3.1.2 Matrix Server Administration Guide

Introduction

Matrix Server provides a matrix structure for managing a group of

network servers and a Storage Area Network (SAN) as a single entity.

Product Features

Matrix Server provides the following features:

• Fully distributed data-sharing environment. The PSFS filesystem

enables all servers in the matrix to directly access shared data stored

on a SAN. After a PSFS filesystem has been created on a SAN disk, all

servers in the matrix can mount the filesystem and subsequently

perform concurrent read and/or write operations to that filesystem.

PSFS is a journaling filesystem and provides online crash recovery.

• Availability and reliability. Servers and SAN components

(FibreChannel switches and RAID subsystems) can be added to a

matrix with minimal impact, as long as the operation is supported by

the underlying operating system. Matrix Server includes failover

mechanisms that enable the matrix to continue operations without

interruption when various types of failures occur. If network

communications fail between any or all servers in the matrix, Matrix

Server maintains the coherency and integrity of all shared data in the

matrix.