Nasan
Encyclopedia
Nasan is a shared disk file system created by DataPlow, that features the ability to give shared, block-level access to a disk volume from multiple client computers without causing file system corruption. DataPlow sells their software directly on a per-seat basis. Each client must purchase the software in order to access a Nasan file system directly. Nasan is made available in Fibre Channel
and iSCSI
varieties.
DataPlow has also licensed a version of their file system to be used with Zetera storage products. The Zetera product is licensed on a per hardware enclosure basis and thus can be used by unlimited clients at no additional cost. However, additional enclosures can be expensive due to the proprietary hardware and software. Zetera's version has been modified to operate in a "Storage over IP" configuration. The SoIP configuration uses UDP instead of TCP, thus eliminating the need for TCP offload engines that are used in FC and iSCSI, reducing cost and/or processing overhead. Zetera claims that their file system has the ability to scale in size by joining additional volumes without reformatting (source: Zetera sales rep), and that its speed increases proportionally as additional storage hardware is added (limited only by the network and client computer). Zetera calls their version of the file system Z-SAN
.
A limited version of Z-SAN is also used in Netgear's Storage Central products. Multiple computers can connect to the Netgear Storage Central at block level using the UDP based SoIP. However, a single volume cannot be scaled across a multiple Storage Central enclosures. (source: Netgear phone tech support)
and Sun Solaris operating system
s.
Supports Fibre Channel
(FC) and iSCSI
storage protocols.
Fibre Channel
Fibre Channel, or FC, is a gigabit-speed network technology primarily used for storage networking. Fibre Channel is standardized in the T11 Technical Committee of the InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards , an American National Standards Institute –accredited standards...
and iSCSI
ISCSI
In computing, iSCSI , is an abbreviation of Internet Small Computer System Interface, an Internet Protocol -based storage networking standard for linking data storage facilities. By carrying SCSI commands over IP networks, iSCSI is used to facilitate data transfers over intranets and to manage...
varieties.
DataPlow has also licensed a version of their file system to be used with Zetera storage products. The Zetera product is licensed on a per hardware enclosure basis and thus can be used by unlimited clients at no additional cost. However, additional enclosures can be expensive due to the proprietary hardware and software. Zetera's version has been modified to operate in a "Storage over IP" configuration. The SoIP configuration uses UDP instead of TCP, thus eliminating the need for TCP offload engines that are used in FC and iSCSI, reducing cost and/or processing overhead. Zetera claims that their file system has the ability to scale in size by joining additional volumes without reformatting (source: Zetera sales rep), and that its speed increases proportionally as additional storage hardware is added (limited only by the network and client computer). Zetera calls their version of the file system Z-SAN
Z-SAN
Z-SAN is a proprietary type of Storage area network licensed by Zetera corporation. Z-SAN hardware is bundled with a modified version of SAN-FS, which is a Shared disk file system driver and management software product made by . The shared disk file system is what allows multiple computers to...
.
A limited version of Z-SAN is also used in Netgear's Storage Central products. Multiple computers can connect to the Netgear Storage Central at block level using the UDP based SoIP. However, a single volume cannot be scaled across a multiple Storage Central enclosures. (source: Netgear phone tech support)
Platforms
Supports LinuxLinux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
and Sun Solaris operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
s.
Supports Fibre Channel
Fibre Channel
Fibre Channel, or FC, is a gigabit-speed network technology primarily used for storage networking. Fibre Channel is standardized in the T11 Technical Committee of the InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards , an American National Standards Institute –accredited standards...
(FC) and iSCSI
ISCSI
In computing, iSCSI , is an abbreviation of Internet Small Computer System Interface, an Internet Protocol -based storage networking standard for linking data storage facilities. By carrying SCSI commands over IP networks, iSCSI is used to facilitate data transfers over intranets and to manage...
storage protocols.