Open-E iSCSI-R3

End of Life: 31st May 2010

End of Technical Support: 31st May 2011

Open-E iSCSI-R3 supports ATA, SATA and SCSI RAID controllers to build large iSCSI-R3 Target Modules (ITMs). For the highest data throughput, latency and performance, this software offers multiple network connections, supports Fibre Channel network HBA for high bandwidth storage area networking (SAN) and up to four CPUs for heavy duty data requirements. Available with all advanced software features like Multi-Snapshot with Scheduling Function, IP-Sec and Multiple Management Level, the Open-E iSCSI-R3 version delivers a tremendous value for any size business.

Additional features supported:

Multiple Network Interface Card (NIC) support
Adaptive Load Balancing (ALB)
Adapter Fault Tolerance (AFT)
Multi-Snapshot with scheduling function
Multiple management level
Network UPS Support
Fibre Channel Support (initiator mode)
Multi-CPU Support
IP-SEC

Hardware Requirements:

x86 - compatible PC
1 GByte RAM
CPU (1 GHz or faster)
Ethernet card
internal USB

Features

ADMINISTRATION

Powerful and Intuitive Web-based User Interface

The web-based Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the Open-E iSCSI-R3 software makes remote management of the storage device a simple task. By using a web-browser, the iSCSI-R3 can be easily managed from anywhere within the network.

Secured Administration Access

Open-E’s iSCSI-R3 is accessible and configured through a web-based, password-protected GUI over Secured Socket Layer (SSL) administration access.

Console Tool

Open-E’s iSCSI-R3 can be managed by using the console tool. For security reasons some advanced and critical administrator tasks like “removing and restoring volumes” and “checking and repairing the file system”, can only be managed from the console. Through the console tool, an administrator monitors the status of the network and memory usage, install drivers and hardware and perform other tasks.

Tuning Tools (advanced users)

The server performance of the iSCSI-R3 server can be increased by changing the settings of disk, network, file system or network using “Tuning Tools”.

Remote Access of Console Tool

The Open-E iSCSI-R3 supports remote access of the console tool enabling management of the server from anywhere in the network.

Multiple Management Levels

The Open-E iSCSI-R3 supports three levels of administrative rights: Full Access, Maintenance and Administration.

New Update System (Local or Internet)

To optimize the updating process of the Open-E software the USB DOM contains a shadow copy of the OS. In case of an update failure the storage system can be switched easily to the former version of the Open-E software. This technology is also known from some motherboards' BIOS update.

NETWORK MANAGEMENT

Standard Network Gateway Support

The Open-E iSCSI-R3 can be used with structured networks in business environments and has an optional data access via Intranet or Internet.

DHCP Client

Assigning IP addresses in a network can be centrally managed and automated through using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

Multiple Network Interface Card (NIC) Support

The Open-E iSCSI-R3 supports usage of two or more network cards to access separate sub-networks or to increase the bandwidth and allows administrators to select services to be enabled on a specified NIC.

Adapter Fault Tolerance (AFT)

AFT assures greater reliability by providing a secondary network adapter which automatically takes over, should the primary network adapter fails.

Adaptive Load Balancing (ALB)

ALB enhances data throughput by automatically routing data through alternative paths as the application changes.

10 Gb Ethernet with TCP/IP Offload Engine (TOE)

To improve the data throughput and latency, the iSCSI-R3 supports 10 GbE to increase bandwidth, improve overall performance, and reduce message latency across connections. The Open-E iSCSI-R3 supports some 10GbE cards with TCP/IP.

InfiniBand Support

The Open-E iSCSI-R3 supports, besides 10 GbE and FC HBA, Infiniband for more flexibility in high speed network environments.

Proxy Settings

The Open-E software allows the configuration of the Proxy Server for Internet connections.

IP-Sec

The Open-E iSCSI-R3 supports the Secure Internet Protocol (IPsec). This protocol secures data transmitted across a network, preventing confidential and personal information being intercepted or modified.

STORAGE MANAGEMENT

Hardware and Software Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) Support

The Open-E iSCSI-R3 supports Serial Attached SCSI (SAS), SCSI, Serial ATA and IDE controllers of all leading hardware RAID controller manufacturers. The integrated software RAID 0, 1, 5, 6 provides more flexibility and cost savings while creating storage solutions. By mirroring two hardware RAID arrays, the probability of failure can be reduced. The iSCSI-R3 offers highest flexibility in redundancy, performance, costs and storage volume.

Software RAID Degraded Mode

The iSCSI-R3 software boasts a means for creating a RAID when a Hard Disk Drives (HDD) is missing or broken.

E-mail Notification for RAID Issues

Email alerts are sent to the system administrator in case of issues with the RAID through the iSCSI-R3 software.

Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) Support

The iSCSI-R3 software includes S.M.A.R.T support for detecting and reporting the status of the Hard Disk Drives (HDD) anticipated on failures.

E-mail Notification for S.M.A.R.T.

Email alerts are sent to the system administrator in case of HDD problems through the iSCSI-R3 software.

Multiple Fiber Channel HBA Support

For higher bandwidth, better latency and performance, the Open-E iSCSI-R3 version supports Fiber Channel HBA´s from Emulex, Qlogic and LSI. Fiber Channel is the standard connection type for connecting high speed storage devices much like the iSCSI-R3, to computers in Storage Area Networks (SAN).

Hardware RAID Controller Support

The Open-E iSCSI-R3 solution can support most hardware ATA / SATA / SCSI RAID controllers of:

3ware
Adaptec
Areca
Buslogic
Dell
HP Smart Array
ICP Vortex
Intel
LSI Logic
Marvell
Promise
Symbios/LSILogic
Tekram

Support for over 2TB Physical and Logical Volumes (LV)

The Open-E iSCSI-R3 supports logical volumes greater than 2TB and a physical size of up to 16TB.

Snapshot

Snapshot is an immediate point-in-time image of the logical volume. The snapshot image can be used for both consistent and temporary backup, while users still have uninterrupted and complete access to the LV. Files can be recovered from previous snapshots should a file be accidentally deleted or modified.

Multiple Snapshots with Scheduling Function

The Open-E iSCSI-R3 supports “Multiple Snapshot with Scheduling” to create snapshots at predefined points in time (e.g. automatically every hour).

Multiple Logical Volume & Groups

Logical volume groups allow storage administrators to create logical storage pools that span multiple physical disk drives. With it’s support of multiple logical volume groups, the Open-E iSCSI-R3 makes it easier to meet the changing needs of users and applications while making the maximum use of available physical disk space.

Online Logical Volume Expansion

Online logical volume expansion allows administrators to change the size of storage volumes as needed without having to restart the application, recreate the volume, and back up and restore data to the volume.

Support for Online Capacity Expansion

A hardware RAID controllers’ expansion capability supports the increase of size of existing units without removing data.

MONITORING

Hardware Monitoring

Open-E software allows user to monitor hardware status using motherboard's sensors, including: temperatures, voltages, fans speeds.

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) (v2 & v3)

The iSCSI-R3 uses SNMP for monitoring data throughput, Central Processing Unit (CPU) and Random Access Memory (RAM) usage to name a few.

Email Notification

In the event of a technical failure of the storage device, administrators are alerted by Email.

Log Function

The Open-E log file is an effective instrument in analyzing and solving technical issues.

HARDWARE SUPPORT

Support for up to 32 x CPUs

The iSCSI-R3 supports up to 32 CPUs to increase the I/O throughput for heavy duty data requirements.

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Support

A UPS eliminates the effects of a temporary power outage and provides a safe shutdown, without loss of data, in case of power failure. The UPS device can be connected by Communications Port (COM-port) or Universal Serial Bus (USB) to the server.

Network UPS Support

The iSCSI-R3 is capable of using the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) interface for communication with other SNMP-enabled servers (e.g. Open-E iSCSI-R3) for a smooth server shutdown in the event of a power failure. The server with the UPS sends a power failure signal through the network to other servers (in slave mode) and will shut down all servers in the network.

SPECIFIC iSCSI FUNCTIONALITY

Multiple Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocols (CHAP) per Target

In Open-E iSCSI-R3, CHAP users can be assigned to a specific iSCSI target. CHAP is an authentication schema, managed by user name and password, to validate the identity of users to manage the access rights of users to targets.

MPIO Support

The Open-E iSCSI-R3 allows set multiple connections to one target increasing performance and reliability.

Volume Replication

Open-E iSCSI-R3 provides an extra layer of fault tolerance as you mirror two iSCSI target volumes, similar to disk mirroring (RAID1). By allocating one iSCSI target as the primary data storage device and the second as a destination iSCSI target, data will synchronously be written to both iSCSI targets using a dedicated network connection. The primary iSCSI target will be replicated in real time, so that the data will be available if the primary storage system becomes unavailable.

OTHER

Support for SWAP

SWAP is used to store memory areas on hard drives instead of Random Access Memory (RAM). The iSCSI-R3 software dumps memory to SWAP in case of additional memory is need (e.g. repairing the file system after a degraded RAID).

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Panel Support

Open-E iSCSI-R3 supports single, dual, multiple or pyramid LCD display configuration.

One License per Storage Device

Regardless of the number of users connected to the storage device, Open-E license schema is a one license per iSCSI-R3 and is priced accordingly. Whether you have 5, 500, 15,000 or more, you only pay one price for one iSCSI-R3 License.

Superuser Function

A “Superuser” account has unrestricted access to all the files and volumes and is an especially helpful feature when certain directories or files are no longer accessible.

Local Backup on Dynamic Units

Through the DDS, a local HDD or a USB drive can be defined as a Dynamic Unitand acts like a normal tape drive which can backup the NAS server and be removed without shutting down the server.

Cross Data Synchronization

Open-E iSCSI-R3 synchronize files and directories from one NAS server to another. Disaster recovery or Disk-to-Disk backup synchronization utilizes block-based data transfer that minimizes network traffic. iSCSI-R3 can synchronize data in both directions: the iSCSI-R3 can be the source and destination of files at the same time, allowing to cross-backup data on several servers.

Target Password Support

Open-E iSCSI-R3 allows setting up a password for iSCSI targets to protect them from unauthorized access.

Read Only Logical Unit Number (LUN)

This function allows the user to set the LUN as a read-only device (for iSCSI Target only).