RE: [MLUG] Distributed Network Storage

["Bill Anderson" <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

I found exactly what I want; the Z-Force File Switch
(http://www.z-force.com/) But it is a commercial product.

Does anyone know of any open source project along the lines on this "network
switch?"

Most of the other open source distributed network storage projects require
software running on the storage provider. Most NAS appliances cannot run any
additional software, making these solutions unusable for NAS.

-----Original Message-----
From: EMAIL:PROTECTED
[mailto:EMAIL:PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Anderson, Bill
Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2003 1:51 PM
To: EMAIL:PROTECTED
Subject: [MLUG] Distributed Network Storage

Here is a question that may inject a little bit of life into this list and
MLUG.

I am looking for a solution that will pool the storage resources of SAS,
NAS, etc in order to use the available space more efficiently. Instead of
having small chunks of free space on various devices, the free space on all
of the participating devices could be combined across Ethernet, creating a
much larger chunk of space, at a much lower price than a full-blown SAN. The
price should be much lower because you could pool the resources you already
have.

Here is an idea of what I am looking for:

Storage --+
          |
Storage --+--> Pooling System --> Clients
          |
Storage --+

The Global File System (GFS) was the most promising solution I have found so
far, but it is no longer GPL.

LVM was another possible solution, but it seems to only pool physical
storage devices on one machine.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Bill Anderson
Network Design/Administration
MO Dept of Economic Development
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