Snap servers

[Don Bentz]

I realize this may be blasphemous, but does anybody have any input on the possibility of using a Snap server connected directly to an HP 9000 (like a K260 for example). This might be used for user filesystems or incidental storage.

[Tim Malnati]

I'm curious to find out what you mean by a 'snap server'. I'm familiar with snap drives/file systems, typically used for backups, etc. But I get the impression that you are discussing something a bit different.

[yc_2]

Hi,

If you are talking about using quantum snap server, it should be running nfs services as an network attached storage device purpose.


YC

[Don Bentz]

Tim -
Snap server. As in snapappliances.com, a site that markets network storage devices. I'm not really a networking guy, but this seems to be common in networked environments.

[Tim Malnati · Accepted solution]

After a quick look there are several issues that cause concern:

Backup - network only. This may or may not be an issue depending on your network bandwidth availabilty.

Security - does NOT support unix standard permissions and appears to be weak from the MS NT/2000 side as well.

Administration - claims to be simple, but like anything else requires at least some level of training for all involved.

Performance - NFS is relatively slow compared to local storage and requires additional resources on the local machine. I could find no mention of a defragmentation utility, so performance would probably degrade over time.

So with all this said, I do see some possibilities where a snap server could be beneficial. For instance, if you have some remote outpost that isn't large enough to justify a server, but you need to reduce the wan impact of centrally served files.

[Michael Lampi]

There are alternatives to Snap servers, too, that address some of the CIFS and NFS issues, and might also address the backup issues over the net.

These include the Connex N3xxx systems, FileZerver, TriadServer and others.

Some of these support local tape drives, NDMP for remote controlled local tape backup, etc., as well as multiple NICs, multiple SCSI or fibre channel buses, whatever.