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PowerFlex File controllers (sometimes referred to as File nodes) are the physical nodes that enable the presentation of PowerFlex software-defined File services. These nodes host the NAS servers, which in turn host the tenant namespaces and file systems, mapping PowerFlex volumes to the file systems that are presented by the NAS servers. All major protocols are supported: NFS, SMB/CIFS, FTP, Network Data Management Protocol (NDMP), and more. The NAS servers also support multiprotocol access to the shared file systems.
PowerFlex File uses containerized NAS servers to enable access to file systems, provide data separation, and act as the basis for multitenancy. File systems can be accessed through a wide range of protocols and can take advantage of advanced protocol features. Services such as anti-virus protection, scheduled snapshots, and Network Data Management (NDMP) backups ensure that the data on the file systems is well-protected.
The following figure shows the PowerFlex File storage system architecture:
The solution requirements include:
The storage data server component is installed on every PowerFlex storage-only node that contributes its storage to the system. The storage data server component owns the contributing drives and, together with the other storage data servers, forms a protected mesh from which storage pools are created. Volumes that are carved out of the pool are presented to the storage data clients for consumption. The storage data server:
The storage data client component is installed on PowerFlex File nodes that consume the system storage volumes. The volumes’ data and copies are spread evenly across the nodes and drives that make up the pool, and the client component communicates over multiple pathways to all the nodes. In this multipoint peer-to-peer fashion, the storage data client simultaneously reads and writes data to and from all points, which eliminates bottlenecks and quickly routes around failed paths. The storage data client:
The PowerFlex Meta Data Manager (MDM) software installs on three or five PowerFlex nodes and forms a cluster that supervises the operations of the entire cluster and its parts, while staying outside the data path itself. The MDM provides instructions to each storage data client and storage data server about its role and how to perform it, giving each component the information that it needs. MDM software:
PowerFlex Manager is a unified tool that provides IT operations management for PowerFlex systems. PowerFlex Manager increases efficiency by reducing time-consuming manual tasks that are required to manage system operations. Use PowerFlex Manager to deploy and manage new and existing PowerFlex rack and PowerFlex appliance systems.
PowerFlex Manager provides the following capabilities: block and file, life cycle, and resource management. The PowerFlex Manager interface includes the following tabs:
PowerFlex Manager is an integral part of all PowerFlex consumption models. For more information, see the Dell PowerFlex Administration Guide.
The following figure shows the PowerFlex Manager UI: