The software allows for configuration of both nodes while connected to one system. Additionally, we included a set of tools for efficient cluster management, such as the resource pool overview, remote node status or configuration statuses. Also, find a failover manager providing an overview of cluster configurations, as well as the Maintenance Mode which allows to stop the cluster and to continuously run the virtual IPs. Thanks to the Maintenance Mode, it is possible to reconfigure the cluster, or replace hardware – or even the whole node – without downtime. When starting a cluster, Open-E DSS V7 checks all critical settings on each node, including: SCSI IDs, tasks, ping nodes, configurations, resource pools, auxiliary paths, and more. This way, clusters cannot be started if they were configured wrong.

NFS and iSCSI cluster

Provides fault tolerance and transparent failover via synchronous Volume Replication for NFS Shares or iSCSI Targets. It uses a setup with two nodes where all volumes are synchronously mirrored over both nodes. In case one server node fails, the software automatically switches all operations to the other server. Synchronous mirroring enables users to set up Active-Active or Active Passive HA Clusters between two locations with a distance of up to 70km (Gigabit Fiber).

iSCSI Functionality

IP Address restrictions, CHAP, MPIO, iSCSI Failover, SCSI-3 persistent reservation, Session Management

NAS Functionality

Windows Active Directory/Primary Domain Controller, NIS, Intern/external LDAP, ADS and NIS User/Group ID Synchronization, File System with Journaling, User and Group Quota, Antivirus

Network Clients & Protocols

Supports Windows, Linux, Unix, Mac OS 8.0 - 10.5.8, X, SMB/CIFS, FTP, Secure FTP, HTTPS, Apple Talk, NFS v2, v3, iSCSI, Fibre Channel

Backup

Improved local backup tool, WORM, NDMP v3.0, Backup-Agents (Backup Exec®, Retrospect®, BrightStor®), Data (File) Replication, Volume Replication

Compatible with Industry Standards

Supports Legacy Hardware

Supports older hardware to ensure backward compatibility

Supports Latest Hardware

Constantly developed by Open-E’s engineers to ensure high compatibility with the latest storage hardware. In the last 3 years we updated drivers for network controllers, RAID adapters, management tools and protocols, including support for the latest drivers.

Supports Popular Backup Software

Open-E DSS V7 allows you to secure and restore data with minimal interruption to your workflow. It gives you the choice of using built-in backup and restore capabilities, or utilize commercial backup clients like Veritas, EMC Dantz, Backup Exec®, Retrospect®, BrightStor®. This way you can leverage your existing investment and expertise

Supports Appliance API

To further ensure compatibility, Open-E has an open storage API to communicate between different software programs and detached appliances which ensures easy third-party integration for maximum compatibility

Easiest to manage

High Availability Cluster Management Mode

With the HA Cluster Management Mode users benefit from an easy way to reconfigure their cluster setup or replace failed hardware without downtime. The cluster configuration can be reconfigured and rebuilt during production, or components such as network interface cards or storage units replaced.

Simple cluster configuration

In Open-E DSS V7 both nodes can be configured while connected to one system, as opposed to Open-E DSS V6. Additional cluster tools: resource pool overview, remote node status, configuration statuses, failover manager Open-E DSS V7 checks all critical settings on each node, including: SCSI IDs, tasks, ping nodes, configurations, resource pools, auxiliary paths, and more. This way, clusters cannot be started if they were configured wrong.

Initial Configurations Wizard

As soon as Open-E starts, the Setup Wizard helps you with all the network and system settings - you get up fast, with built-in help, and can see immediate results

Task and Schedule Manager

Tasks can be automatically scheduled for data, volume replication and snapshots - making it easy to setup, so you can concentrate on other tasks

Automated Update and Rollback of OS

The automated update and rollback makes it easy to update and get the latest features and is also simple to rollback if there is an issue that needs to be resolved first - reducing system downtime

Monitoring & E-mail Notification

Automatically notifies the system administrator via e-mail when there are RAID or HDD problems, making it easy to troubleshoot and quickly fix problems

Intuitive webGUI

Thanks to Open-E’s user experience team, maintaining a server with Open-E DSS V7 is straightforward and user-friendly. The webGUI in our software offers intuitive navigation and users can access all features directly.

Most Stable

Linux Operating System

Open-E runs on a Linux Platform because of its proven stability, unlike others which are less stable or which have limited and diminishing support for new hardware

Improved kernel

The latest kernel of Open-E DSS V7 ensures stability, increased performance and higher compatibility for demanding enterprise storage environments.

Journaling Support

The system tracks and logs changes prior to affecting the main file system, making the file system more reliable

Price-Performance Leader

Independent OS

Open-E uses its own independent OS and is device independent which does not require the expense of another copy of Windows and allows you to use more hardware options (legacy or modern)

Continuous Data Protection

Provides continuous backup/replication of data - far superior to 24 hour snapshot backups (lose approx. 17 e-mails in between backups, versus up to 10,000 on an Exchange e-mail system) - also much quicker to restore (20 minutes vs. 3-5 hour tape backup). If available, usually an expensive option for other storage software

High-Availability over 2 Nodes

Open-E can recognize hardware/software failure and immediately re-starts the application on another system without requiring admin intervention or downtime which further reduces downtime at no extra cost

Products comparison

	Open-E JovianDSS	Open-E DSS V7

Business type
	Large, Medium & Small Enterprises Small & Medium Business Data Centers Public and private cloud providers MSPs	Small & Medium Business Private cloud providers MSPs

Description
	ZFS based storage operating system: It is the answer to almost any storage requirement, either as a single node, a virtualized HA setup or a Big Data cluster environment. Thin provisioning, tiered caching and deduplication make this a solution for high demand enterprise solutions.	XFS based unified storage operating system: It helps both small and medium businesses to implement high performing, yet cost-effective and robust data storage solutions. iSCSI and NAS unified in one flexible software solution. The iSCSI active-active failover adds extra performance for demanding installations. One year of support included.

Filesystem
	ZFS	XFS

Characteristics
Maximum storage	Unlimited	Unlimited (recommended < 200TB)
Maximum volume size	Unlimited	64TB
Min. hardware requirements	4 CPU cores, 16GB RAM, HBA	4 CPU cores, 8GB RAM, H/W RAID adapter
Architecture	64-bit	64-bit
Storage model	Storage pools	Logical volumes
Cost

High availability capabilities
HA cluster architecture	Physical drives shared between nodes	Logical volumes replicated over Ethernet
Metro storage cluster	Yes (SMB, NFS, iSCSI)	Yes (NFS, iSCSI)
Shared storage cluster	Yes (SMB, NFS, iSCSI)	No
Independent Virtual IPs for HA Cluster	Yes	No
Max. clustered volume size	Unlimited	16TB
Max. clustered storage size	Unlimited	Unlimited
Persistent Reservation Synchronization	Yes	Yes
Node replacement with no cluster downtime	Yes	No

High availability architecture examples
Cluster in a Box (CiB)	Yes	N/A
Common Storage Cluster over SAS	Yes	N/A
Cluster over SAS with internal SAS expander	Yes	N/A
Cluster with multiple JBODs over SAS	Yes	N/A
Cluster with multiple JBODs over FC	Yes	N/A
Cluster with multiple JBODs over SAS / FC (with ATTO bridges)	Yes	N/A
Cluster over Ethernet	Yes	Yes

Protocols
iSCSI	Yes	Yes
NAS (SMB/CIFS, FTP, Secure FTP, HTTP, Apple Talk, NFS v2, v3)	NFS, SMB/CIFS	Yes
Fibre Channel	No	Yes
IP over Infiniband (connector mode)	Yes	Yes

Enterprise-grade features
Off-site Data Protection	Yes Read more »	No
VAAI	Yes	No
Caching	Native, tiered RAM and SSD	Hardware support
Thin Provisioning	Yes	No
Over Provisioning	Yes	No
Deduplication	Yes	No
Compression	Yes	No
Snapshots	Unlimited	Up to 20
Clones	Unlimited	No
VSS Hardware Provider	Yes	No
Data & metadata check-summing	Yes	No
Atomic transaction writes	Yes	No
WORM (Write Once Read Many)	No	Yes
Online data checking and repairing (Scrub)	Yes	No
Storing multiple copies of user data	Yes	No
iSCSI and NFS restricted connections	Yes	Yes
Storage live expansion without downtime	Yes	Yes
SNMP	Yes	Yes

Certifications
VMware certification	VMware Ready V5.5, V6.0, V6.5	VMware Ready V5.5, V6.0, V6.5
Citrix certification	In progress	Citrix Ready
Hyper-V certification	Tested and confirmed	Tested and confirmed

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