Open-E JovianDSS Up32 Version: A Leap Forward in Performance, Management, and Virtualization

Open-E continues its tradition of relentless innovation with the release of Open-E JovianDSS Up32 Version. Building on the foundation of previous updates, the new version delivers a powerful combination of next-generation performance enhancements, streamlined management features, and deeper integration with virtualized environments. This update is not just an incremental patch; it’s a significant evolution designed to meet the demanding needs of modern data centers.

This article provides a concise overview of the most significant enhancements in Open-E JovianDSS Up32, underscoring the three key highlights and summarizing the other valuable new features and updates that enhance this impressive release.

The Main Highlights of Open-E JovianDSS Up 32

1. NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF) Initiator with Multipath I/O

The headline feature of Open-E JovianDSS Up32 is the introduction of an NVMe-oF Initiator with Multipath I/O functionality. This is a massive step forward for high-performance storage environments.

• What it is: NVMe-oF allows you to connect to and access NVMe-based storage arrays over TCP i RoCE (RDMA) with performance that rivals direct-attached storage. By adding Multipath I/O, Open-E JovianDSS can now establish multiple, redundant connections to that storage.
• Why it matters: This combination delivers two critical benefits:
  • Extreme Performance: Load is balanced across multiple paths, dramatically increasing throughput and reducing latency for the most demanding applications.
  • High Availability: If one connection path fails, traffic is automatically and seamlessly rerouted through another, ensuring uninterrupted access to data and eliminating single points of failure.

This feature transforms Open-E JovianDSS into a powerhouse for building hyper-converged solutions and high-performance clusters, enabling organizations to leverage the full speed of NVMe technology across their entire infrastructure.

2. Partition Labeling for NVMe Drives

Simplicity and effective management are at the heart of this feature. While JovianDSS has previously allowed partitioning a single NVMe drive for multiple purposes, the Up32 version introduces partition labeling.

• What it is: You can now assign custom names or labels to the partitions you create on an NVMe drive.
• Why it matters: In a complex setup, a single, high-speed NVMe drive might be partitioned to serve as a write log (SLOG), a read cache (L2ARC), or a ZFS Special Device for metadata. Instead of managing cryptic partition identifiers (like nvme0n1p1, nvme0n1p2), an administrator can now see clearly labeled partitions like slog_partition, l2arc_cache, or metadata_special. This change dramatically simplifies administration, reduces the chance of human error, and makes managing your storage tiers more intuitive.

3. VMware VAAI Support for NFS Protocol

For the vast majority of Open-E customers running VMware, this is a long-awaited enhancement. Open-E JovianDSS Up32 version introduces full VMware vSphere Storage APIs for Array Integration (VAAI) support for the NFS protocol.

• What it is: VAAI is a technology that offloads data storage-intensive tasks from the VMware ESXi host directly to the data storage array (in this case, Open-E JovianDSS).
• Why it matters: Previously, many of these benefits were limited to block-storage protocols like iSCSI or Fibre Channel. Now, NFS datastores are also supported. This means that operations such as cloning virtual machines, deploying from templates, and zeroing out new virtual disks are handled by Open-E JovianDSS itself. The result is a significant reduction in CPU and network load on your VMware hosts, leading to:
  • Faster VM provisioning and deployment.
  • Improved overall performance for your virtualized environment.
  • Higher VM density per host.

This update solidifies Open-E JovianDSS as a top-tier data storage solution for any VMware-based infrastructure, offering both powerful features and exceptional efficiency.

Other New Features and System Updates

Beyond the three main highlights, Open-E JovianDSS Up32 includes several other new capabilities and a massive refresh of underlying drivers and components.

Additional New Features:

• Storage Pool Initialization: A new feature that automatically creates the logical data structure on selected disks, preparing them to function as a unified ZFS data storage space. It streamlines the setup and creation of data storage pools.
• Power Button Settings: Configure the system’s power button behavior directly from the console tools (in Console Tools -> Add-ons).
• Configurable TRIM Support: Enhanced TRIM support for thick-provisioned ZFS volumes (zvols) to improve SSD performance and longevity.
• RDMA Network Statistics: The WebGUI now displays network statistics for bonded RDMA interfaces, providing better visibility into your high-speed network performance.
• Support License Information: Your support license details are now conveniently displayed in the WebGUI.

Core System and Driver Updates:

The foundation of Open-E JovianDSS has been significantly strengthened with updates to the Linux kernel and a comprehensive list of drivers, ensuring broader hardware compatibility, improved stability, and enhanced performance.

• Linux Kernel: Updated to version 5.15.179.
• Network Controller Drivers: Major updates for Intel (100GbE, 40GbE, 25GbE, 10GbE, 1GbE), Broadcom, and Chelsio controllers.
• Storage Adapter Drivers: Extensive updates for Broadcom (HBA and MegaRAID), ATTO (ExpressSAS and Celerity FC), and Microsemi Adaptec (SmartHBA and SmartRAID) adapters.
• Updated Tools: The Mellanox firmware tool (mft), Microsemi Adaptec MaxView, and the Open-iSCSI Initiator have all been updated to newer versions.

Conclusion

Open-E JovianDSS Up32 is a comprehensive and impactful release. The introduction of NVMe over Fabric (NVMe-oF) Initiator with multipathing, VAAI for NFS, and intuitive NVMe partition labeling accelerates performance, virtualization efficiency, and simplified management. Complemented by a host of other new features and widespread driver updates, Up32 version solidifies Open-E JovianDSS as a forward-looking, robust, and highly-capable platform for any enterprise data storage environment.

For more information, see the Open-E JovianDSS Up32 release notes.