Configure QuantaStor SAN/NAS Server
Contents
OSNEXUS QuantaStor SAN/NAS Storage Appliances
Key Features
QuantaStor’s SAN/NAS storage appliances provide a combination of file and block storage suitable for a broad spectrum of use cases. Each appliance contains SSD to accelerate write performance and each cluster must contain a minimum of 3x appliances. QuantaStor’s web-based management interface, REST APIs and QS CLI make storage provisioning and automation easy.
Use Cases
- File and/or Block storage for server virtualization (VMware, Hyper-V, XenServer, etc)
- Database Storage
- Data analytics
- NAS archive
- Disk-to-disk backup
Expandable
Add additional drives to expand capacity. Additional appliances may be added to a given storage grid for easy management of all appliances across IBM datacenters. It is recommended to provision a 24 bay or 36 bay server with free drive bays available for expandability as expansion disk-enclosures are not available as an add-on except at the time of initial server/appliance deployment.
Expected Performance
Each appliance is configured with at least one storage pool and each pool will deliver 400MB to 1.6GB/sec sequential throughput depending on block size and number of disks. IOPS are increased through the use of mirrored SSD storage configured as a write log which in turn will increase IOPS to 10K to 20K depending on block size and access patterns. All-Flash configurations will deliver over 100K sustained R/W IOPS.
Quick Configuration Steps
-
Storage Management Tab -> Controllers & Enclosures -> right-click Controller -> Configure Pass-thru devices -> Select all -> Click OK
- Storage Management Tab -> Storage Pools -> Create Storage Pool -> Click OK
For iSCSI Block Storage Provisioning:
- Storage Management Tab -> Hosts -> Add Host -> Enter host IQN -> Click OK (do this for each host)
- Storage Management Tab -> Storage Volumes -> Create Storage Volume -> Enter volume name, select a size, -> Click OK
- Storage Management Tab -> Hosts -> Right-click Host -> Assign Volumes -> Select volumes -> Click OK
For NFS/SMB File Storage Provisioning:
- Storage Management Tab -> Network Shares -> Create Network Share -> Click OK (do this for each share)
- Storage Management Tab -> Network Shares -> Modify Network Share & SMB Access -> Adjust Settings - > Click OK (do this for each share)
Technical Specifications
QuantaStor SAN/NAS Storage Appliances
- Provides NFS, SMB and iSCSI storage
- Compression, AES 256 bit Encryption
- Remote-replication between QuantaStor appliances across IBM data centers and on-premises locations for hybrid cloud.
- Snapshot Schedules with long term snapshot retention options.
- Hybrid SSD+HDD configuration provide economical capacity with performance
- All-Flash configurations deliver maximum IOPS
- Easy web-based management with Storage Grid technology
- NIST 800-53, HIPAA, CJIS compliant
- FIPS 140-2 Level 1 compliant options available Q4/18
- Advanced Role Based Access Controls
- Automatable via QS CLI and REST API
- VMware certified and VMware VAAI integrated
Configuration Options
- Small Tier - Hybrid SAN/NAS – 16TB
2x E5-2620v4, 64GB RAM, 8x 2TB, QS Small Tier License
2x 800GB SSDs (write log), 2x 1TB SATA (mirrored boot)
2x 10GbE Private Network ports
- Medium Tier - Hybrid SAN/NAS – 48TB
2x E5-2620v4, 128GB RAM, 8x 6TB, QS Medium Tier License
2x 800GB SSDs (write log), 2x 1TB SATA (mirrored boot)
2x 10GbE Private Network ports
- Large Tier - Hybrid SAN/NAS – 128TB
2x E5-2650v4, 128GB RAM, 16x 8TB, QS Large Tier License
2x 800GB SSDs (write log), 2x 1TB SATA (mirrored boot)
2x 10GbE Private Network ports
- Small Tier – All-Flash SAN/NAS – 15.2TB
2x E5-2650v4, 128GB RAM, 8x 1.9TB SSD, QS Small Tier License
2x 1TB SATA (mirrored boot), 2x 10GbE Private Network ports
- Medium Tier – All-Flash SAN/NAS – 41.8TB
2x E5-2650v4, 128GB RAM, 22x 1.9TB SSD, QS Medium Tier License
2x 1TB SATA (mirrored boot), 2x 10GbE Private Network ports
- Extra-large Tier - Hybrid SAN/NAS – 256TB
2x E5-2650v4, 256GB RAM, 32x 8TB, QS XL Tier License
2x 800GB SSDs (write log), 2x 1TB SATA (mirrored boot)
2x 10GbE Private Network ports
Hardware
- Small and Medium Tier configurations use 2RU server with 12x drive bays.
- Large Tier configurations use 4RU server with 24x or 36x drive bays.
- All configurations include mirrored boot.
- All Hybrid configurations include 2x 800GB SSD for write acceleration.
Networking
- 2x 10GbE Private Network ports recommended for all configurations.
- Use LACP bonded network ports when NFS based Datastores are to be configured.
Licenses and fees
- Select the OSNEXUS operating system QuantaStor license tier based on the amount of raw storage capacity.
- License, maintenance, upgrades and support included.
