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Introduction 25
System Components
The PowerVault NX3500 system consists of:
• Hardware
– NAS controller pair
– MD PowerVault storage
– Backup power supply
•Network
– SAN network
– Internal network
– LAN or client network
NAS Controller Pair
The PowerVault NX3500 clustered NAS solution consists of two NAS
controllers configured as a pair. This redundant configuration ensures that
there is no single point of failure. The controllers handle load balancing of
client connections, manage read-write operations, perform caching, and
interface with servers and workstations. The cluster and its internal networks
are consolidated using a virtual IP.
The PowerVault NX3500 software is installed on both controllers. The
software is a complete package, consisting of an operating system, volume
management, distributed file system, and clustering technology.
Read-write operations are handled through mirrored non-volatile RAM
(NVRAM). Mirroring the cache data between the paired NAS controllers,
ensures a quick response to clients' requests, while maintaining complete data
integrity. Data from the cache to permanent storage is transferred
asynchronously through optimized data-placement schemes.
Each controller is equipped with a 12 GB RAM, most of which is used for
caching. The file system uses the cache efficiently to provide fast and reliable
writes and reads. Writing or modifying files occurs first in the cache. Data is
then mirrored to the peer controller’s cache. This feature ensures that all
transactions are duplicated and secured.