High-Tech Computer Experts 

Product Information
The FastfilePro 7000-HA (High Availability) is the NFS for large workgroups or enterprise applications where data protection is critical. The 7000-HA uses a hardware architecture that eliminates any single point of failure.  The low cost per megabyte is due to software technology that eliminates the need for expensive mirrored hardware components.  Instead, a "heartbeat module" monitors the status between the mirrored CPUs. If it detects a failure in the active unit, it automatically switches operation to the other CPU within 30-90 seconds. The result of all this superior technology is 99.99% uptime with no measurable impact on performance.
 

FastfilePro 7000-HA Features and Benefits

Benefits of Centralized Storage
Capacity planning is centralized: The FastfilePro 7000-HA holds up to 1.7TB of usable RAID 5 storage, including global spares. Smooth disk expansion is facilitated through the multi-volume design of FastfilePro. A lower capacity system can be purchased with a plan to add storage as it is required. This eliminates having to overbuy storage at the desktop level and time spent capacity planning for individual users.

Security is enhanced: Centralized NFS server storage with the FastfilePro 7000-HA assures that corporate assets are protected, as the organization does not have to rely on individual users to protect their own data or local disk drives "walking out the door." Centralizing the administration function assures that there are no gaps in security due to the variable work habits of individual users.  And, unlike competing systems, the FastfilePro 7000-HA is not dependent on a trusted-host to provide the high-level of security typically associated with UNIX servers.

Backup function is centralized and automatic: By centralizing storage with the FastilfePro 5000, the headaches of backing up individual workstations are eliminated. This reduces manpower requirements associated with distributed backup-where tapes must be rotated among clients and scheduling of individual backups is a complex logistical exercise that can degrade overall network performance. With centralized FastfilePro 7000-HA backup, overall backup time is reduced, money is saved on backup applications and less manpower is required to administer the function.

In addition, automatic backups can be scheduled locally and remotely, streamlining the administrative process and limiting the impact on network performance.  FastfilePro 7000-HA supports up to 130 unattended local and remote file systems-and support for 4mm, 8mm and DLT libraries assures adherence to your current corporate standards. Using the FastfilePro menus, administrators can set up a seven day schedule of full, partial and archive backups of file volumes. A full backup and an archive backup are each a copy of all files and directories on the volume. A partial backup is a copy of only the files and directories that have changed since the last full backup (which can save valuable time and space on the tape).

Backups written in GNU extended tar format (GTAR): FastfilePro backups are compatible across all UNIX platforms, making media readable to any UNIX system with a tape drive. There is no proprietary backup format that hinders administration. GNU tar uses upper level JAS file system calls which yield a "file and data consistent backup." Users will not lose any data. The GNU extended tar format supports long file names and long directory paths (longer than the standard tar limit of 100 characters), for easy to understand naming conventions.  In addition, FastfilePro GNU extended tar format allows for standard tar programs, which do not support the long name extensions, to extract files for the FastfilePro backup tapes-further assuring compatibility across formats.

Quotas encourage smart usage of disk space: For environments where there are thousands of users on the network, FastfilePro 7000-HA offers a quota system that allows the administrator to impose soft and/or hard limits to file space among users or groups. Users receive allocations of disk space and are issued warnings when
limits are approached or exceeded. Hard limits can be enforced which prohibit the writing of additional files until others are deleted. The implementation of quotas contributes to efficient storage management through control of storage space and assumption of responsibility among users/groups to regularly "groom" their files. Disk space is maximized through safeguarding against "runaway" programs that can consume space and impact other groups. Through the use of quotas, an internal billing system could also be implemented based on disk space usage. And unlike competing systems, there is little to no noticeable impact on system performance with quotas running.

Benefits of Faster File Service
Our file server software is a small, optimized operating system that focuses strictly on moving data between the disk storage and network quickly. Since the software is a real-time, 64-bit OS dedicated exclusively to network, caching operations and I/O clustering algorithms, significant improvement (order of magnitude) performance increases are obtained over generic platforms such as Sun, DEC, SGI, etc. running a standard UNIX derivative. It expedites fast file access and throughput, while managing such functions as disk and file management. As a result, network storage bottlenecks are minimized and overall network performance is increased by ratios of 5:10. The software is compatible with all UNIX, Windows NT and Windows 95 versions and can link the FastfilePro with hardware platforms from Sun, Silicon Graphics, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, DEC, Intel-based systems and others.

Journaling Automation System (JAS) ensures data integrity: Journaling techniques have been proven in large database applications for over 15 years for maintaining
data integrity. Falcon's custom JAS uses a journaling mechanism that assures file volumes are always consistent and always current--features that allow the disk to be moved between servers with no data loss. A JAS "proximizer" and clustering techniques contribute to FastfilePro performance advantages. The proximizer keeps blocks of the same file close together on the disk.  Clustering groups multiple disk I/O operations into large, more efficient I/O operations, reducing the number of writes required to the attached RAID volumes. The result is maximum efficiency and performance for routine read and write operations.

Since JAS does not require the UNIX fsck (file system check) command for routine operations or normal restart, valuable time is saved during system reboot. JAS offers a speedy 60 second reboot in the event of power failure (with no UPS requirement) without data loss, assuring data integrity and accessibility. This is frequently faster than local disk. Competing systems can take hours to reboot-idling users and threatening data integrity.

JAS Write Accelerator: Large, write-intensive environments, such as graphics and video applications, will benefit from the speed advantages offered by the optional JAS Write Accelerator. It increases speeds for write operations on the server so that they closely match those of the read operations (in typical RAID 5 applications, writes are 50 to 100 percent slower than reads), and extends the upper end of the server to accommodate up to 20 percent more operations. Never before has this level of write performance attained these speeds while using RAID 5.

Multiple RAID levels supports performance tuning: FalconRAID supports RAID levels 0, 0+1, RAID 3 equivalent, 5 and JBOD. Unlike some competing systems, users are not limited to a single RAID level and file volume (or many small volumes). Instead, RAID types are selectable and can be mixed-organizations can mix their disk resources by configuring each disk array with a different RAID level. This enables users to pair applications with sets of drives that are tuned to handle their requirements in the fastest, most efficient way.  Groups with different I/O requirements can therefore use the same server, without sacrificing speed.

Benefits of Continuous Data Availability
High Availability (HA) ensures 99.9+ percent uptime: FastfilePro offers 99.9+ percent uptime without configuring a mirrored disk subsystem, bypassing the extraordinary expense of mirrored systems. Because mirrored systems require duplicate CPUs, storage and RAID, the cost for a mirrored system of 1TB can be 10 to 16 times the cost of the FastfilePro. With no single point of failure, FastfilePro's active/passive configuration is not vulnerable to downtime in the event of a component failure. The two CPUs (connected via heartbeat monitoring software) have access to the single FalconRAID system and, in a failover situation, the FastfilePro JAS assures that all data is consistent and available. The heartbeat software has zero impact on performance. In NFS environments, the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)-which is transparent to users-broadcasts automatically within 30 -90 seconds when the passive CPU takes over network operation.

RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks): Large and critical applications are turning to RAID subsystems due to their highly reliable disk storage capacities. RAID technology groups several disks together which act as one large disk, and incorporates redundant information in one or more disk(s). If a single drive in the array fails, its data can be reconstructed based on the remaining disks.  Different RAID levels (0, 1, 0+1, RAID 3 equivalent, 5) offer various methods of distributing data, depending on the redundancy and efficiency requirements of the environment. Your data is always protected.

Hardware RAID implementation: FastfilePro incorporates FalconRAID storage subsystems for maximum storage, performance and functionality. The benefits of
hardware-based RAID start with the fact that RAID overhead and reconstruction are isolated from the rest of the system. Programmed RAID functions are stored in one or more very localized, memory-cached processors--which operate independently of the NFS server's operating system. Since the main network processor is not taxed by RAID functions, maximum processing speed is maintained.

In contrast, RAID systems that incorporate software-based RAID utilize the NFS server's operating system. Even with a powerful Intel-or UNIX-based processor these systems will provide fewer NFS operations with slower access time because they must perform all file serving storage and RAID management functions simultaneously.

In the event of disk failure, the differences between hardware and software-based RAID become more dramatic. A disk-drive rebuild will take only 30-40 minutes on the FastfilePro, compared to days for software-based RAID. This shorter rebuild time also reduces the "window of vulnerability" for a second drive failure, which could have devastating effect on an organization's data integrity.

"Hot swap" and customer replaceable disk drives, power supplies and fans: By incorporating true, online, hot-swappable spares of essential system components, the FastfilePro 7000-HA assures that users will not experience any system downtime for repair. With AerRAID's functions separate from the NFS server's OS, disk and component hot hotswaps can be performed easily. The entire process is transparent to users. By contrast, if a failed disk drive must be swapped on a software based RAID subsystem, the administrator will have to bring down the faulty drive--with direct impact on the users access to the system.

Global spares: Because FastfilePro 7000-HA maintains a global spare disk drive, RAID rebuilds in the event of disk failure are automatic. The system administrator does not need to be notified and does not need to manually initiate the rebuild--having valuable time, especially during off-hours when the system is not attended.

Remote error notification: The system log daemon (syslogd) and simple network message protocol (SNMP) with the management information base (MIB-II) specification automatically query certain counters in the network facilities and notify the administrator remotely of network errors. The administrator thus has multiple     means to manage the server. The administrator does not need to be near the system to be notified of a system error--saving valuable time in the event that corrective action is required. Syslogd allows messages to be sent to various devices such as pagers and email to notify appropriate users and groups.

Benefits of Easy Administration
Manage locally or remotely: FastfilePro offers support for Telnet, an application protocol that allows a user at one site to access a remote system as if the user's display station were locally attached. FastfilePro allows network clients to access one or more modems via Telnet. This saves the cost and inconvenience of providing every user with a modem and, most importantly, allows the administrator to "Telnet" to the server for convenient, time-saving, remote administration.

Menu-based and command line user interface available anywhere on the network: The FastfilePro 7000-HA user interface has been refined based on input from actual users--and it was tested to assure that an administrator could easily set up the system without consulting documentation. There are no tedious command syntax or detailed configuration edits. A menu interface is provided to configure, control and monitor FastfilePro functions.  The menu interface makes it easy to control print jobs and printers, make backups, and complete infrequent configuration tasks. A command line interpreter (CLI) may also be used to control FastfilePro functions. Unlike strictly menu oriented interfaces, writing command scripts for repetitive tasks is easy. The current status of the server is available at a glance and without pressing a single key.

Simple update procedure: The stability of the FastfilePro 7000-HA has reduced the necessity for frequent updates no more than one update per quarter is typically needed.  Administrators are assured of a stable, high performance product with limited distraction to implement major updates. Minimal operating system maintenance overhead saves valuable time for the administrator. In addition, minor patches or bug fixes are managed through email and can be implemented online.

Manage from a web browser: Falcon has created a web site on the server that provides the ability to monitor the FastfilePro 7000-HA system (log, network interfaces, operating statistics, user access to files and documentation) from any PC or Mac workstation using a standard Web browser. The pages are updated every five seconds to reflect current activity. Administrators are thus afforded the convenience of monitoring activity in a well-presented format without actually being near the server. The pages also include a link to a Telnet connection should the administrator need to take specific action, such as reconfiguration. Thus, time is saved in addressing areas of concern.

Network Information Service (NIS) for easy updates: The NIS protocol (formerly Yellow Pages or YP) is used to manage information from a centralized location. A NIS server contains master copies of important information.  FastfilePro periodically checks the NIS server to see if the master files have changed. When a file changes, it is copied automatically to the local file. Unlike other systems, there is no need for the administrator to perform extra update functions, such as writing scripts.

Benefits of Cross Platform Access
FastfilePro is a multiple protocol server with support for NFS, SMB and HTTP protocols: File system access to UNIX resources from Windows clients can be provided in two ways. One is to have NFS clients on Windows 95 and Windows NT connect with the native UNIX networking protocol, Network File System (NFS). Another solution is to place the native Microsoft networking protocol, Server Message Block (SMB) on a UNIX server. FastfilePro simultaneously supports NFS for access to all flavors of UNIX; SMB with volume access services to NT clients with volume read only and write password protection; and Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) with read only service to HTTP clients. Thus, a single IT investment can serve multiple workgroups simultaneously, and (with HTTP support) web file service is faster than with most web servers.

Benefits of Investment Protection
Scalability: The dynamic nature of user sites means that storage requirements will change over time, and equipment obsolescence is a threat to system investment. The scalable capacity of FastfilePro protects system investment without requiring that users "overbuy" in anticipation of future growth.

The FastfilePro is built to grow. After starting with an entry level configuration, drives, network connections, controllers and cache can be added as business needs change. The original investment is protected for the long term unlike competing systems that force you to buy additional servers to increase storage capacity.

Wide range of network interface options: FastfilePro accommodates multiple and mixed network types and topologies, protecting the IT investment and assuring
future network compatibility. The network interface options for FastfilePro, ranging from 10mbps to 1066mbps, includes 10Base-T, Fast Ethernet, FDDI, CDDI, Quarter Speed fibre channel, and Full-speed fibre channel.
 

FastfilePro 7000-HA Specifications

Software
AerReal real-time operating system
Journaling Automation System (JAS) file system
Extensible Volumes - capacity and online file extensions
Quotas - users and groups, soft and hard limits, by volume
Hot-swap RAID
NFS Version 2 and 3 (UDP and TCP)
HTTP (Hypertext Transport Protocol) for read only web service
Menu and command line user interface for simple administration
Integrated automatic, scheduled local and remote unattended backup
Telnet/rsh for remote system administration
SNMP MIB II for remote network administration
NIS automatic updates
DNS (Domain Name Service) support
System log support (syslog) for remote error notification
Authentication support (pcnfsd)

Hardware Processing Unit
167 MHz Pentium Pro processor with 512K L2 cache
64MB RAM (standard
1GB mirrored boot volume
3.5-inch floppy drive for updates
2 serial ports
1 parallel ports

Redundant power and cooling

Software
Optional video real-time file system

Internal Hardware
Up to 256MB RAM (optional 128MB upgrade kit)
AerRAID Subsystem
RAID levels 0, 1, 0+1, RAID 3 equivalent, 5 and JBOD
Fast/Wide disk channels
256GB addressable disk storage per controller
382GB with 9GB drives
990GB with 23GB drives
RISC-based PCI RAID controller

Optional UPS

Peripheral Drives
4GB to 23GB Fast/Wide disk drives
Seek times: 4 - 10 ms.
Rotational spindle speeds: 7200 and 10,000 RPM
MTBF: 250,000 - 800,000 POH

Tape Drive Subsystems
DLT, 8mm, 4mm and Sony AIT systems available
Optional robotic tape library subsystems
Striped, high-speed tape subsystem-80GB native

Network Interfaces
Fibre Channel (106MB/sec.)
Quarter-speed fibre channel
FDDI
100Base-T (single or quad)
10Base-T (single or quad)

Optional JAS Write Accelerator
Speeds the writes to closely match those of the reads. Ideal for applications where writes constitute more than half of the system I/O.

Back to the top of this page