The growth of the enterprise network attached storage market is expected to be fueled by several factors, including the growing demand for big data and the increasing use of mobile devices. As server costs decline and cloud computing tools are accepted by businesses, the market for network attached storage will continue to grow. To understand the broader market, we can take a closer look at OpenMediaVault and StoneFly's SSO(tm) scale-out network attached storage.
OpenMediaVault is a NAS solution for small and home office use cases
Installing OpenMediaVault is a straightforward process. The installer will detect the hard disk storage on the machine and prompt you to choose a name for it. If the machine is connected to the network via ethernet, this process should be successful. After the core system components have been installed, a package manager window will appear. Here, you can enter the default domain name of your OpenMediaVault installation.
The OpenMediaVault NAS application is a free file server and NAS system based on the Debian Linux distro. It features a modular application architecture and supports IPv6 and Wake on LAN. This application also has multilanguage support, and administrators can manage plugs and schedule jobs with a web-based console. The system also supports multiple file systems, including GPT partitions, JFS, and EXT3/EXT4 filesystems.
The user interface of OpenMediaVault is relatively easy to operate and offers a number of features to meet the needs of the average home user. The OpenMediaVault 6 user interface is based on Debian Linux and includes SSH, FTP, SMB/CIFS, RSync, and a BitTorrent client. This solution has been around for a while and is a solid choice for small offices.
The OpenMediaVault web interface is designed for easy management. The OpenMediaVault file server interface relies on a WEB browser, which means that some pages will use files from the boot drive. The boot drive speed is not crucial to the overall performance of the NAS or file server, so it's not a big concern. It also assumes the server has adequate RAM.
StoneFly's SSO(tm) scale-out network attached storage
If you're looking for scalability in your data storage solution, consider StoneFly's SSO. Compared to traditional storage options, Stonefly SSO offers better utilization rates and supports SSD tiering in the same chassis. With SSO, you can add additional storage capacity to an existing data center while improving efficiency and throughput. In addition to improving throughput and concurrency, SSO can support multiple, independent nodes.
A super scale-out NAS appliance, StoneFly SSO delivers unmatched performance, scalability, and redundancy. StoneFly's SSO appliance provides up to 256 drives per node, making it the ideal solution for managing large amounts of unstructured data. It also combines enterprise SAS and nearline SAS for seamless integration. And because StoneFly SSO is designed to scale out, users can pay for only what they need.
StoneFly's SSO(t) scale-out NAS supports openStack and supports Cinder Block Storage (SBS). Additionally, StoneFly SSO can be configured to run standalone or in combination with other StoneFly Scale Out NAS appliance nodes. Additionally, StoneFly SSO offers automatic data transfers and storage tiering for optimal performance.
Intel Celeron processors are used in NAS
Although Intel has primarily been a silicon supplier, its storage division is now using its Celeron processors in the enterprise network attached storage. This new processor can reach clock speeds of 466 MHz and has two expansion memory slots, making it an ideal choice for power users. Despite the price tag, Nimbustor offers powerful computing for your enterprise network. It's expensive, but if you are a power user, you may want to consider purchasing one.
Despite its long history of storage products, Intel has now decided to enter the consumer market with the launch of its new SS4200x. This new processor is capable of running Windows Home Server and is the first Intel Celeron-based NAS product for this market segment. These new devices have a variety of features designed for the home user, including media serving, backup, and Windows desktop integration. This broadens the appeal of NAS devices to non-techies and further expands the market for cheap Intel processors.
When choosing a new NAS, you should also consider its file system. Many different NAS use ext3 and btrfs file systems. Both ext3 and ext4 are good choices, but ext4 is a little more stable. Btrfs is another option, as it has a number of new features, and is designed specifically for NAS.
While it is true that cloud-based storage provides remote access and is cheaper than a NAS device, it is still a valuable option for small businesses, smart homes, and self-employed individuals. It can also be useful for businesses who need more storage than the average Google Drive can offer. The best NAS devices can also function as collaborative file servers, web servers, virtual machines, and media centers.
RAID controllers manage drives within NAS
RAID controllers are software solutions that help enterprises apportion disks among a group of hard drives in a storage array. RAID levels vary depending on how many drives are in a volume. During the New network volume wizard, NAS OS users can select either single disk protection or double disk protection. Choosing the right RAID level is critical to the success of a NAS system, and the New network volume wizard provides a star rating system to make the process as easy as possible.
There are different levels of RAID, each of which has its own advantages. For example, RAID 1 is more reliable than RAID 10, while RAID 5 provides higher levels of data redundancy. RAID controllers are used to manage several drives on a single network, enabling businesses to save on costs and improve performance. RAID controllers also improve reliability by reducing the chance of failures in an array.
RAID controllers come in two main styles. A hardware-based RAID is a purely hardware solution, requiring a separate controller in the server. These controllers typically have an Option ROM or basic I/O system for configuration. Software-based RAID, on the other hand, uses the computing power of the system to manage disks. Software-based RAID can be used with a variety of drive formats, and it is much cheaper than hardware-based RAID.
A RAID implementation is typically based on a few different network file system protocols. The most common are iSCSI (Intranetwork Storage Interface) and SMB (Server Message Block) protocol. Common Internet File System is a more feature-rich version of SMB. Lastly, Apple's File Service uses the Network File System (NFS), which originated at Sun Microsystems and is still used primarily in Unix systems.
Performance
While NAS technology has been around for decades, its recent revival is a result of a raft of factors, including the growth of unstructured data, the cloud migration effort, and business transformation. The rising volume of unstructured data and the need to process and store it is only one of these factors. In addition to these trends, the rise of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and machine learning will require storage for insights into these technologies.
One of the major drivers of the increasing demand for network attached storage is the proliferation of fixed broadband connections across the globe. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption in many businesses, and key providers are developing advanced storage facilities to meet the growing demand for data storage. The Forbes report stated that 2.5 quintillion bytes of data will be created each day by 2020, and this is only going to increase. According to the report, the growth of internet connections will drive this exponential growth.
In a broadcasting environment, there are often multiple sources of image and video data that need to be stored. SAN appliances have the ability to channel data into the storage location desired by the application. This makes managing data easier for resource management teams. Meanwhile, video editors can access the same storage location, which is ideal for intra and inter-team collaboration. This way, a single SAN can support several applications and departments without adding any additional server layers.
High I/O latency is another cause of poor storage performance. Monitoring data flow latency is important for server administrators. Load balancing must be effective and consistent monitoring will prevent latency problems. In the end, NAS performance can be far superior to traditional storage solutions. It is an essential requirement for any business. When properly implemented, NAS systems can boost performance and reduce costs while maintaining a high level of efficiency.