IBM SONAS Software V1.5.1

IBM Scale Out NAS (SONAS) Software V1.5.1 delivers the following enhancements:

Significant performance and security advancements for Unix and Windows via NFSv4 and SMB 2.1
Active Cloud Engine support for multiple writer manipulation of the same directories or files at the same time while the application manages data integrity
A SFU server for ID mapping for asynchronous replication or remote cahcing environments is no longer needed
Protection against accidental deletion, alteration, or appending of a file

SONAS Software is a scale-out NAS software system designed to manage vast repositories of information in enterprise environments requiring large capacities, high levels of performance, and HA. SONAS supports multiple petabytes of storage and up to four billion files in a single file system, with up to 256 file systems per system. Data access to the system from client computers is provided using industry standard network file protocols.

In addition, SONAS supports features and functions, including:

Snapshots
Quotas (user, group, and fileset level)
Integration with user directory servers, such as Microsoft Active Directory (AD) and Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)
Command-line interface and browser-based GUI
Call Home and Remote Support capabilities
Integrated Tivoli Storage Manager backup client
Fast backups through Network Data Management Protocol (NDMP) Version 4 and multiple stream support
Antivirus scanning capability for files accessed through the CIFS network file protocol
Policy-based Information Lifecycle Management for policy-driven file placement and movement across different tiers of storage
Policy-based HSM for the capability to migrate files out of the file systems to an external Tivoli Storage Manager server and transparently recall them when accessed by clients and applications

SONAS V1.5.1 adds the following capabilities:

Active cloud Engine multiwriter to enable greater collaboration among geographically dispersed teams
Deterministic ID mapping to eliminate the need for an external SFU server to map IDs in asynchronous replication or remote caching environments
Basic immutability support to protect against modification of files via RPQ
NFSv4 network file protocol to provide improved client authentication, network management, and ACL support
SMB 2.1 network file protocol to enable more efficient use of 10GB Ethernet bandwidth
User default quotas to reduce user quota management efforts
V7000 Generation 2 storage support
ACL file system support to enable management from the CLI and GUI
Directory integration support to enhance the CLI and GUI user experience

Key prerequisites
SONAS Software requires one SONAS Interface Node (2851-SI1 or 2851-SI2) or Storage Node (2851-SS1 or 2851-SS2). Each node in a SONAS system requires one license of the software (5639-SN1) to function.

Planned availability date:

December 5, 2014: Shipping of new SONAS Software orders
December 12, 2014: Shipping of physical media