[ubuntu-za] What NAS device(s) do you use? And why?

[Michael]

On 13 December 2010 12:22, Rudi Ahlers <Rudi at softdux.com> wrote:
> On Mon, Dec 13, 2010 at 8:18 AM, Lee Sharp <leesharp at hal-pc.org> wrote:
>> On 12/13/2010 12:45 AM, Andre Rossouw wrote:
>>>> Fiber attached and SAS is a lot of money for little benefit. SATA is
>>>> very fast, and very cheap.  For the cost savings you can buy two
>>>> boxes,
>>>> and have a logical mirror.
>>>
>>> Well - yes and no. It really does all depend on what you're putting on
>>> those disks, and how quickly your application need to get to it. If you
>>> are using a web-based application, or small db's, or need lots of
>>> storage that seldom gets touched - then I agree, SATA is the way. If,
>>> however, you are working with a relational db 1TB+,  with all the logs
>>> and hundreds of users hitting the application servers throughout the
>>> business day ... then I totally disagree. Fibre and SAS is well worth
>>> the money.
>>
>> Frankly, in that case I would build an array with SATA solid state
>> drives, or a giant RAM disk with lazy writes to an array.  Generally,
>> the attachment point is not the bottle neck, it is the spinning
>> platters.  Especially with SATA 3.
>>
>>                        Lee
>>
>> --
>
>
> Thanx for all the replies to far, it's been very helpful and I
> gathered a lot of info.
>
>
> Right now I'm still researching, but my goals as as follows:
>
> 1. For a (possible new) client who needs to archive CCTV footage in a
> security company for an NPO. I need the cheapest possible way of doing
> this, while still being able to grow the storage within one host. The
> PVR can only access one single NAS (via FTP) so I need to keep it
> simple. Their budget is obviously limited so I need to keep it costly.
>
> 2. To change our backup strategy. Currently we backup all our client's
> data (websites, email, databases) to multiple backup servers (at no
> extra cost to the client) and simply purchase new 2U servers with 8
> drive bays, slap in the largest SATA HDD's at the time, install
> CentOS, setup RAID10 and use SSH / SFTP / RSYNC for backups. This
> whole setup gets mirrored since one copy of a file on RAID hardware
> isn't a backup. So, for every hosting package we sell, we need to
> budget for 3x the storage (on the web server & 2x backup servers) and
> need to keep costs down on this one. The problem comes with client's
> who suddenly grow their storage needs and that particular server may
> not handle the date, then we need to move the client's data to a new
> server and tell him to use a new host, or configure his software with
> the new hostname. It would be nice to combine these servers in one
> large array and everyone just connects to one host.
>
> 3. I would like to move our virtual machines to central storage and
> try and achieve higher uptime. I honestly can't afford a NetApp or EMC
> for this, just to see if it works. Achieving high availability doesn't
> just happen cause you have a nice expensive device. You also need to
> prove, over a long period of time (without making a profit on it yet)
> that it actually works well.
>
>
>
> Ideally, I would like to stick to one solution / brand / vendor for
> all these scenarios.
>
> I don't like vendor lock-ins
> I don't like solutions with factory fitted HDD's - if I need to
> swap-out failed drives with spares that we already have, I want to. I
> don't want to wait hours-at-end for a support tech to bring a
> replacement HDD module.
> I also don't like spending cash on high market hype. Sure, if a
> product is good, it's good. But too many vendors / retailers /
> suppliers hike up the prices due to market hype.
>
> For now I think I'll stick to using bare-bone SuperMicro servers, and
> then look at using something like Lustre / Gluster / Nexenta /
> We use OpenFiler on a few of our current "NAS" servers, but it's
> outdated and doesn't scale well so I need something new.
> --
> Kind Regards
> Rudi Ahlers
> SoftDux
>
> Website: http://www.SoftDux.com
> Technical Blog: http://Blog.SoftDux.com
> Office: 087 805 9573
> Cell: 082 554 7532
>
> --
> ubuntu-za mailing list
> ubuntu-za at lists.ubuntu.com
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-za
>
  Hi

  Reply from the protocase guys who build the BackBlaze cases :

Hello Michael

Thank you for enquiring about the 4u rackmount enclosure for the
“Backblaze 67 Terabyte Storage Pod”, as published on Backblaze's blog
at http://blog.backblaze.com/2009/09/01/petabytes-on-a-budget-how-to-build-cheap-cloud-storage/
. We are pleased that BackBlaze has chosen us to build this enclosure
for them, and also allowed us to offer this as a product to those who
wish to build storage pods. I am pleased to provide the general
quotation and ordering information below. Should you have any
additional questions please email or call (my coordinates are at the
bottom of this email).

Product: Standard Backblaze Storage Pod Enclosure, as detailed in the
solidworks CAD drawings published by BackBlaze at
https://www.backblaze.com/files/backblaze-storage-pod-3d-design.zip,
color: Fire red (smooth semi gloss), Standard BackBlaze cutout Logo,
rails included

Price:

Quantity       Price
1 - 4             $872
5 - 9             $812
10 - 19         $782
20+             $758

Minor Customizations are available for the following additional cost:
* Custom Color from Protocase powdercoat color list (to view, go to
http://www.protocase.com/products/mcf.php#, choose 'powdercoat' from
left menu): flat setup charge of $135 per order.
* Fully custom colors: contact us
* custom silkscreening, customer-supplied artwork: $40 setup fee, plus
screen production fee of $30 per color per side

As we are a fully custom enclosure manufacturer, we can accommodate
any further customization that you may require, and will quote on a
custom basis. Please contact me should you wish to explore this
option.

Ordering Information:
* Lead Time: ship in 2-3 days (may be increased for larger quantities
or further customization)
* Shipping and applicable taxes are extra. If you would like a
shipping quote as well, please supply a valid courier delivery address
including phone number. Our default shipping is DHL Air but we also
use UPS and FedEx.
* Prices in US dollars
* Terms: Credit Card for 1st order, net 30 terms available to repeat
customers on approved credit.

I also wanted to inform you that we have been getting many requests to
supply some of the harder to purchase components for the Backblaze Pod
Enclosures.

As a result of these numerous requests we have decided to offer the
following components at an additional cost:

* Port Multiplier Backplanes [CFI-B53PM 5 Port Backplane SiI3726] (9
required per Backblaze pod, selling price $540.00 per set of 9)
* HD Anti-Vibration Sleeves [Aero Rubber Co. 3.0 x .500 inch EPDM
0.03” Wall] (45 required per Backplaze pod, selling price $45.00 per
set of 45)

All prices are in [USD]

The lead time for these items may range from ‘in stock, ship right
away’ to 10 days*.

Finally, note that we are offering these for your convenience only,
and we will be pleased to sell enclosure only should you choose to go
that route.

Please contact me by phone or email if you wish to place an order.

Sincerely,

Lisa
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Lisa Podgursky
Account Manager
Protocase, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------


R e g a r d s
M i c h a e l  L  G r i f f i n


Please consider the environment before printing this email

He who play in root,
           eventually kill tree.