File system overview

The storage component uses a file system to extend the function of the storage component to all informational and operational members in the cluster. The use of a file system across all nodes that are running operational and informational members ensures that all of these nodes have access to the same set of payloads.

You can set up a file system that storage components on different nodes can all access by using one of the following file systems. For more information about each file system, including tuning information, see the vendor documentation for each file system.

Set up your file system before you install B2B Advanced Communications.

  • Common Internet File System (CIFS)

    A shared file system that is supported only on Windows 2008. CIFS is an open source version of the Server Message Block Protocol developed by Microsoft.

  • General Parallel File System (GPFS™)

    An IBM® clustered file system that is supported on both Windows 2008 and Linux.

  • Network File System (NFS)

    A shared file system that is supported on both Windows 2008 (NFS 3 only) and Linux. The open source NFS is the standard file system for Linux and UNIX.

    NFS version 4 is the default version. However, support for NFS version 4 on Windows will be evaluated for usage by B2B Advanced Communications when Microsoft introduces support for NFS version 4 to the Windows platform.

Your choice of file system depends on different factors, including the following factors:

  • Operating system (Windows 2008, SuSE Linux, or Red Hat Linux)
  • Type of file system
    • Shared - Multiple client machines share access to a single server, which in turn has sole access to the storage medium.
    • Clustered - Multiple servers with common or separate storage media provide what looks like a single logical file system to a group of client machines.

Use the following guidelines when you decide which file system to use:

  • Avoid using a local file system for the base file path directory that you use for storage blobs. A local file system can be accessed only by processes that are running on the server that hosts that file system. Using a local file system would negate the distributed and high availability features of B2B Advanced Communications because each local file system can be accessed by only one server.

    However, you can use a local file system for the divulge directory that is outside of the control of B2B Advanced Communications.

  • A clustered file system is preferable to a shared file system because of the performance advantages of the clustered file system. GPFS is a clustered file system that is developed and supported by IBM.
  • Set up your file system before you install B2B Advanced Communications.