Software Features
GUI ADMINISTRATION
New & Improved Powerful and Intuitive Web-based User Interface
The web-based Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the AV-STOR Data Storage Server (DSS V6) 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
The AV-STOR DSS V6 is accessible and configured through a web-based, password-protected GUI over Secured Socket Layer (SSL) administration access.
Console Tool
The 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.
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”.
Remote Access of Console Tool
The DSS V6 supports remote access of the console tool enabling management of the server from anywhere in the network.
Multiple Management Levels
The DSS V6 supports three levels of administrative rights: Full Access, Maintenance and Administration.
Update System (Local or Internet)
Update downtime is reduced with the new Update System feature in addition to making it possible to reboot from the old system.
NETWORK MANAGEMENT
Standard Network Gateway Support
The DSS V6 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 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.
InfiniBand Support
The DSS supports InfiniBand cards that increase bandwidth, improved overall performance, and reduced message latency across connections.
Proxy Settings
The DSS software allows the configuration of the Proxy Server for Internet connections.
IP-Sec
The DSS supports the Secure Internet Protocol (IPsec). This protocol secures data transmitted across a network, preventing confidential and personal information being intercepted or modified.
STORAGE MANAGEMENT
New & Improved! Automatic Failover for iSCSI Volumes
AV-STOR DSS V6 provides fault tolerance via iSCSI Volume Replication. Data is copied in real time to the primary server and every change is immediately mirrored to a secondary server and in the event of a failure of the primary server AV-STOR DSS V6 automatically switches operations to the secondary server.
New & Improved! Volume Replication
AV-STOR DSS V6 provides both Synchronous and Asynchronous Volume Replication. Asynchronous Volume Replication is also supported over a WAN with both pair to pair support and multiple sources support.
Cross Data Synchronization
AV-STOR DSS V6 synchronizes 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. DSS V6 can synchronize data in both directions: the DSS V6 can be the source and destination of files at the same time, allowing to cross-backup data on several servers.
New & Improved! SCSI-3 Persistent Reservation
Support for persistent reservation commands. This enables support for Windows 2008 and Windows Cluster.
New & Improved! Sys check
Enables you to check the performance of your system
Hardware and Software iSCSI Initiator
The DSS V6 supports hardware optional 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.
E-mail Notification for RAID Issues
Email alerts are sent to the system administrator in case of issues with the RAID through the DSS software.
Multiple Fiber Channel HBA Support
For higher bandwidth, better latency and performance, the AV-STOR DSS version supports Fibre Channel HBA´s from Emulex, Qlogic and LSI. Fibre Channel is the standard connection type for connecting high speed storage devices much like the DSS, to computers in Storage Area Networks (SAN).
Support for over 2TB Physical and Logical Volumes (LV)
The AV-STOR DSS V6 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 V6 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 V6 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 log file is an effective instrument in analyzing and solving technical issues.
HARDWARE SUPPORT
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 NAS) 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.
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), Lightweight Directory Access 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 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.
Antivirus (server's shares scanning)
The 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.
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 (Symantec Backup Exec V12, and BakBone NetVault) Support
The DSS backup agents help administrators to backup and protect data on NAS servers with backup software from Symantec, or CA BrightStor ARCserve , and BakBone NetVault thus improving data transfer, network security and real-time directory browsing, monitoring tasks and supporting cross-platform backup support.
Supported Network Clients and Network File Protocol
The 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.
External Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)
The 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).
SPECIFIC iSCSI FUNCTIONALITY
Multiple Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocols (CHAP) per Target
In 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 DSS allows set multiple connections to one target increasing performance and reliability.
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 FUNCTIONALITY
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.
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.
Worm
Worm provides Write Once Read Many functionality for data archiving.
New & Improved! NDMP 4.0
Network Data Management Protocol defines a network-based mechanism and protocol for controlling backup, recovery, and other data transfers between primary and secondary storage devices.
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.
OTHER
SWAP Support
SWAP is used to store memory areas on hard drives instead of Random Access Memory (RAM). The DSS software dumps memory to SWAP in case of additional memory is need (e.g. repairing the file system after a degraded RAID).
One License per Storage Device
Regardless of the number of users connected to the storage device, the 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.
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.
Local Backup on Dynamic Units
Through the DSS, 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
The 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.
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).
