Alibaba Cloud NAS

What is Alibaba Cloud NAS?

Alibaba Cloud NAS is a network file storage service provided by Alibaba Cloud. Alibaba Cloud NAS conforms with the standard file access protocol, which allows users to use distributed file systems featuring unlimited capacity, performance expansion, single namespace, multiple shares, high reliability, and high availability.

ZStack Cloud seamlessly integrates Alibaba Cloud NAS. On ZStack CloudPrivate Cloud, you can directly use the independently-deployed Pangu distributed storage service provided by Alibaba Cloud by adding an AliyunNAS primary storage.

Figure 1. ZStack Cloud Seamlessly Integrates Alibaba Cloud NAS

ZStack Cloud seamlessly integartes IaaS+NAS, loading Alibaba Cloud distributed storage service to Private Cloud and providing a new virtualized distributed storage solution.

An AliyunNAS primary storage works with an ImageStore image storage. To add an AliyunNAS primary storage, you need to finish following preparations: setting an Alibaba Cloud service gateway, adding an AK, creating an Alibaba CLoud file system, and adding permission groups and permission rules to control accesses to the file system.

AliyunNAS Primary Storage Advantages

Scalable
The distributed architecture supports unlimited expansions of compute nodes and storage nodes.
High Performance
The distributed architecture supports horizontal storage performance expansions.
Easy
You can easily add an AliyunNAS primary storage on UI within several steps. And then, you can use it just like using other primary storage.
Reliable
Compared with a self-built file storage, an AliyunNAS primary storage improves the data security and reduces your O&M costs.

AliyunNAS Primary Storage Deployment

To deploy an AliyunNAS primary storage, follow these steps:

Finish following configurations in ZStack Cloud Hybrid Cloud Management if you add an AliyunNAS primary storage for the first time:
1. Set an Alibaba Cloud service gateway.
2. Add a Private Alibaba Cloud AccessKey and the Private Alibaba Cloud zone the Alibaba Cloud NAS file system resides on.
3. Create a file system as the backend storage system of the AliyunNAS primary storage.
  - If you have deployed an NAS file system on Alibaba Cloud, you can directly add it to ZStack Cloud.
  - You can also create a new Alibaba Cloud NAS file system on ZStack Cloud.
4. Create permission groups and rules for the file system to allow specified IP to access the file system.
  - If you have an existing permission group with permission rules on Private Alibaba Cloud, you can directly add the permission group to ZStack Cloud.
  - You can also create a permission group and permission rules on ZStack Cloud.
Add an AliyunNAS primary storage on ZStack Cloud.
Manage the AliyunNAS primary storage.

Create a File System

On the main menu of ZStack Cloud Hybrid Cloud Management, choose Alibaba Cloud NAS > File System. On the File System page, click Create File System. Then, the Create File System page is displayed.

On the displayed page, set the following parameters:

Region: Choose a Private Alibaba Cloud region for the file system.
Creation Time: Choose to add an existing file system or create a file system.
- Existing File System: If you have an NAS file system deployed on Alibaba Cloud, you can directly add it to ZStack Cloud.
  If you choose to add an existing file system, set the following parameters:
  - File System: Add the file system deployed on Alibaba Cloud to ZStack Cloud.
  - Name: Enter a name for the file system.
  - Description: Optional. Enter a description for the file system.
- Create File System：
  You can also create a file system on ZStack Cloud.
  If you choose to create a file system, set the following parameters:
  - Name: Enter a name for the file system.
  - Description: Optional. Enter a description for the file system.
  - Storage Type: Choose a storage type. Valid values: Performance and Capacity.
  - Protocol Type: Choose a protocol type. Valid values: NFS and SMB.

Manage a File System

On the main menu of ZStack Cloud Hybrid Cloud Management, choose Alibaba Cloud NAS > File System. Then, the File System page is displayed.

The following lists the actions you can perform on a file system.

Action	Description
Edit File System	Edit the name and description of a file system.
Create File System	Create an Alibaba Cloud NAS file system as the backend storage system for an AliyunNAS primary storage.
Delete File System	Delete a file system. If the file system has been used as the backend storage system for an AliyunNAS primary storage, you cannot delete the file system. If the file system has not been used as the backend storage system for an AliyunNAS primary storage, you can delete the file system. Deleting a file system deletes both its local record and the actual recourse on Private Alibaba Cloud. Proceed caution.

Create a Permission Group

On the main menu of ZStack Cloud Hybrid Cloud Management, choose Alibaba Cloud NAS > Permission Group. On the Permission Group page, click Create Permission Group. Then, the Create Permission Group page is displayed.

On the displayed page, set the following parameters:

Region: Select the Private Alibaba Cloud region where the NAS file system resides.
Creation Method: You can choose to add an existing permission group or create a permission group.
- Existing Permission Group: If you have a permission group on Private Alibaba Cloud, you can add the permission group to ZStack Cloud Hybrid Cloud.
  
  Note: You can add only a classic network permission group.
  If you choose to add an existing permission group, set the following parameters:
  - Permission Group: Add the existing permission group to ZStack Cloud Hybrid Cloud.
  - Name: Enter a name for the permission group.
  - Description: Optional. Enter a description for the permission group.
  Figure 1. Add an Existing Permission Group
- Create Permission Group：
  You can also create a permission group on ZStack Cloud Hybrid Cloud.
  Note: You can create only a classic network permission group.
  If you choose to create a permission group, set the following parameters:
  - Name: Enter a name for the permission group.
  - Description: Optional. Enter a description for the permission group.
  - Network Type: Classic (Default).
  Figure 2. Create a Permission Group

Create a Permission Rule

On the Permission Group page, click the name of a permission group. On the displayed permission group details page, choose Permission Group Rule > Create Permission Group Rule. Then, the Create Permission Group Rule page is displayed.

On the displayed page, set the following parameters:

Network CIDR: Specify an IP address or CIDR as the authorization object of the rule.
Priority: Valid values: 1-100. 1 represents the highest priority.
Note: If you add more than one permission group rules to an authorization object, the rule with the highest priority takes effect.
Read/Write Rule: Choose to allow the authorization object to only read the file system (RDONLY) or to read and write in the file system (RDWR).

Manage a Permission Group

On the main menu of ZStack Cloud Hybrid Cloud Management, choose Alibaba Cloud NAS > Permission Group. Then, the Permission Group is displayed.

The following lists the actions you can perform on a permission group.

Action	Description
Edit Permission Group	Edit the name and description of a permission group.
Create Permission Group	Create a permission group. Note: You can create only a classic network permission group.
Delete Permission Group	Delete a permission group. If a file system is used as the backend storage system for an AliyunNAS primary storage, you cannot delete the its permission groups. If a file system is not used as the backend storage system for an AliyunNAS primary storage, you can delete its permission groups. Deleting a permission group deletes both its local record and the corresponding actual resource on Private Alibaba Cloud. Exercise caution.

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