Below is a list of common questions about ParaScale cloud storage.
Is ParaScale software, hardware or an appliance?
ParaScale is software. You can download our software and install it on standard Linux to create a storage cloud on commodity hardware. We do not sell hardware.
ParaScale knits together Linux server nodes into a storage cloud. Is it a management application for cloud and grid components?
No, ParaScale software is not a “grid” management system that simply provisions and manages a bunch of multi-vendor hardware and software. Instead, ParaScale layers an object file system on top of many Linux servers to provide a petabyte scale storage system under a single namespace. Thus you have the ease of use of a single storage appliance with the capacity and throughput scale of hundreds of Linux nodes.
How easy is it to manage a ParaScale solution?
The ParaScale solution is largely self managing. The GUI provides valuable information as you monitor the health, utilization and performance of your cloud. Simple policies are used for file based management (e.g. number of replicated copies). The onerous and frequent traditional NAS tasks such as data migration and load-balancing are done automatically by the system. The ParaScale cloud is designed to not require additional IT staff as you scale the cloud from a few nodes to 100s of nodes.
Can I create a ParaScale storage cloud using hardware that I already own?
Yes. Your server should be able to run RedHat or CentOS Linux. In fact, we anticipate that it will be fairly common to throw older “post-warranty” servers into the ParaScale Cloud. “This is where servers go to age gracefully”.
Can I use different types of servers in a single ParaScale cloud?
Yes. Nodes in a cloud can have different hardware capabilities and configurations.
How is ParaScale priced and licensed?
We will license ParaScale based on the physical capacity within the cloud. It is a one-time license combined with an annual support contract which includes updates to the base OS. Please contact us for pricing information
Where can I buy ParaScale?
ParaScale will only be available through channel partners and OEMs. Please contact us for more information on our partner programs.
Other Resources to Consider
If you are looking for an introduction and overview of cloud storage, visit the What is Cloud Storage section of the library.
If you are looking for the technology differences between cloud storage and other storage offerings, visit the Cloud Storage Technology section of the library.
If you are ready to download a trial of ParaScale, visit the Evaluating ParaScale section of the library.
For details on ParaScale features, visit the products pages.
For information on ParaScale solutions, visit the solutions pages.
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