The Failover feature provides High Availability of data. In an iSCSI Failover setup of two servers, data is saved on both servers simultaneously. When one system fails, its processes and all resources are being relocated to and restarted on the second node. The Active-Passive setup allows having all volumes active on one node (the primary node), while the other node has all passive copies and takes over the tasks in case of an emergency (the secondary node). A load-balanced Active-Active Failover on the other hand, doesn’t have a primary or secondary node. It adds extra performance by enabling the user to decide which volumes are active on which node. The failover process is the same, but the servers are able to utilize their full network performance and eliminate the unnecessary cost of idle hardware.

iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface) is a type of protocol providing a proficient usage of disk space together with data safety and increased performance. A centralized storage management that uses iSCSI and RAID technologies enables a comfortable administration and reduced downtime in case of a hard drive failure. It enables building SAN (Storage Area Network) storage systems using SCSI disk arrays and Ethernet (TCP / IP). Its main advantage is the ability to create an iSCSI SAN with an extensive use of typical networking elements which facilitates system building and reduces its costs.

High Availability through Failover is crucial for many companies. Despite using high-quality hardware and superior connections, still any server can crash, leading to data loss. Providing High Availability can be tricky, but fortunately Open-E DSS V7 is able to work with a second node. It keeps data redundant and when aware of the original node’s failure, the redundant node continues serving clients; effectively replacing the missing node. This process is commonly known as Failover.

NAS (Network Attached Storage) is a storage technology that can simplify your work and improve the collaborative process in your company. Primarily, NAS is dedicated for file sharing – delivering necessary capabilities for storing and sharing data. Solutions based on NAS have been mostly used by small and medium enterprises (SME) needing reliable storage without protocol or connectivity restrictions.

Learn how Network Attached Storage can boost the productivity of your business. We are presenting some of the most important benefits of NAS that make it an ideal choice for your small business.