Peer Global File Service Help > Advanced Topics

Overview

Peer Software's multi-protocol functionality allows both NFS and SMB clients to interact with the same set of data within PeerGFS. This enables seamless data sharing and access between Linux and Windows systems.

Definition of Multi-Protocol

Multi-protocol in PeerGFS refers to the capability of a job to detect real-time events from both NFS (NFSv3 and NFSv4) clients and SMB (CIFS) clients simultaneously. This allows the same data to be accessed via different protocols (NFS for Linux clients and SMB for Windows clients).

Multi-Protocol Architecture

To enable multi-protocol functionality, both a share and an export must point to the same directory to be monitored by PeerGFS. These configurations allow PeerGFS to monitor the real-time activity of both NFS and SMB clients accessing the same data set. The primary security style configured on the NAS system determines the metadata settings for the PeerGFS job.

•Share: A network share that provides access to the data for SMB clients.

•Export: A directory export that provides access to the data for NFS clients.

These elements work together to provide unified access to the data set, whether the client is Linux-based (NFS) or Windows-based (SMB).

Supported Job Types

Multi-protocol functionality is supported for the following PeerGFS job types:

•File Collaboration

•File Replication

•File Synchronization

System Requirements

To use multi-protocol functionality in PeerGFS, ensure your environment meets the following requirements:

•Supported Clients

•Multi-protocol support is available for Linux clients only.

•Supported NAS Platforms

•NetApp ONTAP (cDOT)

•Amazon FSxN

•Nutanix Files

•Dell PowerScale (event detection via Syslog only)

•File System Configuration

•A share and export must point to the same directory.

•A single security style (Linux or Windows) must be used.

Limitations and Restrictions

While multi-protocol functionality enhances flexibility, the following limitations apply:

•Transfer Method: NFS is used for file transfers and maintains name capitalization.

•File Collaboration Jobs: Supported only when using Dell PowerScale devices.

•Job Overlapping: Job relay (overlapping File Replication jobs) is not supported.

•File Permissions: The user defines which file permissions (metadata) are transferred. This ensures predictable scans.

•Security Style Limitation: Only one security style (Windows or Linux) can be used at a time—either Linux security or Windows security.

•Mixed File Permissions: Mixed Windows and Linux permissions are supported only on Dell PowerScale platforms.