What's Open-E and why choose Open-E?

What is Open-E DSSv7? 
The Open-E Data Storage Software V7 (DSS V7) is a unified file and block storage management operating system (OS) that provides Network Attached Storage (NAS), iSCSI, InfiniBand and Fibre Channel Storage Area Network (SAN) functionality.

Open-E DSS V7 provides superior performance, security, and scalability at a fraction of the cost of alternative storage offerings. Advanced features of Open-E DSS V7 include Data and Volume Replication, Volume Snapshot, Automatic Failover for iSCSI Volumes, WORM and NDMP. Additionally, Open-E DSS V7supports a wide variety of hardware RAID platforms from the industry's leading names. The versatility of the Open-E DSS V7 also allows users to combine NAS systems with iSCSI SAN systems, and provides built-in virus protection, while enabling the connection of multiple Network Interface Controllers, including Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel and InfiniBand. Open-E DSS V7 is easily downloaded to any hardware device for simplified access.
 
GUI ADMINISTRATION
Powerful and Intuitive Web-based User InterfaceThe web-based Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the Open-E Data Storage Software V7 (DSS V7) software makes remote management of the storage device a simple task. By using a web-browser, the DSS can be easily managed from anywhere within the network.

Secured Administration AccessOpen-E DSS V7 is accessed and configured through a web-based, password-protected GUI over Secured Socket Layer (SSL) administration access.

Console ToolOpen-E DSS V7 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.

Remote Access of Console ToolThe Open-E DSS V7 supports remote access of the console tool enabling management of the server from anywhere in the network.

Tuning ToolsThe performance of the DSS V7 server can be increased by changing the settings of disk, network, file system or network using “Tuning Tools“.

Multiple Management LevelsThe Open-E DSS V7 supports three levels of administrative rights: Full Access, Maintenance and Administration.

Update System (Local or Internet)Update downtime is reduced with the new Update System feature making it possible to reboot from the old system.
 
NETWORK MANAGEMENT
Standard Network Gateway SupportThe Open-E DSS V7 can be used with structured networks in business environments and has an optional data access via Intranet or Internet.

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

Multiple Network Interface Card (NIC) SupportThe Open-E DSS V7 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 Data Storage Server V7 supports 10 GbE to increase bandwidth, improve overall performance, and reduce message latency across connections. The Open-E DSS V7 supports some 10GbE cards with TCP/IP.

InfiniBand SupportOpen-E supports InfiniBand cards that increase bandwidth, improved overall performance, and reduced message latency across connections.

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

IP-SecThe Open-E DSS V7 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
Automatic Failover for iSCSI VolumesOpen-E DSS V7 provides fault tolerance via iSCSI Volume Replication. Data is copied in real time to the primary server and every change is immediately mirrored to a secondary server and in the event of a failure of the primary server Open-E DSS V7 automatically switches operations to the secondary server.

New & Improved! Volume ReplicationDSS V7 provides both Synchronous and Asynchronous Volume Replication. Asynchronous Volume Replication is also supported over a WAN with both pair to pair support and multiple sources support.

Cross Data SynchronizationOpen-E DSS V7 synchronizes 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. DSS V7 can synchronize data in both directions: the DSS V7 can be the source and destination of files at the same time, allowing to cross-backup data on several servers.

New & Improved! SCSI-3 Persistent ReservationSupport for persistent reservation commands. This enables support for Windows 2008 and Windows Cluster.

New & Improved! Sys checkEnables you to check the performance of your system.

Hardware and Software iSCSI InitiatorOpen-E DSS V7 supports hardware iSCSI Initiators and has a software iSCSI Initiator for easily expanding the storage capacity of the NAS server. New units and logical volumes can be added by connecting an iSCSI storage system to the NAS server.

Hardware and Software Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) SupportThe Open-E DSS V7 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 DSS V7 offers highest flexibility in redundancy, performance, costs and storage volume.

Software RAID Degraded ModeThe DSS V7 software boasts a means for creating a RAID when a Hard Disk Drives (HDD) is missing or broken.

E-mail Notification for RAID IssuesEmail alerts are sent to the system administrator in case of issues with the RAID through the DSS software.

Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) SupportThe DSS V7 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 DSS V7 software.

Multiple Fiber Channel HBA SupportFor higher bandwidth, better latency and performance, the Open-E DSS V7 version supports Fiber Channel HBA's from Emulex, Qlogic and LSI. Fiber Channel is the standard connection type for connecting high speed storage devices to computers in Storage Area Networks (SAN).

Support for over 2TB Physical and Logical Volumes (LV)The Open-E DSS V7 supports logical volumes greater than 2TB and a physical size of up to 16TB in 32bit mode.

SnapshotSnapshot 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 FunctionThe Open-E DSS V7 supports Multiple Snapshot with Scheduling to create snapshots at predefined points in time (e.g. automatically every hour).

Multiple Logical Volume & GroupsLogical volume groups allow storage administrators to create logical storage pools that span multiple physical disk drives. With its support of multiple logical volume groups, the Open-E DSS V7 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 ExpansionOnline logical volume expansion allows administrators to change the size of storage volumes as needed without having to restart the application, recreate the volume, and backup and restore data to the volume.

Support for Online Capacity ExpansionA hardware RAID controllers expansion capability supports the increase of size of existing units without removing data.
 
MONITORING
Hardware MonitoringOpen-E DSS V7 monitors hardware status such as temperature, voltage and fan speed provided by the motherboard's sensors.

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) (v2 & v3)The DSS V7 uses SNMP for monitoring data throughput, Central Processing Unit (CPU) and Random Access Memory (RAM) usage to name a few.

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

Log FunctionThe Open-E log file is an effective instrument in analyzing and solving technical issues.
 
HARDWARE SUPPORT
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) SupportA 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 SupportThe DSS V7 is capable of using the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) interface for communication with other SNMP-enabled servers (e.g. Open-E DSS) 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 NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE (NAS) FUNCTIONALITY
Windows Active Directory / Primary Domain Controller SupportOpen-E DSS V7 supports Windows Active Directory (AD), Primary Domain Controller (PDC), Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) and AD & NIS User-/Group ID synchronization to leverage information about users, groups, systems and other resources stored in the Active Directory. The support of Access Control List (ACL) ensures that access rights of users are automatically taken over from the Domain.

Support for Network Information Service (NIS)The Open-E DSS V7 supports NIS for easier and consistent access of information stored on any other data storage server using NIS directory service protocol by enabling distribution of system configuration data such as user and host names between computers on a computer network.

File System with Journaling SupportJournaling support makes the file system more reliable and allows easier, faster recovery from unexpected shutdowns.

User and Group Quota ControlAdministrators can control users with large disk requirements by assigning a dedicated share or by restricting their individual usage through individual user quotas or to assign a quota to a group to which the user belongs.

Antivirus (server's shares scanning)Open-E DSS V7 has an integrated Antivirus software tool for scanning shares on viruses at predefined points in time. The Virus Definition Database can be updated and is stored on the NAS device.

Antivirus (online scanning)The Data Storage Software V7 also supports online scanning of files transferred via the SMB and FTP protocol.

USB Storage Support for Dynamic DiskUSB Units connected to DSS V7 can be used as a Dynamic Units – which can be easily used for local backups.

Backup-Agents (Veritas, EMC Dantz, CA BrightStor) SupportOpen-E DSS V7 backup agents help administrators to backup and protect data on NAS servers with backup software from Veritas, Dantz, or CA BrightStor ARCserve thus improving data transfer, network security and real-time directory browsing, monitoring tasks and supporting cross-platform backup support.

Supported Network Clients and Network File ProtocolOpen-E DSS V7 supports the file based protocols CIFS (Common Internet File System)/SMB, NFS (Network File System), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), FTPS and Apple Talk enabling Windows, Linux, Unix and Macintosh clients to share data on the same server.

External Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)The Open-E DSS V7 supports external LDAP enabling administrators to configure and manage multiple DSS V7 systems from one single point (either an Open-E software with a LDAP database or any other LDAP server).
 
SPECIFIC iSCSI FUNCTIONALITY
Multiple Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocols (CHAP) per TargetIn Open-E DSS V7, 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 SupportThe Open-E DSS V7 allows set multiple connections to one target increasing performance and reliability.
 
BACKUP FUNCTIONALIY
Task Mechanism with SchedulingManagement of all the tasks is much easier and convenient using the unified task mechanism with scheduling for data and volume replication, backup and snapshot. Tasks are scheduled as to when to activate and may have many schedules.

Virtual TapesConfigure tape drive emulation on share or Dynamic Volume (e.g. dynamically attached hard drive) backup for tape drives is the same as backup on virtual tapes.

WormWorm provides Write Once Read Many functionality for data archiving.

NDMP 4.0Network Data Management Protocol defines a network-based mechanism and protocol for controlling backup, recovery, and other data transfers between primary and secondary storage devices.

Tape Library SupportAutomate backups with use of tape drive libraries.

Internal DatabaseMaintain all backup files including backup history.

Tape Retention TimeSet schedule for tapes to be rewritten for new backup.
 
OTHER
SWAP SupportSWAP is used to store memory areas on hard drives instead of Random Access Memory (RAM). The DSS 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 SupportOpen-E DSS V7 supports single, dual, multiple or pyramid LCD display configuration.

One License per Storage DeviceRegardless of the number of users connected to the storage device, Open-E license schema is a one license per DSS V7 and is priced accordingly. Whether you have 5, 500, 15,000 or more, you only pay one price for one Data Storage Software V7 License.

Superuser FunctionA "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 UnitsThrough the DSS V7, a local HDD or a USB drive can be defined as a Dynamic Unit and acts like a normal tape drive which can backup the NAS server and be removed without shutting down the server.

Cross Data SynchronizationOpen-E DSS V7 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. DSS V7 can synchronize data in both directions: the DSS V7 can be the source and destination of files at the same time, allowing to cross-backup data on several servers.

Target Password SupportOpen-E DSS V7 allows set up 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).