4.1.4.4Bi-directional Mirroring

Bi-directional Mirroring refers to the ability for systems at sister locations to mirror to each other. For instance, a system in Los Angeles may be configured to mirror its volumes to a sister system in Houston, which in turn and simultaneously mirrors its volumes to the Los Angeles system. In the event either site experiences a problem, the data is readily available at the sister site. Bi-directional Mirroring is popular because it enables users to deploy systems at partner locations which provide both day-to-day local storage and DR services for their sister location.

Sun StorEdge 5310 NAS supports Bi-directional Mirroring.

4.1.4.5Replication

Replication is not mirroring, but is closely related to mirroring; mirroring is typically used to effect replication. Replication in the mirroring arena is most frequently associated with data warehousing. In a typical data warehousing replication scenario, data is collected from multiple remote locations, collated at a central site, and subsequently re-distributed to the remote locations. Replication is essentially the initial synchronization of a Master to Mirror sans updates committed to the Master on an ongoing basis.

Sun StorEdge 5310 NAS does not currently support Replication, but is working on this capability.

4.1.4.6Push Technology

Push Technology is most frequently associated with content delivery. It can be considered a subset of Replication, as it is really selective or object-based Replication. Push Technology would be something like the ability to denote a file or directory as a 'hot' object, with any modification of it resulting in propagation (replication) of the so-denoted object to a set of pre-defined locations or systems.

Sun StorEdge 5310 NAS does not currently support Push Technology, but is working on these capabilities.

4.2Operational State

StorEdge File Replicator is an active/passive block level journaled mirroring mechanism, similar to RAID 1 disk mirroring except that the devices are connected by a network rather than by a local bus. The network connection media itself is

Chapter 4 StorEdge File Replicator 4-9

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Sun Microsystems 5310 NAS manual Operational State, Bi-directional Mirroring, Replication, Push Technology
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5310 NAS specifications

Sun Microsystems, known for its innovative computing solutions, launched the Sun 5310 Network Attached Storage (NAS) system, which marked a significant advancement in the realm of storage solutions in the early 2000s. The 5310 NAS was designed to provide high-performance, reliable, and scalable storage tailored for enterprise environments.

One of the standout features of the Sun 5310 NAS is its file-serving capabilities, which support multiple protocols, notably NFS (Network File System) and CIFS (Common Internet File System). This dual-protocol support allowed organizations to seamlessly integrate the NAS into diverse IT ecosystems, facilitating interoperability between UNIX, Linux, and Windows systems. The enhanced file-sharing capabilities made it an ideal solution for businesses with mixed operating environments.

The Sun 5310 NAS incorporates cutting-edge technologies to ensure high availability and data integrity. The system utilized a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology, providing various RAID levels to protect against data loss while optimizing performance. Additionally, the device featured hot-swappable drives, enabling maintenance and upgrades with minimal downtime, a crucial factor for business continuity.

Equipped with advanced management software, the Sun 5310 NAS offered users an intuitive interface for monitoring storage health and performance. This software included comprehensive reporting functionalities that allowed IT administrators to oversee usage patterns and capacity planning efficiently.

Scalability was another defining characteristic of the Sun 5310 NAS. The system could easily expand with additional storage modules, accommodating the growing needs of an organization without the necessity for complete system overhauls. This flexibility ensured that businesses could adapt their storage solutions to meet evolving data storage needs without incurring significant costs or disruptions.

In terms of performance, the Sun 5310 NAS featured high I/O throughput achieved through its robust hardware architecture and optimized file serving capabilities. This performance baseline was crucial for organizations that relied on heavy data workloads and required rapid access to information.

In summary, the Sun 5310 NAS from Sun Microsystems embodied a forward-thinking approach to network storage, blending reliability, scalability, and multi-protocol support. Its user-friendly management software, combined with the robustness of RAID technology and hot-swappable drives, made it a preferred choice for enterprises looking to streamline their storage infrastructure while safeguarding critical data.
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