Home > Storage > PowerFlex > White Papers > Ransomware Protection:Secure data on Dell APEX Block Storage for Public Cloud with PowerProtect Cyber Recovery > Metadata communication
Within a deployed APEX Block Storage solution, only the SDS and the SDC exchange data. The MDM’s role is completely outside the data path. Its responsibility is to distribute cluster metadata about the data’s layout, about the storage cluster members (the SDS and SDCs), and to make sure that they are still operational.
The key constructs of the Meta Data Manager are:
The MDM topology is clustered by design. The primary MDM replication changes to system status synchronously. The MDM monitors the SDS status continuously and informs SDSs of changes to the system and MDM status, regarding instances and data layout. Device awareness can trigger rebuilds ahead of a potential failure.
Note: Temporary failures will not trigger a complete rebuild for a failed instance of the storage device if it comes back online.