HP StorageWorks Enterprise File Services WAN Accelerator 3.0.4 deployment guide (AG421-96001, March 2007)
96 9 - PROXY FILE SERVICE DEPLOYMENTS
PFS allows you to store copies of files on the HP EFS WAN Accelerator with Windows
file access, creating several options for transmitting data between remote offices and
centralized locations with improved performance. Data is configured into file shares
and the shares are periodically synchronized (updated) transparently in the
background, over the optimized connection of the HP EFS WAN Accelerator. PFS
leverages the integrated disk capacity of the HP EFS WAN Accelerator to store file-
based data in a format that allows it to be retrieved by Network Attached Storage
(NAS) clients.
PFS provides:
LAN access to data residing across the WAN. File access performance is
improved between central and remote locations. PFS creates an integrated file
server, enabling clients to access data directly from the proxy file on the LAN as
opposed to the WAN. Transparently in the background, data on the proxy filer is
synchronized with data from the origin file server over the WAN.
Continuous access to files in the event of WAN disruption. PFS provides
support for disconnected operations. In the event of a network disruption that
prevents access over the WAN to the origin server, files can still be accessed on
the local HP EFS WAN Accelerator.
Simple Branch Infrastructure and Backup Architectures. PFS consolidates
file servers and local tape backup from the branch into the data center. PFS
enables a reduction in number and size of backup windows running in complex
backup architectures.
Upgrading from
V2.x to V3.x
PFS shares are not upgraded when you upgrade HP EFS WAN Accelerator software.
When you upgrade HP EFS WAN Accelerator software from v2.x to v3.x, your
existing PFS shares continue to run as v2.x shares.
If you have legacy shares (that is, shares created with Version 2.x software), you must
upgrade your v2.x shares to v3.x shares in the Management Console.
IMPORTANT: HP recommends that you convert your v2.x shares to v3.x shares.
NOTE: If you choose not to convert your v2.x shares, you must install and start the HP EFS
RCU on the origin server or on a separate Windows host with write-access to the data utilized
by PFS. The HP EFS RCU is available for download from the HP Technical Support site located
at http://www.hp.com. For detailed information, see the HP Enterprise File Services Remote
Copy Utility Reference Manual.
In Version 3.0, you no longer need to install the HP EFS Remote Copy Utility (HP EFS
RCU) service on the server for synchronization purposes. All HP EFS RCU
functionality has been moved to the HP EFS WAN Accelerator.