Sun Storage & Archive Solution for HPC

Core Data Management Modules Control Overall Operation

The Core Data Management Modules operate the overall environment and provide policy-based data movement and management. These modules also manage data loading into the environment, provide access to HPC user home directories, and connect the deployed storage modules. As needs evolve, performance can be scaled by adding more Core Data Management Modules.

Storage Access Modules Provide Greater Connectivity

The optional Storage Access Modules can be deployed to achieve higher levels of I/O performance to the HPC cluster. You can start with the Storage Access Modules, deploy them later or add more as your performance needs grow.

Online Storage Modules Offer High Performance Storage

The Online Storage Modules provide high-performance, reliable storage for user home directories, metadata related to the environment and, in small or medium-sized configurations, cluster working or scratch space. You can scale both performance and capacity by deploying additional Online Storage Modules.

Disk Archive Modules Deliver High-Density, Low-Cost Capacity

The Disk Archive Modules provide low-cost, high-density capacity for storing large data volumes that require regular access but are not under heavy usage. The Core Data Management Module moves data from the Online Storage Modules to the Disk Archive Modules, freeing up higher-performing space and more efficiently managing your storage resources. You can add additional Disk Archive Modules to scale capacity or archiving bandwidth. These modules are optional, in some cases you may prefer to archive directly to tape.

Tape Archive Modules Provide Lowest Cost Eco-Friendly Storage

The Tape Archive Modules provide the same functions as the Disk Archive Modules, but at the lowest possible cost and power consumption for stored data. The Tape Archive Modules are contained within the same name space as the Online Storage Modules and Disk Archive Modules, ensuring seamless data access regardless of media type.

Unlike traditional tape backup, with Sun StorageTek Storage Archive Manager software, files that are moved to tape archive are still visible and accessible to users without requiring a backup operator to initiate a restore operation from tape. You can also configure the software to create additional copies of data as part of your data-protection strategy.

Scalable Storage Cluster Delivers High Cluster I/O Bandwidth

For environments that require very high cluster I/O bandwidth, the Sun Storage Cluster is deployed to provide the utmost in I/O performance. Optimized to deliver very high data rates, the Sun Storage Cluster provides the cluster working or scratch space. You can easily scale performance and capacity by adding more Sun Fire X4540 servers to the configuration.

Policy-Based Management Maximizes Your ROI

StorageTek Storage Archive Manager software lets you set data management policies automatically, based on your users' storage and access requirements. By controlling the location of project data, and storing data on the media type most appropriate to the HPC project's lifecycle, Storage Archive Manager software helps maximize the return on your investments.