Are you confused by the many acronyms used in the storage industry? Do you want to understand what they mean?  Here is an opportunity to dig into the mysteries of storage technology.  This first article will focus on the file and object protocols like SMB, NFS, and S3.  Support for all three seems to be the nirvana many storage vendors seek to reach, but just because you have support for these, is it all the same?

Let’s start with my first pet peeve, CIFS and SMB. When Microsoft first released the standard file access protocol, it was SMB1 or CIFS. All versions of SMB after the first are referred to SMB vX.  Saying something supports CIFS only implies that only SMB v.1 is supported.

It started with a local file system; as data sets began to grow and demands for larger file systems began to increase, scale-out file systems came on the market. This is where multiple system nodes (servers) are aggregated into a single file system.  Files may be read from any of these system nodes in a cluster. The confusion comes when scale-out is confused with parallel.  Scale-out aggregates nodes together into a single cluster with a single file system spanning across all the nodes, but this doesn’t mean that data can be streamed in parallel across multiple nodes in the cluster simultaneously. Parallel file system implies that an action can be taken in parallel across multiple nodes at the same time.  You may have a scale-out system without it being parallel. 

In the past two decades we have seen object storage gain market traction, especially with AWS S3 storage service. Object storage lacks the hierarchy of a file system.  In any file system there will be files organized into folders, directories, and file systems and there is metadata at each level. In object storage, each object typically includes the data itself, a variable amount of metadata, and a globally unique identifier. Object storage also allows the addressing and identification of individual objects by more than just file name and file path. Object storage adds a unique identifier within a bucket, or across the entire system, to support much larger namespaces and eliminate name collisions (a file with the same name but different data may not exist in the same folder or directory). Though many file systems/NAS say they support S3 API, it doesn’t mean that they are object storage with all the characteristics.  S3 is a network protocol, like SMB and NFS; it gives access, but it doesn’t define the underlying architecture of the system. A local file system or a scale-out or parallel can export NFS and SMB but they are very different in their capabilities. The same is true with S3; a NAS exporting S3 is very different from an object storage system. When evaluating the options, don’t forget, cucumbers and zucchinis may look alike, but are very different vegetables.

The last one I will mention today is snapshots. We know that snapshots are an efficient way to protect data; provide a point in time state of data. Beyond that, few provide differentiation between a file snapshot, a file system snapshot, or a block snapshot. So, let’s be clear:

• A file snapshot is a space efficient versioning. It captures the block changes that were made to a file and stores them with a reference point to the original file. It is a version of a file without creating a full copy.
• A file system snapshot is a space efficient capture of changes at the file system level. This means that you can view the file system as a whole at a point in time. In order to extract individual files that have changed, the file system would be mounted, and file extracted.
• Block snapshot is the capture of changed ones and zeros at a LUN level. Block storage systems don’t have the higher-level file system visibility so can only capture what has changed at the block level.  To extract a file system state or a file version, the snapshot would be mounted to the file system and then data would be extracted.

Why does this matter? It matters because different products implement capabilities differently but use common terminology. Without understanding the meaning behind the terms, it is too easy to fall pray to checking the box without getting the desired end result.

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The first doses of the approved COVID-19 vaccine have now been administered and Dr. Fauci said , “we could really turn this thing around” by the end of 2021. So what can you expect in the coming months?

Here’s what you can expect for business and travel as the vaccine rollout continues

Business: Employers don’t usually have authority over employees’ health decision, but because this virus is deemed a direct threat, they do have a leg to stand on legally if they want to implement a mandatory vaccine policy. That said, it’s still a tricky subject, especially in these early stages, while the vaccine is approved under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Some may lean more towards encouraging the vaccine rather than requiring it, while also allowing exceptions in certain cases. Similar to the flu vaccine, some industries (i.e. healthcare) will be more likely to implement stricter policies. Get the full rundown here .

Travel: Many travelers have indefinitely hit pause on non-essential travel plans but may be itching to get out and see the world–or their families–again soon. Some destinations may require vaccinations in order to visit and some airlines have floated the idea of requiring them to fly. This post says the industry is unlikely to change much in the short term. Even as the vaccine rolls out and becomes more common, you can expect strict mask guidelines to continue, for example. Check the State Department , CDC , and International Air Transport Association  to verify you’re meeting requirements.

Bottom Line

2020 may be coming to a close, but its effects will last well into 2021. Virtual meetings and events are still the name of the game. If you need help with yours, our sister company Crew Connection has everyone you need to pull off a remote production/shoot/event. Search for remote roles or chat with a coordinator at 303-526-4900 and we’ll tell you how.

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As 2020 is about to get a swift kick in the butt by a weary world, we can now look to all the tech, entertainment, and experiences we’d like to gift or have for ourselves while we wait for our respective phases of the vaccine rollout. Here’s our curated list for just about everyone in your life–from the tech junkies to the minimalists!

For when your loved one is ready to give a farewell toast to 2020

Get a wine  / beer club membership or a home-brewing kit if they’re extra adventurous.

For your family/quarancrew

If you’re gonna spend the better part of another 6 months with the same people, you may as well have some fun  together.

For the crunchy folks

This Wellness Mama list  is for the granola-bar making mamas looking for an environmentally friendly/healthy option for everyone from their kids to the grandparents.

For the tech enthusiast

45 of the best ear buds, home theater accessories, and WIFI boosters  for the gamers, gear junkies, and media fans in your life.

For the minimalist

Minimalists don’t want things…at least not things they didn’t thoughtfully consider before allowing into their lives. So for people who want nothing, you’re better off either getting something very personal or sticking with experiences. Yep, it’s harder to think of ideas for that than just to grab a mug with the person’s initial on it at Target, but this list of ideas will help. 2020 may have made even average people who don’t consider themselves minimalists reconsider the amount of stuff in their homes.

For the travel lover

This might be the perfect time to buy something for travelers itching to get back out to see the planet. This list sticks to gift cards because, while those living on the edge might be ready to book a nonrefundable option, most people will probably still feel a little safer with flexible options.

Bottom Line

2020 is about to get the hindsight treatment. It’s been fun and all, but I miss hugging Grandma. If you can figure out how to wrap up a sanitized hug for shipment, please let us all know.

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However you’re spending this holiday, it’s likely different than you expected before the regular old year of 2020 became, well, #2020. Whatever your situation, Thanksgiving is the day we’ve set aside to take a pause to remember what we’re grateful for. P.S. Science says the act of giving thanks gives us more to be thankful for. So whether you’re celebrating alone, gathering in small groups/outdoors, or waiting until next year, there’s plenty to be grateful for.

Here’s some of what makes my 2020 list of gratitude. What makes yours?

Essential workers

Shout out to our healthcare workers, delivery people, and garbage collectors–the unsung heroes who make the world go ’round. Even (especially) during a pandemic.

Friendship, in all its forms

We’ve seen and hugged them less, but they’re still there. We’ve nearly weathered 2020 and 2021 brings the promise of a vaccine and a return to some sense of normalcy. I think we can all agree to (air) high five for that.

Moderna, Pfizer, & Dolly Parton

While 2020 has felt like a decade, the pharmaceutical companies (and Ms. Parton herself) have come through with a vaccine in record time.

Carbs

Does Thanksgiving have anyone else thinking about potatoes?

Schitt’s Creek

We had a third baby the day the pandemic was declared and the kids’ school shut down the next day. So while everyone else was binge-watching The Great British Bake Off, we were trying to get three meals on the table each day while remembering everybody’s names. It was literally last week that we had our first episode (pun intended) of pandemic-induced TV watching.

More time at home

I know that might be an unpopular one, and I can assure you, it’s been hard for me, too (see that whole 3rd baby/no kid care thing). This has hardly felt like the “slow down” all our friends were learning to love. But not running around all over the place and being together has had its benefits and we will be quicker to take a step back next time we’re tempted to fill our schedules to the brim again.

What makes your 2020 gratitude list?

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Recording Zoom calls is acceptable during a pandemic, but what if you want to be able to use the footage well beyond 2020? And what about virtual events? When you’re talking about making sure there’s a flow between remote speakers, audience participation, online elements, and no fewer than eleventy billion cameras–you know you need the right team in place.

Our sister company, Crew Connection, has added some roles to crew profiles to meet the times. For video production, we’ve added remote producing to our long-standing remote shooter. And for events, the crews that offer remote event production are now clearly marked on their profiles.

Rest assured, Crew Connection can connect you with pros in some of the most crucial roles for your virtual shoots and events.

Virtual Roles

• Remote Event Production– As the event’s point person, this role is responsible for setting up the event within your platform, managing the live event, and dealing with any glitches.
• Remote Producing/Shooting– Curious how someone could produce and shoot a production from afar? Well you know they’ve figured it out. This post  goes into the details of how it can be done.

Looking to hire for remote roles? Crew Connection has ’em !

Raise a Glass

You can now produce a high-quality video or event from afar. I think that deserves a toast, don’t you?

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