Table 2 provides an overview of the native replication types that can be configured to replicate data between two PowerStore clusters.
Table 2. PowerStore replication overview
Type | Block and File | Block and File | Block only |
Storage Resources | Volumes, Volume Groups, Thin Clones, NAS Servers, vVols | Volumes, Volume Groups, Thin Clones, NAS Servers | Volumes, Volume Groups |
Replication | Asynchronous | Synchronous | Synchronous |
Target RPO | Fixed values:
5min – 24h | 0 | 0 |
Host access | Active – Passive Requires a failover | Active – Passive Requires a failover | Active – Active ALUA path change |
Host Protocols* | SCSI, NVMe | SCSI, NVMe | SCSI |
Block WWN / NQN | Different | Different | Same WWN on both ends |
OS Support | “Any” supported OS on PowerStore | “Any” supported OS on PowerStore | ESXi, Linux, Windows |
Witness | No | No | Yes |
RTT | Not relevant | 5ms | 5ms* |
Performance impact for host access | Minimal impact depending on sizing and workload | Adds additional latency (mirror round-trip-time) | Adds additional latency (mirror round-trip-time) |
Snapshot replication | Replication of block snapshots on source / No Snapshot replication for File | Block snapshots nearly identical / No Snapshot replication for File | Snapshots nearly identical |
Failover Test | Yes | Yes | Not applicable |
Conversion Async Sync | Block: Supported without full sync in both directions. File: Requires full sync after reassigning a protection policy containing a replication rule with a different replication type. | Not applicable |
Recovery Snap | Common base at each replication cycle | Every 30 min | Every 30 min |
Intra cluster migration | Supported when no ongoing replication cycle | Supported when paused | Not supported |
NDU | Paused during NDU | Active sessions continue | Active sessions continue |
* Some protected applications may require lower RTT / Distance for metro configurations.
