When creating a fileset, you can statically assign the fileset to a specific metadata server or SAN File System can dynamically assign it to a metadata server for you. Filesets that are statically assigned are known as static filesets. Filesets that are dynamically assigned are known as dynamic filesets.
The assigned metadata server is then responsible for providing metadata and locks to clients when they request access to files that reside in that fileset. The fileset-to-metadata server assignment is automatically communicated between clients and metadata servers. The client transparently discovers which metadata server to use when accessing files in a fileset. Each metadata server should be assigned to manage one or more filesets. If a metadata server is not managing any filesets, it is considered to be in standby mode. You can have an idle, or nearly idle, metadata server available to provide failover, if desired.
You should create at least one fileset for each metadata server in the cluster. However, creating more filesets gives you greater flexibility in distributing filesets among metadata servers in order to maintain availability and to balance the workload.
You can reassign a fileset to another metadata server, for example, to balance the workload. While filesets are being reassigned, they are temporarily unavailable to clients. After the reassignment, the clients can continue transparently and automatically recognize the new metadata server hosting the fileset.
Parent topic: Filesets