Frequently Asked Questions

The Discover Components application is a fundamental component of StorNext Connect. StorNext Connect cannot work without it. The application relies on one or more name servers as a starting point to look up hostnames of clients and volumes (file systems) (it does not scan client IP addresses and ports). From there, Discover Components works to identify the topology of the StorNext environment. You use this application to discover StorNext components and assign them to StorNext environments.

See Introduction to StorNext Connect Discovery for details about the discovery process depending on client operating system.

See About the Discover Components App for details about the application.

See Add a Workspace for details about adding a workspace to the StorNext Connect environment.

The Connector is made up of several components that StorNext Connect uses to communicate with clients for monitoring and management tasks. The Connector passes statistics to StorNext Connect, allows StorNext Connect to execute administrative commands on the client, and provides information about StorNext and the client operating system to StorNext Connect.

The server node(s) of a Quantum appliance and all other Linux and Windows clients must have the latest Connector for the operating system installed so that statistics can be passed to StorNext Connect. Quantum provides different Connector packages for Linux and Windows clients. The Connector package for Linux clients supports monitoring and management activities, while the Connector package for Windows clients supports monitoring activities only.

Use StorNext Connect's Discover Components application to view the current Connector release installed on all clients.

See Install the Connector on Clients for instructions about how to install the Connector on client systems, required for StorNext Connect to monitor and manage the systems.

See Update the Connector on Clients for details about updating to a newer version of the Connector.

See the Planning and Compatibility section for StorNext client OS support and other StorNext Connect compatibility information. StorNext Connect will continue to add support for new clients so check back often for updates as a result of new releases.

The Manage Clients application allows you to manage or upgrade StorNext clients, and add new clients.

See About the Manage Clients App for details about the application.

See Add StorNext Client Software to StorNext Connect for details about downloading StorNext software to the StorNext Connect system.

See Install and Update StorNext Client Software for details about using StorNext Connect to install StorNext software on client systems.

See Mount Volumes for details about adding volumes (file systems) to clients.

The Manage QXS application allows you to manage components in the StorNext environment, such as tape libraries and to manage which QXS disks are monitored by StorNext Connect.

See Manage QXS for details.

In addition, from the Dashboard, you can access management interfaces for:

• Workflow Directors/MDCs (Workflow Directors and Metadata Controllers widget)
• Storage arrays (Storage Arrays widget)

See About the Dashboard for details.

The suite of StorNext Connect monitoring applications includes:

• Dashboard: The Dashboard allows you to monitor the health of your storage, including servers and QXS storage. Through "widgets," the Dashboard provides information about volume storage, data I/O throughput, Xcellis Workflow Director systems and StorNext MDCs (metadata controllers), storage arrays, and tape libraries. See About the Dashboard for details about the Dashboard's widgets.
• Monitor Performance: The Monitor Performance application allows you to monitor the performance and capacity usage of StorNext volumes (file systems). You can view performance based on specific volumes (file systems) on the Volume view / File System view or specific clients on the Client view. You can further filter the results by workspace (cluster), volume (file system), client, or time. See About the Monitor Performance App for details.
• Utilization: The Utilization app shows the current statistics in addition to historical and future trends for the environment’s storage tiers, including a detailed view for each system and for each volume (file system) of a system. See About the Utilization App for details.

If your system includes a NAS license, you can configure NAS using the NAS app.

You will use various interfaces and documents throughout the process of installing and configuring your Quantum appliance with StorNext Connect. The information below provides an overview of the workflow from start to finish, including where to go for instructions and to perform certain tasks.

• System Operation: Manage and monitor the StorNext system using the StorNext Connect applications.

After you enable StorNext Connect, complete the following tasks:

1. Access StorNext Connect over the management network using a supported browser. See Access the StorNext Connect GUI.
2. Install the Connector on Linux systems to be used as StorNext clients, using the Discover Components application. See Install the Connector on Linux Clients.
3. Install the StorNext Windows Connector on StorNext Windows clients. See Install the Connector on Windows Clients.
4. Install and configure the Connect Add-on for Xsan on Apple Xsan clients to be monitored. See About the StorNext Connect Add-On for Xsan.
5. Install or update applications, if needed. Quantum may have released new or updated applications. See Manage Applications.
6. Install and update StorNext on clients, if needed. See Install and Update StorNext Client Software for information about using the Manage Clients application and Discover Components application to install and update StorNext on Linux clients.
7. Add StorNext file system(s)/volume(s) to the clients, if needed. See Mount Volumes for information about using the Manage Clients application and Discover Components application to add StorNext volumes to Linux clients.
8. Configure NAS, if needed. See About the NAS App.
9. You can optionally remove any Admin Alerts and Tickets. See Admin Alerts.

The App Store is where you coordinate periodic software updates to the StorNext Connect system and manage software applications.

See About the App Store for details.

See Update StorNext Connect Using Online or Offline Content for details.

StorNext Connect is a separate product from StorNext, each with its own schedule and process for updating.

StorNext Connect is a collection of independent applications, with some dependencies between them as necessary. The applications are released in compatible bundles. All StorNext Connect applications have incrementing integer version numbers (for example, 1, 2, 3). Quantum recommends using the latest versions of StorNext Connect applications for the latest features and functions.

See the Planning and Compatibility section of the StorNext Connect Doc Center for the requirements for enabling and operating StorNext Connect.

Update All Applications or Install an Application through the App Store.

The Connect Add-on for Xsan application is an Apple OS X daemon that samples the I/O statistics of Xsan-attached storage and forwards the statistics to the StorNext Connect system. It must be installed on Apple Xsan clients whose storage statistics you want to monitor through StorNext Connect.

Note: StorNext Connect cannot manage Apple Xsan clients or monitor other statistics for them, such as their health status. Additionally, StorNext Connect cannot monitor Xsan LAN clients.

See About the StorNext Connect Add-On for Xsan for details.

When configuring multiple StorNext workspaces (clusters) for use with StorNext Connect, all nodes in the workspaces must be able to connect to the StorNext Connect system. This requires the StorNext private (metadata) network to be routed or allowed to route to the StorNext Connect system.

Visit the Appliance InfoHub to identify your system and access information about it.

You can also access all documentation, free online courses, videos, and more for all Quantum products and features from the Documentation Portal.

See StorNext Connect Backups for details.

See StorNext Connect Failovers for details.

A hostname mismatch could be the cause. If one system in the environment uses DNS for the metadata network, all systems should use DNS for the metadata network. If one system uses the /etc/hosts file for hostname resolution on the metadata network, all systems should use the /etc/hosts file to ensure communication between clients and the StorNext Connect system.

Loss of network connectivity or other ecosystem issues could also result in "No data available" messaging. In this case, the client would leave the workspace (cluster).

StorNext Connect will only discover StorNext MDC nodes with current licenses. StorNext nodes with expired licenses will not be discovered and should have their licenses updated. Once the licenses are current, use the Discover Components application to rediscover the nodes.