User's Manual

hp StorageWorks File System Extender User Guide 11
1 Introducing HP StorageWorks File System Extender
This chapter includes the following topics:
• What is FSE?, page 11
• FSE basics, page 11
• FSE architecture, page 12
What is FSE?
HP StorageWorks File System Extender (FSE) is a mass storage oriented software product, based on
client-server technology. It has been designed and developed to support the archiving, backup, and online
access of data-intensive applications like SAP R/3, DMS, CAD/CAM, digital imaging, BackOffice, as well
as for applications in the audio, video and pre-print fields.
FSE provides large, virtually infinite storage space by combining disk storage and tape library storage with
high-capacity tape media and by implementing Hierarchical Storage Management (HSM). It enables
transparent and automated data archiving and retrieval, and efficiently stores and manages extremely
large quantities of data. FSE implementation can be used as an online storage site or as a backup server.
Its main benefits are easy data management with fast data access, economical data storage, and data
protection. Data archiving and retrieval can be automated and customized for each end user of the FSE
implementation by logically partitioning the system.
The efficiency of the FSE implementation is achieved with a storage capacity that consists of primary and
secondary storage space. These two types of storage space present a successful combination of the speed
of disk storage and the capacity and flexibility of tape media. In an FSE implementation, secondary
storage space only stores least accessed files and primary storage space is used as a cache for recently
used files. Policy-driven archiving and retrieval processes make it possible for FSE administrators to tune the
system for best performance based on the type of data and the way applications handle that data
FSE software manages both primary and secondary storage space. It is highly-modularized and
implemented with a series of intercommunicating components that are responsible for data management.
For detailed information on these components, see ”FSE components” on page 14.
Figure 1 Example of FSE storage spaces
For details on supported and required hardware and software, see the FSE Release Notes.
FSE basics
Infinite file system
The most significant characteristic of FSE is a virtually infinite file system and a very transparent access to
the data through the file system. You have access to essentially unlimited storage capacity. FSE constantly
controls the files in use.You define the way FSE controls these files with migration, release, and deletion
policies. It also enables multiple copying of migrated files; therefore satisfying the need for additional
backup copies and protecting from failure of any single medium.