DataCore's storage virtualization software provides high availability network attached storage (NAS) by enabling non-disruptive failover of clustered file shares across physical servers. It uses synchronous mirroring of file shares between redundant NAS servers for business continuity. Caching and thin provisioning enhance performance and storage efficiency. The solution provides high availability, faster performance, space savings and disaster recovery protection for NAS environments in a cost-effective way by leveraging existing server infrastructure.

1. Datacore SANsymphony-V
Marc van Schijndel
Country Manager ttec

2. The BIG Picture of Virtualisation
DataCore’s storage virtualisation software enables you
to quickly and cost-effectively achieve a stable,
responsive and enduring storage infrastructure that
delivers:
• Extreme efficiency
• Improved performance
• Reliable data protection
• Flexible and efficient disk space provisioning
• Non-disruptive migration to new equipment
• Practical disaster avoidance and recovery
2

3. The 3 Dimensions of a Virtualisation Strategy
DesktopDesktop H/W
H/W
Desktop
virtualisation Software
Server virtualisation Software
Server H/W
Server H/W
Server H/W
Storage virtualisation Software
Storage H/W
Storage H/W
Storage H/W
Hardware  Maintenance  Expansion
 Upgrades 
 Smooth operations
Technology refresh
comes & goes
 Consistent performance
 Stable suite of device-independent services 3

4. Transition to Fully virtualised Environment
Building 1 Building 2
Cluster
Adaptive Adaptive
Caching Caching
Active Active
Synchronous Mirroring
Centralized
Management

5. Infrastructure-Wide Functions

6. Automated Storage Tiering
 Define multiple storage classes (tiers) within a disk pool
 Data within a virtual disk migrates to appropriate tiers based on access
patterns
 Tiers can be defined on disk performance and capacity
 Storage Profiles alllow the allocation and migration preferences amonst
tiers
 Can be used with already existing disk pools

7. Auto Tiering – How it works
 Monitor sustained I/O behavior across groups of disk blocks
(chunks)
 Compare access frequency against average for each tier
 Promote or demote chunks to most suitable tier
Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3
Chunks
Above average Below average
moves up a tier moves down a tier

8. Virtual Disk distribution within a pool
 Each Virtual Disk has a Storage Profile assigned
 Storage Profiles define tier preferences
DISK POOL
VD VD
Tier 1 Tier 3
Storage Profile Storage Profile
"High" "Low"
Tier 2
VD
Storage Profile
"Normal"

9. Sophistication without complexity

10. Addresses the 3 Major Tasks of Infrastructure-wide Storage
Administration
+Adaptive Caching
I/O acceleration
+Load Balancing
Heterogeneous Devices
+Built in Best Practices
Auto –Tuning/Pathing
Protection at 3 Levels:
1. Data Layer Protection
Continuous Data Protection
+Thin Provisioning
2. Local Failure Protection
Space Efficiency/Reclamation
HA / Synchronous Mirroring
+Auto Tiered Disk Pooling
3. Remote Disaster Protection
Heterogeneous Device types
Asynchronous Replication

11. DataCore Makes HA-NAS Practical
Business Continuity & Performance are essential today:
• Resilient Storage and Performance requires ‘Enterprise’ NAS
(also known as NAS Filers, Filers or File Shares)
• But, current systems are lacking or too expensive to deploy
DataCore’s compelling software advantages apply to NAS
DataCore is adaptable, portable and enduring software infrastructure, therefore:
• No additional software required
• Utilizes existing DataCore features and Microsoft enterprise server built-in capabilities to
achieve HA NAS clustered file shares
• No additional server hardware required
• Simple to configure DataCore and Windows Cluster server to be shared on the same physical
machines
• DataCore’s existing feature set easily applies to NAS
• Adds Non-disruptive Auto-failover and Failback HA capabilities
• Adds performance acceleration, space efficiency and scalability to empower Microsoft
clustered file shares

12. Why DataCore for High Availability NAS
• Insulates your business from storage (and filer) downtime
• Prevents storage from becoming a single-point-of-failure
• Empowers Microsoft clustered file shares
• Accelerates performance, improves disk utilization & scalability
• Cost-effectively leverages existing infrastructure capabilities
NAS
File shares
Keeps Your Business & Applications Running
Despite Storage-Related Failures or Interruptions

13. NAS (a.k.a. File Server)
/home
NFS/CIFS
Physical
Server

14. HIGH AVAILABILITY NEEDS 2 FILERS IN CASE 1 FAILS
/home
NFS/CIFS NFS/CIFS
HYPER-V

15. CLUSTERING ALONE HELPS, BUT …
/home
NFS/CIFS Failover
NFS/CIFS
Clustering
HYPER-V HYPER-V
Single Point of Failure

16. LOGICAL SOLUTION: MIRROR SHARED DRIVES
/home
NFS/CIFS Failover
NFS/CIFS
Clustering
HYPER-V HYPER-V
Shared
Virtual Disk
Active
E: Synchronous E’:
DATACORE DATACORE
Mirroring

17. NON-STOP HIGH AVAILABILITY NAS
/home
NFS/CIFS Cluster
NFS/CIFS
HYPER-V HYPER-V
DATACORE DATACORE
Sync-Mirrored
S2 P2
P1 Disks S1

18. NON-DISRUPTIVE FAILOVER
/home
/home /home
NFS/CIFS NFS/CIFS
HYPER-V HYPER-V
DATACORE DATACORE
P1 S1

19. AUTOMATICALLY FAILBACK
/home
/home
NFS/CIFS NFS/CIFS
HYPER-V HYPER-V
DATACORE DATACORE
P1 S1

20. WORKS FOR VIRTUAL MACHINES TOO
/home
APP /home /home APP
VM VM
G: NFS/CIFS Cluster NFS/CIFS H:
HYPER-V HYPER-V
DATACORE DATACORE
VH VHD’
D

21. Plus Much FASTER PERFORMANCE
Utilize memory speed-ups for faster response times

22. COMPELLING VALUE PROPOSITION
FEATURE BENEFIT
Clustered File Shares  Business Continuity & HA
Synchronous Mirroring  Minimize downtime
 w/ automatic
non-disruptive failover
Separate redundant NAS servers
 Minimize risk from environmental threats
up to 100 km
Thin provisioning
Cache Acceleration  Maximize space utilization
Advanced Site Recovery  Faster Performance
 Extend protection for Disaster Recovery