High Availability And Load Balancing

To optimize availability and performance, client connections are load balanced across the available NAS controllers. Both NAS controllers in a NAS appliance operate simultaneously. If one NAS controller fails, clients are automatically failed over to the remaining controllers. When failover occurs, some CIFS clients reconnect automatically, while in other cases, a CIFS application might fail, and the user must restart it. NFS clients experience a temporary pause during failover, but client network traffic resumes automatically.

Failure Scenarios

The FluidFS system can tolerate a NAS controller failure without impact to data availability and without data loss. If one NAS controller becomes unavailable (for example, because the NAS controller failed, is turned off, or is disconnected from the network), the NAS appliance status is degraded. Although the FluidFS system is still operational and data is available to clients, the administrator cannot perform most configuration modifications and performance might decrease because data is no longer cached.

The impact to data availability and data integrity following a multiple NAS controller failure depends on the circumstances of the failure scenario. Dell recommends detaching a failed NAS controller as soon as possible, so that it can be safely taken offline for service. Data access remains intact as long as one of the NAS controllers in each NAS appliance in a FluidFS system is functional.

The following table summarizes the impact to data availability and data integrity of various failure scenarios.

Scenario	System Status	Data Integrity	Comments

Single NAS controller	Available, degraded	Unaffected	• Peer NAS controller enters
failure			• Peer NAS controller enters
failure			journaling mode
			journaling mode
			• Failed NAS controller can be
			replaced while keeping the
			file system online
Sequential dual‐NAS	Unavailable	Unaffected	Sequential failure assumes that
controller failure in			there is enough time between
single NAS appliance			NAS controller failures to write all
system			data from the cache to disk (MD
			system or non‐volatile internal
			storage)
Simultaneous dual‐ NAS	Unavailable	Lose data in cache	Data that has not been written to
controller failure in			disk is lost
single NAS appliance
system
Sequential dual‐NAS	Unavailable	Unaffected	Sequential failure assumes that
controller failure in			there is enough time between
multiple NAS appliance			NAS controller failures to write all
system, same NAS			data from the cache to disk (MD
appliance			system or non‐volatile internal
			storage)
Simultaneous dual‐NAS	Unavailable	Lose data in cache	Data that has not been written to
controller failure in			disk is lost
multiple NAS appliance

NX3500, NX3600, NX3610 specifications

The Dell NX series, including the NX3610, NX3600, and NX3500, represents a robust and efficient solution for organizations seeking to optimize their storage solutions. These storage appliances are designed to meet the growing needs of data-driven businesses, providing a comprehensive platform that integrates software and hardware for optimal performance.

The Dell NX3610 is a high-performance storage solution that boasts an advanced dual-controller architecture. This model supports enhanced scalability and redundancy, ensuring that organizations can handle increasing data loads effortlessly. It is built for faster data access with a range of connectivity options, including 10GbE and iSCSI, enabling seamless integration into diverse IT environments. The NX3610 supports advanced file sharing capabilities, making it ideal for businesses requiring efficient collaboration and data access across multiple platforms. Furthermore, with features like snapshot and replication, users can ensure data integrity and security, minimizing downtime in case of system failures.

The NX3600, while slightly smaller in capacity compared to the NX3610, still delivers formidable performance and flexibility. It is designed to cater to mid-sized businesses that need a reliable and cost-effective storage solution. The NX3600 features a single-controller architecture, making it easier to manage and deploy in smaller IT environments. It offers support for various storage protocols, including NFS and CIFS, which are essential for organizations looking to support diverse application workloads. Its easy-to-use management interface makes it simple for IT teams to monitor and configure settings, ensuring optimal performance with minimal effort.

The NX3500 serves as an entry-level model within the NX series, specifically targeted at small to medium-sized businesses. It combines affordability with essential features needed for efficient data storage and sharing. The NX3500 is equipped with a user-friendly interface and includes support for both file-based and block-based storage, offering flexibility for diverse workloads. Moreover, the appliance features integrated backup solutions, which are crucial for ensuring data safety and compliance. Users will also appreciate its robust data deduplication and compression capabilities that significantly reduce storage costs by minimizing the amount of data stored.

In summary, the Dell NX3610, NX3600, and NX3500 are engineered to cater to various business sizes and storage demands. With their sophisticated technologies, including dual-controller systems, rich protocol support, and user-friendly management features, these appliances deliver reliable, scalable, and efficient storage solutions for any organization looking to enhance its data management capabilities.

Dell NX3600, NX3500, NX3610 manual High Availability And Load Balancing, Failure Scenarios

Models: NX3500 NX3600 NX3610