24 IntroductionThe NAS Manager provides access to system functionality, using standardinternet browsers. You can also perform the management functions includedin the NAS Manager from the CLI.System ComponentsThe PowerVault NX3500 system consists of:• NAS controller pair• PowerVault storage• Backup power supply• Cache• iSCSI connections• Internal network A• Internal network B• LAN/client networkNAS Controller PairThe PowerVault NX3500 clustered NAS solution consists of two NAScontrollers configured as a pair. The controllers handle load balancing ofclient connections, manage read-write operations, perform caching, andinterface with servers and workstations.The configuration consists of two controllers in a cluster to ensure that therewill be no single point of failure. The PowerVault NX3500 software is installedon each of the controllers. The software is a complete package, consisting ofan operating system, volume management, distributed file system, andclustering technology. A virtual IP consolidates all the system's networkinterface cards (NICs).The PowerVault NX3500 is equipped with a built-in traffic load balancingmechanism that redirects client requests to the least loaded controller,maintaining an even balance between both controllers in the system.Read-write operations are handled through mirrored non-volatile RAM(NVRAM). Cache data is mirrored between the paired NAS controllers, whichensures a quick response to clients' requests, while maintaining complete dataintegrity. Data from the cache to permanent storage is transferredasynchronously, through optimized data-placement schemes.
