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hNode™ - Hybrid Cloud Storage as a Service

For file-based data that can’t leave your datacenter and the data that can

Nirvanix hNode is hybrid cloud storage as a service combining the scalability, ease of management and compelling economics of public cloud storage with the security and control of private cloud storage – all in a complete, fully managed solution. You provide the datacenter space, power, cooling, and a network connection and Nirvanix handles everything else. The solution was designed to provide large organizations with the flexibility to comply with even the most stringent corporate or legal data retention policies by storing data within their facility while still enabling transfer to the Storage Delivery Network™ for optimizing business processes and workflow – globally.

Hassle free multi-site hybrid cloud storage

Each hNode includes all of the management services, hardware and software needed to provide a Gig-E networked, petabyte-scale cloud storage solution. The standard configuration is 2 hNodes, with a minimum of 200 TBs of storage each, scalable to multiple petabytes per location. Nirvanix staff monitor and manage the solution for you, reducing your maintenance overhead.

Utilizing the same technology that powers the Storage Delivery Network, the solution provides seamless horizontal expansion allowing the addition of hNodes in any location all federated under a single namespace. Additionally, you have granular control of how and where your data is stored utilizing Nirvanix policy based replication. Store data within your hNodes for content that can’t leave your datacenters or set a policy and replicate data to the Storage Delivery Network unleashing additional capacity, performance, and distributed access capabilities. You define the policy based on your business unit requirements, project requirements, or use case.

Scalable storage for massive amounts of file-based data offered as a service

The solution utilizes the Nirvanix Internet File System (IFS) enabling massive scalability designed to handle millions of users and billions of files under a single namespace. This means that each hNode can scale to meet even the largest storage requirements while giving you instant access and insight into your content. Nirvanix hNode also provides secure sharing of files with built-in token-based access and instant provisioning of storage using storage pools or child accounts.

Multiple access methods, no need to develop to an API (unless you want to)

Nirvanix was the first enterprise cloud storage service and has spent over 3 years developing software and partnerships that simplify hNode and SDN access. Existing applications or devices can access an hNode as a network drive via standard storage protocols using Nirvanix CloudNAS software. In addition, various ISVs have integrated Nirvanix directly into their applications including CommVault, Atempo, Arkeia, Gladient, Nasuni, Ocarina, Tarmin, Vembu and others. For ultimate flexibility, you have the option to integrate access to hNodes or the SDN into your applications via the Nirvanix Web Services API.

Eliminate the uncertainty of using off-the-shelf private cloud software

Why struggle with early generation off-the-shelf private cloud storage software that is not proven and still requires significant management effort? The software, hardware, and architecture used to provide hNode is the same that is used in the award-winning SDN. You benefit from the collective experience and technical advances Nirvanix has derived from providing the market-leading enterprise cloud storage service to over 700 customers, including multiple Fortune 50 organizations.

Resources

Flexibility

The retention policies of your file-based data change over time. It is often a requirement to keep business critical data within a datacenter for compliance or latency purposes, then migrate it to offsite vaults for DR or archiving. Imagine having the flexibility to meet those requirements with the same storage solution under the same namespace throughout the life of your data. Keep your business critical data or data with low latency requirements close to the point of consumption while still having the ability to replicate your data between your hNodes or to the Storage Delivery Network. Nirvanix hNode is the only solution available today that gives you this level of flexibility, all fully managed within your datacenter.

Efficiency

The hNode solution can be installed and online in 90 days, a fraction of the time it would take to develop an in-house solution. The standard 2 hNode configuration also means that you can use policy based replication functionality enabling automatic replication of data utilizing the existing network between your datacenters or utilizing your existing public Internet connection and the Storage Delivery Network. You have the ability to shift data closer to the point of utilization optimizing workflows and increasing the efficiency of your organization.

Scalability

Nirvanix hNode enables petabyte-sized scaling of storage in a single location and the federation of multiple hNodes within or between your datacenters. You also have the option to enable access to any of the globally dispersed SDN nodes for additional storage or to transfer data to/from your hNodes.

Security

Nirvanix hNodes reside in your datacenter allowing your network operations staff to control physical access, for maintenance and expansion, and electronic access through your firewall, for data transfer, monitoring, and alerting. In addition, the solution includes built-in enhanced security capabilities such as SSL, strong password authentication, IP whitelisting, and de-identified physical file information that prevents linking files to users without a 3-step key. All access requests use token-based authentication with server-side session management preventing manipulation, impersonation, and compromise of data or login credentials.

Turnkey Service

Though an hNode is within your data center, Nirvanix fully manages the solution. This includes hardware/software installation, upgrades, maintenance, incident/ticketing management, release management, 24x7 monitoring, alerting, and expansion. All you provide is data center space, power, cooling, a network connection, and periodic access to your datacenter for hardware expansion and maintenance needs.

A Complete, Fully Managed Hybrid Cloud Storage Service

Each hNode is fully managed by Nirvanix and comes with all of the management services, hardware, and software needed to provide a Gig-E networked, petabyte-scale cloud storage solution.

Key Feature Provides
Management service
  • 24x7 service health monitoring
  • 24x7 access to NOC staff
  • Data integrity checks and self healing
  • Server and volume management
  • Disaster recovery
  • SW maintenance
  • Capacity monitoring and expansions
  • Solution architect support
Security
  • SSL transport
  • AES encryption
  • Strong password authentication
  • IP whitelisting
  • De-identified physical file information
Modes of access
  • Integration with backup and archiving software
    • CommVault, Atempo, Arkeia, Gladinet, Nasuni, Ocarina Networks, Tarmin, and others
  • Unlimited Nirvanix CloudNAS® licenses
    • CIFS/NFS mount
  • Nirvanix Web Services™ API
    • SOAP/REST interfaces over HTTP/HTTPS
    • Supported SDKs: Java, javascript, PHP (via Zend framework)
    • Sample SDKs: C#, Perl, Ruby, Python
Software
  • Nirvanix Internet File System™
    • Directory structure
    • Storage pools
    • Child accounts
    • Single global namespace
  • Policy based replication
  • Metadata and HTML tags
  • Reporting
Hardware
  • Network
    • Gig-E (expandable to 10 Gig-E) networking equipment
  • Storage
    • Scalable RAID 6 storage (minimum 200 TB configuration, scales to multiple PBs per location)
    • 2 TB SATA drives
  • Intelligence
    • Management servers and controllers
Updates and R&D
  • Hardware and software upgrades and migration
  • Ongoing functionality and enhancements
  • Access to continued expansion of global Storage Delivery Network
  • Access to cloud compute, hosting and co-location partners