Solaris

Hey All,

I had some minor questions regarding Sun's open storage
I understand it uses standard industry hardware (is the warranty void if we were to mix and match drives?)

I know it uses OpenSolaris for the storage features (but can it use any os?)

Does it have to be OpenSource? I watched the videos on sun.com and the panel were making it sound as if OpenSolaris only had the features to work with the FISH stack
but what I'm trying to grasp is what the difference between Solaris 10 and OpenSolaris when we're talking about open storage... Is this concept only supposed to be for opensource ?

I was also trying to grasp what is the difference between say a StorEdge3300 and the J4000 family?

In other words, what do these open storage solutions provide that storedge cannot?

I understand you don't need multiple servers and multiple storedge as you can run them as a virtualized environment on one of these servers (is that correct?)

I also read the 32 page pdf on that site, and they said open storage can be used to repurpose the storage? what does that mean exactly? can't a storEdge do that?

I'm just really interested in this, and I'm trying to understand what it actually is doing.. I was hoping one of fellow posters can maybe explain a bit more (as I lack some of the knowledge to fully understand what this is trying to do and why it's so amazing)

I do understand they are using flash (SSD-- in the more expensive models) and all 3 levels provide huge savings as we're not tied down to specific vendors.

but what other benefits does open storage provide?

Thanks for any informative posts!

one of the main features in opensolaris (beneath ZFS) is "comstar".

Hey Duke,

To use the functionality that the FISHworks stack provides is only available in OpenSolaris?

So instead of using a 3510, I could use a J4000 series array and install OpenSolaris and manage the storage using ZFS correct?

do these open storage units have FC? I was trying to find that but I only saw RJ45

---------- Post updated at 04:27 PM ---------- Previous update was at 04:20 PM ----------

So what's the difference there?

Let's say you got 4 boxes that need access to the data on a StorEdge

it's directly connected to 1, and the other 3 are mapping it through NFS

From the diagram from that link you provided,

You would have an open storage server (or is this an array?)

and then the initiator hosts can then access this openSolaris host which then provides access to the data

So what is the differences though? Is it the difference in performance? the SCSI commands are faster because they are running on the kernel level? (or am I getting totally confused here?)

fishworks comes only on openstorage platforms. so you can not use a jbod array and a server, install opensolaris & fishworks and have a openstorage array.
you can install fiber HBAs in a openstorage array and map targets to these devices with comstar. this also works on opensolaris. but fishworks is only on openstorage platforms (afaik!).
maybe it would be better to talk to a sun sales guy and a sales engineer.

no harm done duke I'm just a little curious...

Would you (or anyone for that matter! ) be able to explain what's so special about COMSTAR though?

From the sounds of it... it sounds like the way the SCSI commands are used are at the kernel level? --which means improved performance?

just read a little bit more here:
COMSTAR FAQs (Project comstar.FAQs) - XWiki

most of the benefits are explained on the project webpage...

Hey Duke

thanks man!

I'll check it out

I did some additional research on Open Storage and it sounds incredible!