Configuring a WORM FSE partition

FSE provides an option to configure an HSM file system as a WORM (Write Once Read Many) file system. The Type parameter in the FSE partition configuration file defines whether the type of a file system is regular or WORM.

IMPORTANT: A WORM FSE partition cannot be changed to a regular FSE partition, but a regular FSE partition can be reconfigured as a WORM FSE partition.

On a WORM HSM file system, a file can only be written and changed before a configured timeout expires for the file. Afterwards, the file can only be read. Thus, on a WORM file system, modifications of files and their metadata, including access control rights and file attributes, are prevented after the timeouts have expired for the files, regardless of the file access permissions. Consequently, it is not possible to manually remove or rename files, but only to add new files.

The only way of deleting files from the WORM HSM file systems is by using the deletion policy. For details on the deletion policy, see chapter ”Migration, release, recall, and deletion”, section ”Deletion” on page 137.

In the FSE partition configuration, the timeout parameter (WORMTimeout) defines the interval during which it is possible to modify or delete a file after the file is closed. During this interval, the file contents and its metadata can be modified; the file can be renamed, moved, or removed. Once the interval has expired, the file, its metadata, and location can never be modified again. This parameter is commented out in the template file. It must be uncommented if the file system type is “WORM”. The timeout value must be set according to the specific archiving environment.

IMPORTANT: Applications that create temporary backups of the original files may have problems when used for editing files located on a WORM HSM file system. If an original file is edited for so long that the WORMTimeout interval expires, the application cannot remove its backup copy and the file gets a file ID and is later migrated to the FSE media.

To prevent this problem, avoid using such applications for editing files located on the WORM HSM file systems.

NOTE: If a WORM FSE partition is used for accounting or legislation applications, WORM FSE media pools must be assigned to it.

Examples of configuration files for WORM FSE partitions

The following is an example of a WORM FSE partition configuration file on Linux platform.

Linux specific

#

#Where is the HSM file system?

Client "fse_host.company.com"

{

FileSystemID = "/dev/vg_fsefs/fs03"

#e.g. /dev/mapper/hsmfs1, Linux client

#FileSystemID = "Volume{xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx}"

#Windows client

78 Configuring FSE

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HP File System Extender (FSE) Configuring a Worm FSE partition, Examples of configuration files for Worm FSE partitions

File System Extender (FSE) specifications

HP File System Extender (FSE) is a sophisticated solution designed to optimize data storage management for enterprises that deal with large volumes of unstructured data. This technology addresses the challenges of data growth and the need for effective data retention strategies, enabling organizations to store and manage their information more efficiently.

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