Network Share Namespace Create
The purpose of "Create Global Namespace" feature is make a selected group of network shares accessible via multiple storage systems all. Network Share Namespaces (aka Global Namespaces) use the Microsoft DFS technology built into Samba to redirect SMB/CIFS clients to the correct appliance where the selected Network Share resides. Similarly, NFSv4 clients are directed to the correct Storage system for any given Network Share using NFSv4 Referrals. Network Share Namespaces work together with Highly-Available(HA) storage pools to ensure that redirects are always routed to the HA VIFs for a given Storage Pool. Put another way, accessing Network Shares of an HA pools via a Global Namespace will always configure DFS and NFSv4 referrals to redirect to a HA Virtual Network Interface (VIF) associated with the correct Storage Pool for any given Network Share.
Here are some potential benefits and use cases:
- Simplified Access: By creating one or more Global Namespaces, administrators make it easier for users/clients to find their storage.
- Scalability: Global Namespaces enable administrators to create multiple Storage Pools across multiple clusters and locations and have those work together.
Note that any given Network Share still lives within a single Storage Pool. Global Namespaces does not given one the ability to have one Network Share span multiple Storage Pools. It does make it so that a given share or shares can be presented via NFS and SMB from any number of Storage Systems.
Navigation: Storage Management --> Network Shares --> Global Namespaces --> Create (toolbar)