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Glossary

ACL
Access control list. Specifies which users or groups of users are allowed to access an object and what operations are permitted, for example, read, write, and execute.
active-backup mode
A method for bonding two physical ports together for redundancy.
ADC service
Administrative Domain Controller. The ADC service maintains topology information, provides authentication services, and responds to queries from the LDR, CMN, and CLB services. The ADC service is present on each of the first three Storage Nodes installed at a site.
ADE
Asynchronous Distributed Environment. Proprietary development environment used as a framework for services within the StorageGRID Webscale system.
Admin Node
The Admin Node provides services for the web interface, system configuration, and audit logs. See also, primary Admin Node.
Amazon S3
Proprietary web service from Amazon for the storage and retrieval of data.
AMS service
Audit Management System. The AMS service monitors and logs all audited system events and transactions to a text log file. The AMS service is present on the Admin Node.
API Gateway Node
An API Gateway Node provides load balancing functionality to the StorageGRID Webscale system and is used to distribute the workload when multiple client applications are performing ingest and retrieval operations. API Gateway Nodes include a Connection Load Balancer (CLB) service.
ARC service
Archive. The ARC service provides the management interface with which you configure connections to external archival storage such as the cloud through an S3 interface or tape through TSM middleware. The ARC service is present on the Archive Node.
Archive Node
The Archive Node manages the archiving of object data to an external archival storage system.
atom
Atoms are the lowest level component of the container data structure, and generally encode a single piece of information.
audit message
Information about an event occurring in the StorageGRID Webscale system that is captured and logged to a file.
Base64
A standardized data encoding algorithm that enables 8-bit data to be converted into a format that uses a smaller character set, enabling it to safely pass through legacy systems that can process only basic (low order) ASCII text excluding control characters. See RFC 2045 for more details.
bundle
A structured collection of configuration information used internally by various components of the StorageGRID Webscale system. Bundles are structured in container format.
Cassandra
An open-source database that is scalable and distributed, provides high availability, and handles large amounts of data across multiple servers.
CBID
Content Block Identifier. A unique internal identifier of a piece of content within the StorageGRID Webscale system.
CDMI
Cloud Data Management Interface. An industry-standard defined by SNIA that includes a RESTful interface for object storage. For more information, see www.snia.org/cdmi.
CIDR
Classless Inter‐Domain Routing. A notation used to compactly describe a subnet mask used to define a range of IP addresses. In CIDR notation, the subnet mask is expressed as an IP address in dotted decimal notation, followed by a slash and the number of bits in the subnet. For example, 192.0.2.0/24.
CLB service
Connection Load Balancer. The CLB service provides a gateway into the StorageGRID Webscale system for client applications connecting through HTTP. The CLB service is part of the API Gateway Node.
Cloud Data Management Interface
See CDMI.
CMN service
Configuration Management Node. The CMN service manages system‐wide configurations and grid tasks. The CMN service is present on the primary Admin Node.
CMS service
Content Management System. The CMS service carries out the operations of the active ILM policy’s ILM rules, determining how object data is protected over time. The CMS service is present on the Storage Node.
command
In HTTP, an instruction in the request header such as GET, HEAD, DELETE, OPTIONS, POST, or PUT. Also known as an HTTP method.
container
Created when an object is split into segments. A container object lists the header information for all segments of the split object and is used by the LDR service to assemble the segmented object when it is retrieved by a client application.
content block ID
See CBID.
content handle
See UUID.
CSTR
Null‐terminated, variable-length string.
DC
Data Center site.
DDS service
Distributed Data Store. The DDS service interfaces with the distributed key-value store and manages object metadata. It distributes metadata copies to multiple instances of the distributed key-value store so that metadata is always protected against loss.
distributed key value store
Data storage and retrieval that unlike a traditional relational database manages data across grid nodes.
DNS
Domain Name System.
enablement layer
Used during installation to customize the Linux operating system installed on each grid node. Only the packages needed to support the services hosted on the grid node are retained, which minimizes the overall footprint occupied by the operating system and maximizes the security of each grid node.
Fibre Channel
A networking technology primarily used for storage.
Grid ID signed text block
A Base64 encoded block of cryptographically signed data that contains the grid ID. See also, provisioning.
grid node
The basic software building block for the StorageGRID Webscale system, for example, Admin Node or Storage Node. Each grid node type consists of a set of services that perform a specialized set of tasks.
grid task
System-wide scripts used to trigger various actions that implement specific changes to the StorageGRID Webscale system. For example, most maintenance and expansion procedures involve running grid tasks. Grid tasks are typically long-term operations that span many entities within the StorageGRID Webscale system. See also, Task Signed Text Block.
ILM
Information Lifecycle Management. A process of managing content storage location and duration based on content value, cost of storage, performance access, regulatory compliance, and other factors. See also, Admin Node and storage pool.
LACP
Link Aggregation Control Protocol. A method for bundling two or more physical ports together to form a single logical channel.
LAN
Local Area Network. A network of interconnected computers that is restricted to a small area, such as a building or campus. A LAN can be considered a node to the Internet or other wide area network.
latency
Time duration for processing a transaction or transmitting a unit of data from end to end. When evaluating system performance, both throughput and latency need to be considered. See also, throughput.
LDR service
Local Distribution Router. The LDR service manages the storage and transfer of content within the StorageGRID Webscale system. The LDR service is present on the Storage Node.
LUN
See object store.
mDNS
Multicast Domain Name System. A system for resolving IP addresses in a small network where no DNS server has been installed.
metadata
Information related to or describing an object stored in the StorageGRID Webscale system; for example, ingest time.
MLAG
Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation Group. A type of link aggregation group that uses two (and sometimes more) switches to provide redundancy in case one of the switches fails.
MTU
Maximum transmission unit. The largest size packet or frame that can be sent in any transmission.
namespace
A set whose elements are unique names. There is no guarantee that a name in one namespace is not repeated in a different namespace.
nearline
A term describing data storage that is neither "online" (implying that it is instantly available, like spinning disk) nor "offline" (which can include offsite storage media). An example of a nearline data storage location is a tape that is loaded in a tape library, but is not mounted.
NFS
Network File System. A protocol (developed by SUN Microsystems) that enables access to network files as if they were on local disks.
NMS service
Network Management System. The NMS service provides a web-based interface for managing and monitoring the StorageGRID Webscale system. The NMS service is present on the Admin Node. See also, Admin Node.
node ID
An identification number assigned to a service within the StorageGRID Webscale system. Each service (such as an NMS service or ADC service) must have a unique node ID. The number is set during system configuration and tied to authentication certificates.
NTP
Network Time Protocol. A protocol used to synchronize distributed clocks over a variable latency network, such as the Internet.
object
An artificial construct used to describe a system that divides content into data and metadata.
object segmentation
A StorageGRID Webscale process that splits a large object into a collection of small objects (segments) and creates a segment container to track the collection. The segment container contains the UUID for the collection of small objects as well as the header information for each small object in the collection. All of the small objects in the collection are the same size. See also, segment container.
object storage
An approach to storing data where the data is accessed by unique identifiers and not by a user-defined hierarchy of directories and files. Each object has both data (for example, a picture) and metadata (for example, the date the picture was taken). Object storage operations act on entire objects as opposed to reading and writing bytes as is commonly done with files, and provided via APIs or HTTP instead of NAS (CIFS/NFS) or block protocols (iSCSI/ FC/FCOE).
object store
A configured file system on a disk volume. The configuration includes a specific directory structure and resources initialized at system installation.
OID
Object Identifier. The unique identifier of an object.
primary Admin Node
Admin Node that hosts the CMN service. Each StorageGRID Webscale system has only one primary Admin Node. See also, Admin Node.
provisioning
The process of generating a new or updated Recovery Package and GPT repository. See also, SAID.
quorum
A simple majority: 50% + 1. Some system functionality requires a quorum of the total number of a particular service type.
Recovery Package

A .zip file containing deployment-specific files and software needed to install, expand, upgrade, and maintain a StorageGRID Webscale system. The package also contains system-specific configuration and integration information, including server hostnames and IP addresses, and highly confidential passwords needed during system maintenance, upgrade, and expansion. See also, SAID.

SAID
Software Activation and Integration Data. The component in the Recovery Package that includes the Passwords.txt file.
SATA
Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. A connection technology used to connect server and storage devices.
SCSI
Small Computer System Interface. A connection technology used to connect servers and peripheral devices, such as storage systems.
segment container
An object created by the StorageGRID Webscale system during the segmentation process. Object segmentation splits a large object into a collection of small objects (segments) and creates a segment container to track the collection. A segment container contains the UUID for the collection of segmented objects as well as the header information for each segment in the collection. When assembled, the collection of segments creates the original object. See also, object segmentation.
server
Used when specifically referring to hardware. Might also refer to a virtual machine.
service
A unit of the StorageGRID Webscale system, such as the ADC service, NMS service, or SSM service. Each service performs unique tasks critical to the normal operations of a StorageGRID Webscale system.
SQL
Structured Query Language. An industry-standard interface language for managing relational databases. An SQL database is one that supports the SQL interface.
ssh
Secure Shell. A UNIX shell program and supporting protocols used to log in to a remote computer and run commands over an authenticated and encrypted channel.
SSL
Secure Socket Layer. The original cryptographic protocol used to enable secure communications over the Internet. See also, TLS.
SSM service
Server Status Monitor. A component of the StorageGRID Webscale software that monitors hardware conditions and reports to the NMS service. Every grid node runs an instance of the SSM service.
Storage Node
The Storage Node provides storage capacity and services to store, move, verify, and retrieve objects stored on disks.
storage pool
The element of an ILM rule that determines the location where an object is stored.
storage volume
See object store
StorageGRID
A registered trademark of NetApp, Inc., used for an object storage grid architecture and software system.
Task Signed Text Block
A Base64 encoded block of cryptographically signed data that provides the set of instructions that define a grid task.
TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. A process of encapsulating and transmitting packet data over a network. It includes positive acknowledgment of transmissions.
throughput
The amount of data that can be transmitted or the number of transactions that can be processed by a system or subsystem in a given period of time. See also, latency.
Tivoli Storage Manager
IBM storage middleware product that manages storage and retrieval of data from removable storage resources.
TLS
Transport Layer Security. A cryptographic protocol used to enable secure communications over the Internet. See RFC 2246 for more details.
transfer syntax
The parameters, such as the byte order and compression method, needed to exchange data between systems.
URI
Universal Resource Identifier. A generic set of all names or addresses used to refer to resources that can be served from a computer system. These addresses are represented as short text strings.
UTC
A language-independent international abbreviation, UTC is neither English nor French. It means both “Coordinated Universal Time” and “Temps Universel Coordonné.” UTC refers to the standard time common to every place in the world.
UUID
Universally Unique Identifier. Unique identifier for each piece of content in the StorageGRID Webscale system. UUIDs provide client applications with a content handle that permits them to access content in a way that does not interfere with the StorageGRID Webscale system’s management of that same content. A 128-bit number that is guaranteed to be unique. See RFC 4122 for more details.
virtual machine (VM)
A software platform that enables the installation of an operating system and software, substituting for a physical server and permitting the sharing of physical server resources among several virtual servers.
VLAN
Virtual local area network (or virtual LAN). A group of devices that are located on different LAN segments but are configured to communicate as if they were attached to the same network switch.
WAN
Wide area network. A network of interconnected computers that covers a large geographic area, such as a country.
XFS

A scalable, high-performance journaled file system originally developed by Silicon Graphics.

XML
Extensible Markup Language. A text format for the extensible representation of structured information; classified by type and managed like a database. XML has the advantages of being verifiable, human readable, and easily interchangeable between different systems.