6.1. Global File Storage (Global Data Backup)¶

Global File Storage (Global Data Backup) is a service that provides shared External Storage areas for storing backup data. It provides a feature that stores backup data not only in the Primary Data Center (the same Data Center) but also stores backup data in a Secondary Data Center (remote Data Center).

Note

The shared External Storage area is connected by CIFS (Common Internet File System) protocol or NFS (Network File System) protocol.
We ask you to run the backup data storage operation.
Global File Storage (Global Data Backup) is used via Service Interconnectivity. You need to apply separately for Service Interconnectivity.
If data replication finishes while burst is running, it will be automatically detected within the prescribed amount of time and burst will terminate automatically.

6.1.1. Available Features¶

You can use the following features with Global File Storage (Global Data Backup).

Feature	Overview
Provides storage for saving data	A feature that uses the shared External Storage area for storing backup data. You can choose from the following two plans. Primary Storage (provides Primary Storage only) Secondary Storage (provides Primary and Secondary storages)
Data replication feature (burst feature)	If you have selected the Secondary Storage Plan, this feature transfers the data to Remote DC Storage.

Note

The connection to the shared External Storage area uses CIFS protocol or NFS protocol.
You can retrieve data that is in Primary or Secondary storage.
It is possible to temporarily increase the transmission speed of the virtual network with bursts, according to the traffic volume. The transmission speed for bursts differs according to the service plan (S/M/L).

6.1.2. Provides Storage for Saving Data¶

You can install and set up primary storage that can be connected by CIFS protocol or NFS protocol over a previously-specified IP network, and use the shared External Storage area for storing backup data.

Note

The backup storage specified by NTT Communications is used in the shared External Storage area of Global File Storage (Global Data Backup). The head unit of the storage used for backup is in a cluster structure and the parity Disks are redundant.
The connection with Primary Storage is through Service Interconnectivity. The transmission speed provided is Best Effort. It varies depending on your system environment and the status of line congestion.
A maximum of 10 Storage units can be used with a single Service Interconnectivity.

Plans

You can choose from the following Storage plans.

Plans	Overview
Primary Storage	As backup area, the plan provides only the shared External Storage area (Primary Storage) inside the same Data Center (Primary Data Center).
Secondary Storage	In addition to the Local DC Storage Plan, the plan provides a data replication feature. You can transfer data from Primary Storage to a shared External Storage area (Secondary Storage) installed in a remote Data Center (Secondary Data Center).

Note

If you are separately using a Compute Resource at a remote Data Center, you can retrieve data stored in Secondary Storage from the remote Data Center via Service Interconnectivity. To use this service, you must submit an application in writing.
When you connect from the Compute Resource at the remote Data Center, Secondary Storage is read-only. You cannot store newly-created data.
You can save to the remote Data Center by connecting between Data Centers using a virtual network.
It is possible to temporarily increase the transmission speed of the virtual network with bursts, according to the traffic volume. The transmission speed for bursts differs according to the service plan (S/M/L).

Storage Capacity

You can increase or decrease the storage capacity of a single shared External Storage area within the range listed below.

	Lower Limit	Upper Limit	Setting Unit
Storage Capacity	500 GB	4,000 GB	100 GB

* 1 GB is 1,024 bytes to the power of 3.

Important

If you reduce storage capacity, you cannot specify a capacity smaller than the volume of the stored data.

Protocol Used

You can choose CIF or NFS as the protocol for connecting to the shared External Storage area (Primary Storage).

Note that the method for limiting the users who can use the primary storage differs according to protocol.

Protocol Used	Protocol Version	Remarks
NFS	NFS version 3	The users who can use Primary Storage are limited according to the IP address and Server Segment of the connection source.
CIFS	SMB 1.0 or SMB 2.0	The users who can use Primary Storage are limited according to WORKGROUP user and password.

Note

If you use CIFS protocol, please set the WORKGROUP user and password permitting use of Primary Storage according to the rules specified by NTT Communications.
If you use CIFS protocol, the shared name will be set automatically.
You cannot use both NFS protocol and CIFS protocol for a single Primary Storage.

6.1.3. Data Replication Feature (Burst Feature)¶

To manage the remote DC, you can use a data replication feature that synchronizes data between Primary Storage and Secondary Storage.

Note

The data that is transferred using data replication is differential data after the time of the previous data synchronization.

Virtual Network Used for Replication

A virtual network is provided to use for replication between Primary Storage and Secondary Storage.

It is possible to temporarily increase the transmission speed of the virtual network with bursts, according to the traffic volume. The transmission speed for bursts differs according to the service plan (S/M/L).

Plans	Basic Transmission Speed	Transmission Speed During a Burst
S Plan	10 Mbps	50 Mbps
M Plan	10 Mbps	100 Mbps
L Plan	10 Mbps	500 Mbps

Note that the basic transmission speed and the transmission speed during a burst are both provided on a Best Effort basis.

Important

The virtual network for replication is a Best Effort type service that changes the transmission speed according to your system environment and line congestion. The actual transmission speed varies according to the usage of other customers and infrastructure status. The service does not guarantee transmission speed.

Note

During the period of time that burst is running, a burst charge applies. It is charged by the minute.

Timing of Data Replication

You can choose from any of the following types of timing for replication from Primary Storage to Secondary Storage and for burst timing.

Replication Method	Timing
Repetition schedule	A replication schedule is registered, and replication is run periodically according to the schedule.
Reserved schedule	A date (any 1 date) and time are scheduled, and replication is run according to the schedule.
Manual immediate execution	The replication is run by manual operation.

Important

It is not possible to replicate data automatically every time data is changed.

Restore

Even if the data was replicated from Primary Storage to Secondary Storage, data is restored manually from the following directories and folders, which were created in Primary Storage. Note that the directory and folder names will differ according to the protocol used.

Protocol Used	Directory/Folder
NFS	.snapshot
CIFS	~snapshot

Note

The data that was last replicated (the same data as that saved in Secondary Storage) is stored in the above-mentioned directories and folders.
Restore from Secondary Storage to Primary Storage is limited to situations where the primary Data Center can no longer be used, such as during disasters, and is executed at the judgment of NTT Communications.

6.1.4. Important Points¶

IP Address

It is necessary to allocate an IP Address Block with a Prefix Length of /29 to be used for Global File Storage (Global Data Backup). The number of IP addresses differs according to the contracted plan.

Plans	Number of IP Address Blocks	IP Addresses Allocated from the IP Address Block
Primary Storage	1	Primary storage IP address Service Interconnect Gateway IP address
Secondary Storage(data storage only)	2	Primary storage IP address Service Interconnect Gateway IP address Secondary Storage IP address
Secondary storage (when using stored data at a remote DC)	3	Primary storage IP address IP address of the same Data Center’s Service Interconnect Gateway IP address of the remote Data Center’s Service Interconnect Gateway Secondary Storage IP address

Important

You cannot change the address block or IP addresses used for the connection.

Restrictions

Not just Customer-created data is saved in the shared External Storage area of Primary Storage. Metafiles used for administration are also saved.

The data size of these administration metafiles is also included in the available capacity of Primary Storage, and this size increases according to the size of your data and other factors.
You cannot link to a directory service.
The paths for the Primary Storage name and mount are set automatically.
If you delete the existing volume, the administered data is also deleted, and you will be unable to restore it.
The default gateway IP address for Primary Storage is the IP address for the Service Interconnect Gateway.
You cannot replace Service Interconnectivity once it has been set.
You cannot set the storage capacity and connection protocol separately for Primary Storage and Secondary Storage. They are automatically set to be the same.
You can specify only one Secondary Storage for one Primary Storage. You cannot specify multiple secondary storages.

6. External Storage (Global Standard Menu)

7. Security Features (Global Standard Menu)