CTera chosen by IBM

CTERA Networks, a leader in global file services, has been selected by IBM to offer COS FA - Cloud Object Storage File Access - Wow fabulous acronym... A reseller deal exists since 2016 I think but is clearly extended with multiple iterations.

But instead of positioning the solution for ROBO and distribution offices, IBM strangely promoted it for inactive files. They claim that these files must reside in COS. In fact the argument is not good as CTERA considers object storage because it's scalable, resilient and ubiquitous. Caching approach be nature differentiate hot and cold data. Place a front-end on top of object storage here COS makes files distribution via caching a very clever idea with a master copy in central location and the portal engine on top as it is called by CTERA.

To summarize CTERA architecture, imagine you have a central data repository represented by an instance of object storage here COS connected to the CETRA Portal and then a myriad of file storage gateway exposing locally NFS and SMB to local clients machines. It could be extended by other CTERA components such Drive, Agents and mobile app. CTERA leverages star topology and caching technology to propagate data and changes. All data are written directly to the back-end object store from the gateways using S3 API which a remote protocols and all reads come from the Portal, an CTERA instance that coordinate distribution of data to edge filers. As pure software, CTERA Portal and gateways could be deployed as physical appliance or virtual ones.

CTERA confirms its leadership in that category with real competition with Nasuni the other key player here, we found also some alternatives like NetApp with FexCache and Talon acquisition or toy like Morro Data.

The surprise comes from IBM where the solution is pointed as an archive solution which appear to be pretty bizarre. But to be honest, it's not a surprise when you put in perspective the IBM file storage strategy that put everything behind the Spectrum Scale umbrella. And of course, SS appears to be a hammer or not at all the right fit for some file storage needs. To address NAS needs, the company has chosen in the past NetApp, Compuverde, Panzura... and demonstrate its inability to develop its own solution. And it's even more surprising that IBM owns Red Hat...