Rapid NFS and Rapid CIFS enable write operation acceleration on clients that use QoreStor replication and NFS or CIFS file system protocols. Similar to OST and RDS, these accelerators allow for better coordination and integration between QoreStor backup, restore, and optimized deduplication operations with Data Management Applications (DMAs) such as CommVault, EMC Networker, and Tivoli Storage Manager. For the current list of qualified DMAs, see the QoreStor Interoperability Guide.
Rapid NFS is a new client file system type that ensures that only unique data is written to QoreStor. It uses user space components and file system in user space (FUSE) to accomplish this. Metadata operations such as file creates and permission changes go through the standard NFS protocol, whereas write operations go through RDNFS.
Rapid CIFS is a Windows-certified filter driver that also ensures that only unique data is written to QoreStor.
All chunking and hash computations are done at the media or client server level.
Rapid NFS and Rapid CIFS require you to install a plug-in on the client or media server, depending on your DMA and configuration. For details, see "Configuring and Using Rapid NFS and Rapid CIFS".
Rapid Data Access (RDA) with NetVault and with vRanger provides the logical disk interface that can be used with network storage devices. QoreStor requires the NetVault Plug-in for Rapid Data Access to integrate its data storage operations with NetVault and vRanger. The plug-in is installed by default on the NetVault and vRanger servers and QoreStor when the latest software updates are installed. Using the Plug-in for Rapid Data Access, NetVault can take full advantage of key QoreStor and DR Series system features like data deduplication and managed replication.
When the Plug-in for Rapid Data Access is used with QoreStor, it offers the following benefits:
- RDA with NetVault and RDA with vRanger protocols provides faster and improved data transfers:
- Focus is on backups with minimal overhead
- Accommodates larger data transfer sizes
- Provides throughput that is better than CIFS or NFS
- RDA and data management application (DMA) integration:
- NetVault-to-media server software communication
- QoreStor storage capabilities can be used without extensive changes to NetVault or vRanger.
- Backup and replication operations are simplified by using built-in DMA policies
- RDA provides an immutability feature, which NetVault plans to support soon. For compatible versions, see the Quest QoreStor Interoperability Guide.
- QoreStor RDA ports and write operations:
- Control channel uses TCP port 10011
- Data channel uses TCP port 11000
- Optimized write operations enable client-side deduplication
- Replication operations between QoreStor systems:
- No configuration is required on the source or target QoreStor systems
- Replication is triggered and managed by the backup application
- QoreStor transfers the data file (not the media server)
- After duplication completes, QoreStor notifies the DMA to update its catalog (acknowledging the second backup). This makes the DMA aware of the replication location. Restores from either the source or replication target can be used directly from the DMA.
- Supports different retention policies between source and replica
- Replication is set up in the DMA itself, not QoreStor
OpenStorage Technology (OST), by Veritas, provides a logical disk interface for use with network storage devices. QoreStor can use OST via QoreStor plug-in software to integrate its data storage operations with NetBackup and Backup Exec.
RDA with OST allows for better coordination and tighter integration between QoreStor system backup, restore, and optimized duplication operations and data management applications (DMAs). For a list of the supported applications, see the QoreStor Interoperability Guide.
Integration is done via a RDA with OST plug-in developed for QoreStor, through which data management applications can control when the backup images are created, duplicated, and deleted. The major benefit of RDA with OST is that it allows the deduplication operations to happen on the client side so that network traffic can be reduced.
The RDA with OST plug-in allows data management applications to take full advantage of such QoreStor features as data deduplication, replication, and energy efficiency. QoreStor systems can access the OpenStorage API code through the plug-in, which can be installed on the media server platform choice you make (Windows or Linux). The OST protocol allows the supported backup applications to communicate directly with QoreStor and determine whether a specific chunk of data already exists on the system. This process means that if the data already exists, only the pointers need to be updated on QoreStor, and the duplicate chunk of data does not need to be transferred to the system. This process provides two benefits: it improves the overall backup speed, and also reduces the network load.
When RDA with OST is used with QoreStor, it offers the following benefits:
- OST protocol provides faster and improved data transfers:
- Focused on backups with minimal overhead
- Accommodates larger data transfer sizes
- Provides throughput that is significantly better than CIFS or NFS
- RDA with OST and DMA integration:
- OpenStorage API enables the DMA-to-media server software communications
- QoreStor storage capabilities can be used without extensive changes to DMAs
- Backup and replication operations are simplified by using built-in DMA policies
- QoreStor and RDA with OST:
- Control channel uses TCP port 10011
- Data channel uses TCP port 11000
- Optimized write operations enable client-side deduplication
To better coordinate and integrate OpenStorage Technology (OST) with QoreStor data storage operations, the following guidelines list the required components and supported operations. For details on the supported operating systems and data management application (DMA) versions, see the QoreStor Interoperability Guide.
QoreStor licensing is all-inclusive, so that no additional licensing is required to use OST or the optimized duplication capability. The OST plug-in that gets installed on a supported Linux or Windows media server platform is a free download. However, Veritas NetBackup requires that you purchase an OpenStorage Disk Option license. Similarly, Veritas Backup Exec requires that you purchase the Deduplication Option to enable the OST feature.
- OST Media Server Component:
- An OST server component resides on the QoreStor server.
- For Linux media server installations, use the Linux OST plug-in and the Red Hat Package Manager (RPM) installer
- For Windows media server installations, use the Windows OST plug-in and the Microsoft (MSI) installer
- Windows-based OST plug-in
- Linux-based 64-bit OST plug-in
- Supported OpenStorage (OST) protocol:
- Supported Veritas DMAs
- Supported OST operations
- Backup (Passthrough writes and Optimized writes)
- Restore
- Replication
- Auto Image Replication (AIR)
