IBM System Storage

Network Attached Storage (NAS)Technical

Education for SAN Experts
Brett P. Cooper
BrettCooper@us.ibm.com

© 2011 IBM Corporation

Education Goals

 Understand NAS protocols and the differences with Fibre Channel and iSCSI
(SAN) protocols
– What is NAS?
– What is CIFS and NFS?
– Other NAS protocols and why are they important
 Data protection in NAS world
 Integration points for NAS protocols with applications

2 © 2011 IBM Corporation

Is NAS SAN spelled backwards?

 History of Network Attached Storage

– Developed originally in 1983 by Novell as a way to share files on NetWare
– Adopted by SUN as Network File System (NFS) for UNIX workstations and
servers
– Common Internet File System (CIFS) was created by IBM and Microsoft to
share files on DOS systems
Now is the underpinning of Microsoft Windows NAS integration
Microsoft calls CIFS Server Message Block (SMB)
– With the dawn of the Internet Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) enabled file
sharing and delivering on the Internet
HTTP is now called Representational State Transfer (REST) and is the
underpinnings of most cloud based storage services, like Amazon S3
– NAS is always a server-client relationship in which the storage is the server
and any hosts or workstations are the client
– SAMBA integrates with NFS & CIFS so files can be shared between both
protocols

3 © 2011 IBM Corporation

The File Storage Market 2007-2014 *

File Serving Scale-Up File Scale-Out File

Serving Serving
• Generic Intel-based • Typical NAS dual • Clustered NAS
servers controller and/or controllers and/or
gateway gateways
• Host client-based NAS
software • Storage sharing • Consolidated multiple
scale-up file servers
• Embedded (DAS) • Midrange NAS
storage • Enterprise-class NAS

• Low-end NAS

54.5% 29.5% 16%

“Action Item: Organizations should stop using artificial distinctions such as file-oriented versus block-based biases to define
the value of data. Users should not assume that data stored on NAS is less important than data stored on block-based (e.g.
SAN) systems. Rather, organizations should bring file-oriented storage under the umbrella of IT management and
aggressively exploit big NAS technologies such as virtualization that enable consolidation and robust business
continuance consistent with today's information storage requirements.” – David Vellanta, Wikibon, Jan. 2009

4 * Source: IDC, © 2010 © 2011 IBM Corporation

Terms Associated with Storage Protocols
Concept Block Terminology File Terminology
Network
SAN NAS
Connectivity
Redundancy Multi-pathing (e.g. MPIO) Teaming / Trunking
Security LUN Masking / Zoning VLANs / Exports / Shares
Host/Server
HBA (Host Bus Adapter) NIC (Network Interface Card)
Connectivity
Management
SMI-S / SNMP SNMP (primary) / SMI-S
Protocol
Underlying Protocol SCSI on FC/iSCSI IP / UDP
Device Name “Array” “Filer”, “Data Mover”
Data Pattern Structured / Relational Unstructured

5 © 2011 IBM Corporation

The Basics – Protocols, Terminology

 Block: Leverages SCSI commands to read-write specific blocks

– Fiber Channel (FC)
– iSCSI
 NAS: Reads/writes files
– CIFS – Cluster Interconnect File System (Microsoft); a.k.a. SMB/2 (Server
Message Block)
– NFS – Network File System
 InfiniBand (IB) – high speed network interconnect
 NAS Gateway/”Head” – a server/appliance that provides network-based storage
virtualization; provides protocol translation from host-based CIFS/NFS to SAN-
based block (FC)
– Examples: IBM N series & SONAS; NetApp V Series; EMC VNX/Celerra;
OnStor (LSI); HP P4000 Unified Gateway
 Filer – a storage server dedicated (primarily) to serving file-based workloads
 Unified Storage – a single logical, centrally managed storage platform that serves
both block (FC, iSCSI, IB) and file-based (CIFS, NFS, HTTP, etc.) workloads
6 © 2011 IBM Corporation
The Basics – DAS / NAS / SAN
DAS NAS SAN
(Direct Attached Storage) (Network Attached Storage) (Storage Area Network)

APPLICATION APPLICATION
APPLICATION

NETWORK FILE SYSTEM

FILE SYSTEM

NETWORK
FILE SYSTEM

STORAGE
STORAGE STORAGE

IP: CIFS, NFS, HTTP FC, iSCSI or IB

7 © 2011 IBM Corporation
 N-Way Cluster
The Evolution of File-Based Storage w/Scalable FS
-
Traditional Traditional IBM SONAS
2-Way Independent Filer(s) 2-Way Clustered Filer(s) EMC Isilon
1-Way Filer -
- - NetApp GX
NetApp ONTAP7 Mode With Global
Generic Server Name Space Cluster Cluster
Filer Appliance EMC Celerra
Filer 1 Filer 2
DAS EMC VNX
Cluster Cluster
Filer 1 Filer 2 Cluster Cluster
Filer 3 Filer 4
Failover Only
Independent Cluster Cluster
Name Independent Filer 1 Independent Filer 5
FC Switch Filer N
Space Filer w/DAS Filer 2
FC Switch

OR Disk Enclosure
Disk Enclosure Disk Enclosure
Independent
Filer Disk Enclosure Disk Enclosure
Disk Enclosure
Name Disk Enclosure Name Name Global
Space Space Disk Enclosure Space Disk Name
Enclosure Global
Disk Name
Enclosure
1 2 Space
Space
Disk Enclosure Disk Enclosure Disk Enclosure
Disk Enclosure

Disk Enclosure Disk Enclosure

Disk Enclosure

Dual Filers Dual Filers Multi-Node Filers

Independent Active/Active Active/Active N-way Active
Filer Non-Sharable Sharable Sharable
8 © 2011 IBM Corporation
Converged Storage – Two Fundamental Approaches
Block over File File over Block
(NetApp) (Gateway)
FC, iSCSI CIFS, NFS

FC, iSCSI CIFS, NFS

Map LUN -> File NAS Server

NAS File Server

File Server File Copy Services
Running in
WAFL File System Filer Mode
NVRAM
File Copy Services
Running in
Filer Mode
Block Controller
NVRAM
RAID-6 DP RAID 0,1,10,5,6
Advantages
Block Copy Services • Common
Thin Provisioning Running in management
Block framework
Mode
• Automated off-
host DP and
data mgt.
• Easier
SAN Internal SAN Internal adoption for
Disks Disks enterprise
customers

9 © 2011 IBM Corporation

Block/File Basics – High Level Application Affinity

 Applications/data types that typically reside in files:

– Rich Media (pictures, videos, seismic data, medical imaging, etc.)
– VOD, AOD, IPTV
– Analytics (SAS grid)
– ECM (Enterprise Content Management – e.g., web stores)
– Research Data Sets
– User files (documents, etc.)
– PLM/PDM (Product Lifecycle/Data Management)
– Virtualized Environments (VMware client-driven deployment)

 Applications/data types that typically reside in block stores:

– RDBMS (Oracle, SQL Server, DB2)
– Analytics (stream processing)
– OLTP
– Metadata Layers (component of content management)
– Email (MS Exchange, Notes)
– Virtualization Stacks (VMware: VDI, VMDK implementations; HyperV;
Citrix Xen)
10 © 2011 IBM Corporation
The Enterprise Workload Landscape… What Fits Where?
LEAD
Application Workload Class Comments
WITH
Oracle DBMS B (F) For larger (>20TB) instances, lead with XIV

eBusiness Suite B (F)

SAP OLTP B OLTP/BASIS

BWH F (B) Analytics

Content Mgt. Filenet, Documentum, etc. F Metadata layer may be block/RDBMS

Media Streaming VOD, AOD, IPTV F Very performance/latency sensitive; also potential for tape/LTFS

MS Exchange 2010 B Strong ESRP results for both V7K & XIV (see here)

2003/2007 B
Lotus Notes B (F) Back end is DB2 database; predominantly block

VMware Virt. Infrastructure B (F) Block: mature (also XIV); File: emerging (MS HyperV – block only)

VDI B/F
IBM DB2 RDBMS B
SAS Analytics B/F Block: mid-range, File: grid; XIV certified & strong; V7KU TBD

PACS/EMR Imaging F Ex.: Cachet Database

Prod. Workflow B/F “Front Office” OLTP: block; Patient archives: file

B: Block; F: File
11 © 2011 IBM Corporation
Multipathing Solutions for NAS

 Trunking-Teaming relies on TCP/IP level integration and is handled at the NIC level
 Logically bonds the two network paths into a single path effectively doubling the bandwidth
and providing a redundant physical connection in the case of a failure

2 GbE
1 GbE 1 GbE

1 GbE 1 GbE
2 GbE

12 © 2011 IBM Corporation

Data Protection in a NAS world
NAS SAN
(Network Attached Storage) • Snapshots are (Storage Area Network) • Snapshots
consistent as require
the file system integration with
is always the host file
APPLICATION consistent on APPLICATION system and
the NAS application to
Storage System ensure
• Does not consistency
require • Backups are
integration with done by moving
NETWORK FILE SYSTEM
the host or blocks through
application a master-media
• Replication is server to
supported disk/tape
• NDMP is • Replication is
NETWORK
leverages supported once
FILE SYSTEM snapshots and file system is
dumps files to consistent
tape – • Acts just like
integrated with Direct Attached
most leading STORAGE Storage
STORAGE backup
software

13 © 2011 IBM Corporation

Integration points for NAS protocols with applications

 NAS applications historically have required very little if any integration with host
applications
 Recently NAS vendors have built application integration (APIs) and integrated with
leading host applications such as VMware for the seamless movement and
recovery of virtual machines through replication.
 Many third party management solutions support NAS integration to discover and
manage the storage, including our own Tivoli Productivity Center (TPC)
 NAS is not supported for Microsoft Windows Server Applications such as Microsoft
Exchange Server and Microsoft SQL Server

14 © 2011 IBM Corporation

Resources and where to go for more information on NAS

 Wikipedia’s Definition of NAS:

– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network-attached_storage
 InfoStor: NAS Advantages a VARs View:
– http://www.infostor.com/index/articles/display/55961/articles/infostor/volume-2/issue-
4/news-analysis-trends/nas-advantages-a-vars-view.html
 About.com: SAN vs. NAS: What’s the difference?
– http://compnetworking.about.com/od/networkstorage/f/san-vs-nas.htm
 About.com: Introduction to NAS – Network Attached Storage
– http://compnetworking.about.com/od/itinformationtechnology/l/aa070101a.htm
 FreeBSD Handbook: What is NFS?
– http://www.freebsd.org/doc/handbook/network-nfs.html
 CodeFX: CIFS Explained
– http://www.codefx.com/CIFS_Explained.htm
 Wikipedia’s Definition of Samba:
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samba_%28software%29
 SearchStorage: Using NAS NFS with VMware ESX Technology Pro’s and Con’s
– http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/tip/Pros-and-cons-of-using-NAS-NFS-with-VMware
– (Requires Account Creation to view)
15 © 2011 IBM Corporation
Disclaimers
This information is provided on an "AS IS" basis without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not
limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Some jurisdictions do not allow
disclaimers of express or implied warranties in certain transactions; therefore, this statement may not apply to you.
This information is provided for information purposes only as a high level overview of possible future products.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS, ANNOUNCE DATES, AND OTHER INOFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN ARE
SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT NOTICE.
Important notes:
IBM reserves the right to change product specifications and offerings at any time without notice. This publication could
include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. References herein to IBM products and services do not imply
that IBM intends to make them available in all countries.
IBM makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding non-IBM products and services, including but not limited to
Year 2000 readiness and any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. IBM makes no
representations or warranties with respect to non-IBM products. Warranty, service and support for non-IBM products is
provided directly to you by the third party, not IBM.
All part numbers referenced in this publication are product part numbers and not service part numbers. Other part
numbers in addition to those listed in this document may be required to support a specific device or function.
MHz / GHz only measures microprocessor internal clock speed; many factors may affect application performance.
When referring to storage capacity, GB stands for one billion bytes; accessible capacity may be less. Maximum internal
hard disk drive capacities assume the replacement of any standard hard disk drives and the population of all hard disk
drive bays with the largest currently supported drives available from IBM.
IBM Information and Trademarks
The following terms are trademarks or registered trademarks of the IBM Corporation in the United States or other
countries or both: the e-business logo, IBM, System Storage, Easy Tier, FlashCopy, and System Storage DS.
Linear Tape-Open, LTO, the LTO Logo, Ultrium, and the Ultrium logo are trademarks of HP, IBM Corp. and Quantum in
the U.S. and other countries.
Intel, Pentium 4 and Xeon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. Microsoft Windows is a
trademark or registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Other
company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.

16 © 2011 IBM Corporation