This topic summarizes the major features of SAN File System.
SAN File System uses a data-access model that allows client systems to access data directly from storage systems using a high-bandwidth SAN, without interposing servers. Direct data access helps eliminate server bottlenecks and provides the performance necessary for data-intensive applications.
SAN File System presents a single, uniform, global namespace view of all files in the system to all of the clients, without manual, client-by-client configuration by the administrator. A file can be identified using the same path and file name, regardless of the client system from which it is being accessed. The global namespace shared directly by clients also reduces the requirement of data replication. As a result, the productivity of the administrator as well as the users accessing the data is improved.
All clients, regardless of operating system or hardware platform, have uniform access to the data stored (under the global namespace) in the system. File metadata, such as last modification time, are presented to users and applications in a form that is compatible with the native file system interface of the platform.
SAN File System is aimed at simplifying the storage-resource management and reducing the total cost of ownership by the policy-based automatic placement of files on appropriate storage devices. The storage administrator can define storage pools depending on specific application requirements and quality of services, and define rules based on data attributes to store the files at the appropriate storage devices automatically. SAN File System provides the storage administrator with policy-based data management that automates the management of storage resources and the data stored on those resources.
Parent topic: Overview of SAN File System