a web browser.

RAID

AV-STOR offers the ability to configure the servers local storage in a RAID array. In the unlikely event of a hard drive failure, data is protected.

RAID features include:

• Integrated Hardware RAID controller
• RAID 0 - disk striping
• RAID 1 - mirroring
• RAID 5 - data & parity striping
• Supports 4 concurrent RAID sets
• Global Hot Spare
• Intelligent Hot-Swappable drive modules
• New drives automatically initialized as hot spares
• Cross-platform Journaling File System
• Expand RAID 5 volume size on the fly
• 2 Terabyte maximum volume size
• User disk quotas supported

The AV-STOR6000-DSS supports a Global Hot Spare disk drive. In the unlikely event of a disk drive failure, the hot-spare will automatically be swapped into the RAID array replacing the defective drive. The system will automatically rebuild the RAID array on the new drive. This all happens without user intervention. The administrator is notified in the method of their choice.

Another standard feature of the AV-STOR6000-DSS is the hot-swap disk drive module. This allows the disk drives to be removed and replaced without having to bring the system down. In addition to being able to easily replace defective disk drives, having hot swap drives and RAID can make upgrading capacity easier. By upgrading one drive in the array at a time (and letting the RAID array rebuild before removing the next drive), you can upgrade your system capacity without bringing the system down.

SATA-II Drives

Increased transfer rates from serial ATA-II drives translates into higher data throughput. Supported SATA-II drives come in 160GB, 250GB, 400GB, 500GB and 750GB sizes currently.

Snapshot

Snapshots are point-in-time copies of the file-system. When creating a snapshot, the file-system is momentarily frozen and a record of all changes is created. Several terabytes of data ban be backed up in less than a second. Since files are not modified during snapshot creation, data integrity is maintained.

Because of their speed, Snapshots solve the problems of long backup windows and open files commonly associated with tape backup. Snapshot keeps track of file changes in blocks, so even frequent backups can require little or disk space.

Backed up data is maintained online and clients can access previous versions of their files through special read-only snap folders.

Available models

MODELS	Power Supply	Network	DRIVES	CAPACITY
AV-STOR6000-DSS-400	Dual N+ 1 PSU	2 x Gigabit	12 x 400GB 7200rpm SATA-II	4.8TB
AV-STOR6000-DSS-500	Dual N+ 1 PSU	2 x Gigabit	12 x 500GB 7200rpm SATA-II	6.0TB
AV-STOR6000-DSS-750	Dual N+ 1 PSU	2 x Gigabit	12 x 750GB 7200rpm SATA-II	9.0TB
AV-STOR6000-DSS-1000	Dual N+ 1 PSU	2 x Gigabit	12 x 1000GB 7200rpm SATA-II	12.0TB

NAS Subsytem can be supplied with any quantity of disks. Please call with your requirements

Features

WEB INTERFACE MANAGEMENT

Powerful and Intuitive Web-based User Interface

The web-based Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the AV-STOR Data Storage Server (DSS) software makes remote management of the storage device a simple task. By using a web-browser, the DSS can be easily managed from anywhere within the network.

Secured Administration Access

AV-STOR’s DSS is accessible and configured through a web-based, password-protected GUI over Secured Socket Layer (SSL) administration access.

CONSOLE TOOL MANAGEMENT

Console Tool

AV-STOR’s DSS 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.

Remote Access of Console Tool

The AV-STOR DSS supports remote access of the console tool enabling management of the server from anywhere in the network.

Tuning Tools (advanced users)

The server performance of the DSS server can be increased by changing the settings of disk, network, file system or network using “Tuning Tools”.

ADMINISTRATION TOOLS

Multiple Management Levels

The AV-STOR DSS supports three levels of administrative rights: Full Access, Maintenance and Administration.

Update via Web

New updates can be downloaded and installed remotely on servers at different locations with just one click.

External Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)

The AV-STOR DSS supports external LDAP enabling administrators to configure and manage multiple data storage servers from one single point (either an AV-STOR server with a LDAP database or any other LDAP server).

NETWORK MANAGEMENT

Standard Network Gateway Support

The AV-STOR DSS can be used with structured networks in business environments and has an optional data access via Intranet or Internet.

DHCP Client

Assigning IP addresses in a network can be centrally managed and automated through using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

Multiple Network Interface Card (NIC) Support

The AV-STOR DSS 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.

Adapter Fault Tolerance (AFT)

AFT assures greater reliability by providing a secondary network adapter which automatically takes over, should the primary network adapter fails.

Adaptive Load Balancing (ALB)

ALB enhances data throughput by automatically routing data through alternative paths as the application changes.

10 Gb Ethernet with TCP/IP Offload Engine (TOE)

To improve the data throughput and latency, the Data Storage Server supports 10 GbE to increase bandwidth, improve overall performance, and reduce message latency across connections. The AV-STOR DSS supports some 10GbE cards with TCP/IP.

VOLUME MANAGEMENT

Support for over 2TB Physical and Logical Volumes (LV)

The AV-STOR DSS 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 LV.  Files can be recovered from previous snapshots should a file be accidentally deleted or modified.

Multiple Snapshots with Scheduling Function

The AV-STOR DSS 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 AV-STOR DSS 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

RAID controllers’ expansion capability supports the increase of size of existing units without removing data.

MONITORING

Hardware Monitoring

AV-STOR DSS monitors hardware status such as temperature, voltage and fan speed provided by the motherboard's sensors.

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) (v2 & v3)

The DSS 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 AV-STOR log file is an effective instrument in analyzing and solving technical issues.

HARDWARE SUPPORT

Support for up to 32 x CPUs

The DSS supports up to 32 CPUs to increase the I/O throughput for heavy duty data requirements.

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Support

A UPS eliminates the effects of a temporary power outage and provides a safe shutdown, without loss of data, in case of power failure. The UPS device can be connected by Communications Port (COM-port) or Universal Serial Bus (USB) to the server.

Network UPS Support

The DSS is capable of using the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) interface for communication with other SNMP-enabled servers (e.g. AV-STOR DSS) for a smooth server shutdown in the event of a power failure. The server with the UPS sends a power failure signal through the network to other servers (in slave mode) and will shut down all servers in the network.

LICENSING

One License per Storage Device

Regardless of the number of users connected to the storage device, AV-STOR license schema is a one license per DSS and is priced accordingly.  Whether you have 5, 500, 15,000 or more, you only pay one price for one Data Storage Server License.

Specific Network Attached Storage (NAS) Functionality

Windows Active Directory / Primary Domain Controller Support

AV-STOR DSS supports Windows Active Directory (AD), Primary Domain Controller (PDC), Simple Network Management 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 AV-STOR DSS 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.

Superuser Function

A “Superuser” account has unrestricted access to all the files and volumes and is an especially helpful feature when certain directories or files are no longer accessible.

Antivirus (server's shares scanning)

AV-STOR DSS 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 Enterprise and FTP protocol.

iSCSI Initiator

AV-STOR DSS supports hardware iSCSI Initiators and has a software iSCSI Initiator for easily expanding the storage capacity of the NAS server. New units and logical volumes can be added by connecting an iSCSI storage system to the NAS server.

USB Storage Support for Dynamic Disk

USB Units connected to DSS can be used as a Dynamic Units – which can be easily used for local backups.

Backup-Agents (Veritas, EMC Dantz, CA BrightStor) Support

AV-STOR DSS 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.

Local Backup on Dynamic Units

Through the DDS, 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.

Cross Data Synchronization

AV-STOR DSS synchronize files and directories from one NAS server to another.  Disaster recovery or Disk-to-Disk backup synchronization utilizes block-based data transfer that minimizes network traffic. The Enterprise version can synchronize data in both directions: the DSS can be the source and destination of files at the same time, allowing to cross-backup data on several servers.

Synchronization (Destination)

AV-STOR DSS can be a destination for data transfer from another AV-STOR DSS server.

Supported Network Clients

AV-STOR DSS supports the file based protocols CIFS (Common Internet File System)/Enterprise, NFS (Network File System), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), Secure FTP and Apple Talk enabling Windows, Linux, Unix and MacIntosh clients to share data on the same server.

Specific ISCSI Functionality

Multiple Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocols (CHAP) per Target

In AV-STOR DSS, 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 AV-STOR DSS allows set multiple connections to one target increasing performance and reliability.

IP-Sec

The AV-STOR DSS supports the Secure Internet Protocol (IPsec). This protocol secures data transmitted across a network, preventing confidential and personal information being intercepted or modified.

Target Password Support

AV-STOR DSS allows set up password for iSCSI targets to protect them from unauthorized access.

Read Only Logical Unit Number (LUN)

This function allows the user to set the LUN as a read-only device (for iSCSI Target only).

Volume Replication

Data is safe thanks to the AV-STOR 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

The AV-STOR DSS provides many useful backup features, such us:

• 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

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.

New Update System

Update downtime is reduced with the new Update System feature in addition to making it possible to reboot from the old system.