Date: 25-Nov-2009   URL: www.sun.com/servers/hpc/storagecluster/offerings.jsp
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Sun Lustre Storage System

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Simplifying and Accelerating Lustre Deployments

Sun Lustre Storage System Architecture

The Sun Lustre Storage System simplifies the process of architecting a configuration for your Lustre needs. All configurations include: A high-availability Lustre Metadata Server or HA MDS module—which manages and stores metadata, such as filenames, directories, permissions and file layout. Configurations also require one or more Lustre Object Storage Server modules (OSS), which provide scalable I/O performance and storage capacity. For maximum flexibility, the architecture defines two OSS modules: a Standard OSS Module for greatest density and economy, or an HA OSS module that provides failover for environments where automated recovery is important if there is a hardware failure.

Selecting the number of these modules to deploy is simply a function of the capacity and performance required. For the quickest on-site implementation time, the Sun Lustre Storage System can be integrated at the factory, or for greater customization, it can also be assembled at your location. Choose one of these modules with the right configuration to solve your business needs.

HA MDS Module

  • The HA MDS module manages and stores metadata, such as filenames, directories, permissions and file layout
  • By separating metadata from application data, the Lustre file system is able to accelerate I/O operations
  • The HA MDS module actually consists of two Sun Fire servers configured in an active-passive pairing with shared access to storage for metadata defined by the Lustre architecture
  • Includes:
    • Dual Sun Fire X4270 servers, SAS storage connections and either IB QDR or 10GbE connections
    • Sun Storage J4200 Array with 12 15K rpm SAS drives configured in RAID 0+1 for best performance for metadata transactions

Standard OSS Module

  • The Standard OSS module combines the server and storage in a single unit for improved simplicity, density and economy
  • Performs the same functions as described under HA OSS module
  • Standard OSS module includes:
    • Sun Fire X4540 server with either IB DDR or 10GbE connections and 48 1 TB SATA II drives configured in RAID 6 for user data

HA OSS Module

  • The OSS modules store application data and communicate directly to clients via LNET, a high performance, reliable data transfer protocol provided by Lustre
  • Two or more OSS modules are usually deployed and Lustre stripes data across the OSS, resulting in higher aggregate bandwidth
  • Performance scaling is near linear with the addition of OSS modules to a configuration. The HA OSS module includes dual servers configured to provide failover in the event of a hardware failure
  • HA OSS module includes:
    • Dual Sun Fire X4270 servers, SAS storage connections and either IB QDR or 10GbE connections
    • Four Sun Storage J4400 Arrays, each with redundant power and cooling, 24 high-density SATA II drives configured in RAID 6

Software

  • Sun Lustre Storage System runs an integrated software stack that includes Linux, Lustre, OFED
  • The clients, HA MDS module and OSS modules are required to run the same version of Lustre to ensure proper operation
 
 
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