Enterprise Storage

The Top 10 File System Software

Explore the top file system software solutions with features like encryption and data indexing to improve search function.

The Top 10 File System Software Include:
  • 1. Cloudian HyperStore
  • 2. Dell PowerScale
  • 3. FlashBlade//S by PureStorage
  • 4. Hitachi Content Platform
  • 5. IBM Cloud Object Storage
  • 6. MinIO
  • 7. Nasuni File Services Platform
  • 8. NetApp StorageGRID
  • 9. Qumulo File Data Platform
  • 10. WekaFS

A file system solution is a storage tool that securely stores data as well as providing indexing and search tools. These tools will automatically categorize the data they have access to, thereby making it easily searchable. They are especially helpful for large companies to manage their unstructured data which is continually growing. 

File systems will use a single parallel file system in order to cluster storage nodes together; this clustering allows for easy retrieval, access, and low latency while using the system. It can store data on a hard drive or on a network-attached storage (NAS) device. File systems are usually software- or cloud-based. Data created in your network will be saved to files, which is then organized into folders, and then further indexed and saved in an appropriate spot within the system. This indexing, saving, and management of data can prove useful for companies that are producing large amounts of data on a regular basis.

File systems are storage units designed to automatically save, update, and index data. Most, if not all, vendors will offer encryption and data loss prevention capabilities to keep your data safe while it is at rest and in transit. While file systems are there to support end-users and assist with collaboration, this can quickly become unmanaged; a growing number of vendors also offer user management and access control features.

In this article, we’ll provide key information on some of the top file systems software. We’ll address the key features of each solution, before recommending the type of organization that would benefit most from their implementation.

Cloudian Logo

Cloudian is a data management provider based in San Mateo, CA, and has been in operation since 2011. The Cloudian HyperStore is an enterprise-grade file system solution that offers an API-compatible, cloud-native storage solution. The solution operates in hybrid cloud environments and provides protection against sophisticated threats like ransomware. Cloudian HyperStore offers modular scalability, with the ability to add capacity on-demand.

Cloudian HyperStore Features:

  • Native S3 API for extensive compatibility
  • Singular console for ease of management and visibility
  • HDD or all-flash versions available
  • Replication and erasure coding
  • Geographically distributed replication
  • HyperStore AES-256 Server-Side Encryption

Expert Insights’ Comments: The Cloudian HyperStore solution is a powerful and secure file system platform that offers strong encryption for data in transit and at rest. The platform streamlines and automates file backup, thereby allowing for quick file recovery. Extensive visibility is supported through the Cloudian HyperIQ feature; this allows admins to view storage, networking, server metrics, and track user behavior. This on-hand approach to monitoring the platform allows for admins to quickly identify compliance or performance problems. We would recommend this solution for enterprises due to its wide integrations with all major public cloud providers and highly granular data management customization.

Cloudian Logo
Dell Logo

Dell are a multi-national technology provider, best known for their line of personal computers. Their file system solution, PowerScale, is a powerful tool that can consolidate and index data from any location and provide valuable, actionable insights into user behavior. The solution is highly scalable and is able to store mass amounts of data. The solution is designed to offer multi-protocol capabilities such as SMB, S3, HDFs, FTP and HTTP.

Dell PowerScale Features:

  • Disaster recovery automation gives you an added layer of data protection
  • Policy-based, automated storage to reduce human workload
  • Single ergonomic management dashboard with CloudIQ
  • Inline compression and deduplication
  • NVMe and QLC-enabled nodes for enhanced performance
  • Up to 186PB of raw capacity for a single 252-node cluster

Expert Insights’ Comments: PowerScale is a highly robust solution that can easily handle network attached storage (NAS), user, and server-based data. In addition to providing an intuitive and automated solution, Dell’s PowerScale also secures data through back-up and disaster recovery options and strong encryption. We would recommend this solution for enterprises, particularly those whose operations expand multiple countries and need to handle very large amounts of data.

Dell Logo
PureStorage Logo

Headquartered in Mountain View, CA, Pure Storage is a data storage company. Their file system storage solution, FlashBlade//S, is a powerful file system solution that works on a core metadata architecture to provide easy, fast, and scalable access. The solution is efficient and effective, and can be managed through a single, clean interface. It allows users to access files globally and integrates efficiently with a wide range of environments.

FlashBlade//S Features:

  • Modular disaggregated architecture for configuration flexibility
  • Quad-level cell (QLC) architecture provides efficient and cost-effective storage
  • Data recovery feature
  • Native multi-protocol access for NFS, S3, and SMB
  • Intuitive user interface allows you to roll out changes in minutes

Expert Insights’ Comments: FlashBlade//S is a fully integrated platform that is able to handle mass amounts of data and files. Content in stored across multiple amps which results in extremely low latency and the ability to perform at scale. The platform offers full visibility into stored data, ensuring that it is optimized and effective. It has data replication and disaster recovery features to reduce the chances of you losing critical data. The solution’s power and scalability make it a good fit for enterprises organizations and companies within the mid-to-large market range.

PureStorage Logo
Hitachi Logo

Hitachi Vantara is a Japanese industry-giant, with the Hitachi Content Platform (HCP) being their file system solution. The platform is a smart and intuitive solution that consolidates IoT, machine, and application data in one clean, scalable, and secure storage unit. HCP offers protection from data exposure and theft through the platform’s multi-tenancy “write once, read many” protocols and strong encryption. For end-users, the platform is a clean and consolidated tool with a simplified e-discovery and search process.

Hitachi Content Platform Features:

  • Multiple industry-standard APIs
  • Exabyte-scale storage capabilities
  • Metadata management
  • HNS and SAP integration.
  • Automated data governance through policy configuration

Expert Insights’ Comments: The Hitachi Content Platform offers impressive performance and streamlined management of data. The platform is feature rich, with encryption and multi-tenancy capabilities. It provides automated data governance, meaning that admins can ensure proper retention periods are enforced. Admin can also enforce access control, apply encryption, and manage the safe removal data when redundant. Users have praised the solution for its scalability, level of protection, and ability to handle metadata. We would recommend the Hitachi Content Platform for large companies and enterprises, particularly multi-national organizations who would benefit from the robust admin control features.

Hitachi Logo
IBM Logo

IBM provide a range of digital products and services across a broad range of use cases. The IBM Cloud Object is a distributed file systems and object storage solution that offers highly granular and customizable NFS-based file storage. The solution saves data locally (ensuring fast retrieval), offers at-rest data encryption, data replication, and volume duplication.

IBM Cloud Object Storage Features:

  • Volume duplication that allows admins to create a new, independent volume from a snapshot
  • Data at rest encryption
  • Data center availability
  • Concurrent access
  • Endurance and performance provisioning

Expert Insights’ Comments: IBM Cloud Object Storage is a reliable and responsive solution that streamlines data retrieval and storage capabilities. The platform encrypts data at rest and in transit, as well as providing a range of data loss prevention capabilities. IBM Cloud Object Storage will take regular point-in-time snapshots, which can be replicated and sent to other data centers to ensure you have access to data after loss events. Companies can manage costs through terabyte increments and flexible payment plans. We would recommend IBM Cloud Object Storage to SMBs and enterprises due to its comprehensive skillset and user focused interface.

IBM Logo
MinIO Logo

MinIO is a Silicon Valley-based tech company that was founded in 2014. MinIO Cloud Object Storage is a multi-cloud, software-based file system and storage solution. The solution has a range of use cases, with comprehensive and efficient integration, API compatibility through the Amazon S3 cloud storage service. It can be deployed in multi-cloud environments through a user-friendly gateway. Admins can configure settings to ensure that it meets company needs.

MinIO Features:

  • High level of encryption standards – AES-256, ChaCha20-Poly1305, and AES-CBC
  • Data lifecycle management to ensure data is ordered as quantity increases
  • Erasure coding
  • Bitrot protection
  • Identity management
  • Active replication
  • Automated data management interfaces to prioritize the information you need

Expert Insights’ Comments: With comprehensive security, a simplified user interface, and comprehensive performance, MinIO is a reliable multi-cloud storage option that suits a range of use cases. The platform regularly publishes their GETs/PUTs results to ensure transparency. Users have praised MinIO for their customer support in ensuring that users get the most out of the solutions. We would recommend this solution for small organisations to enterprises, especially those leveraging Amazon services.

MinIO Logo
Nasuni Logo

Nasuni is a Boston-based tech company that specializes in file data solutions with a selection of file storage, backup, file access, and protection solutions available. Their file storage solution, the Nasuni File Services Platform, is cloud-native and feature rich. The solution offers file backup and recovery, global sharing, and collaboration capabilities to support remote and hybrid workers. Nasuni File Services Platform goes beyond traditional NAS storage solutions by providing storage for remote locations where data center services may not be available.

Nasuni File Services Platform Features:

  • Cloud provider choice and multi-cloud portability
  • Data intelligence features
  • Native support for the Apple macOS SMB protocol
  • Limitless file shares
  • File synchronization
  • Support for multi-cloud environments
  • Built in cloud backup and recovery feature

Expert Insights’ Comments: Nasuni’s file storage system is a strong cloud-native solution that allows for effective file sharing and uploading, along with robust protection and data loss prevention features. It offers business continuity in the event of disaster, with strong data protection and ransomware protection capabilities. Users who have implemented the Nasuni File Services Platform have praised the solution for its ease of use during onboarding and initial set up. From an admin’s perspective, the solution makes it easy to provision and manage storage for end users. We would recommend it for mid-market to large enterprises who need a solution that can effectively protect their data.

Nasuni Logo
NetApp Logo

NetApp is an industry leader in the data management space. Their StorageGRID solution is a software-based object storage platform. It can support a wide range of use cases and works well in public, private, and hybrid multi-clouds, as well as integrating well with your existing environments. The solution supports industry-standard object APIs, like AWS. It can easily support large files and offers dedicated load balance and lifecycle management capabilities. Through the use of automated lifecycle management, unstructured data can be protected, and stored effectively.

StorageGRID Features:

  • Automated lifecycle management
  • Data retention options
  • Automatic cold data tiering and NAS snapshot tiering
  • Allows tiering object data outside of the StorageGRID system to any public cloud
  • Granular data protection policies
  • S3 Object Lock
  • Reinforced data integrity with compliance-grade WORM

Expert Insights’ Comments: The StorageGRID solution by NetApp is a highly secure, high performance object storage solution. The solution disperses data across cluster nodes to enhance performance and ensure data is easily accessible in real-time. The platform offers cloud-to-cloud data management and supports multi-tenancy usage; this helps users access and upload data from any location. Users have praised the solution for its stability, scalability, and ability to efficiently handle cold data. We would recommend the StorageGRID platform for enterprise organizations.

NetApp Logo
Qumulo Logo

Qumulo’s File Data Platform is a robust file system that enables strong data management and file system storage for edge environments, in data centers, and in your chosen cloud platform. Beyond storage functionality, the solution provides cloud monitoring and real-time visibility into network activity, monitoring petabytes of data usage and performance. Qumulo File Data Platform can be deployed through a private, hybrid, or public cloud and works with a range of popular service providers, including AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. The solution analyzes throughput and latency for all files and users within the network to ensure that processes are optimized.

Qumulo File Data Platform Features:

  • Real-time operational analytics
  • Real-time visibility into all user and data activity
  • Disaster recovery and backup capabilities
  • Effective user management features
  • Consolidated dashboards that offer insight into cluster activity

Expert Insights’ Comments: The Qumulo File Data Platform is an effective file system software solution that elevates and simplifies file storage and data management. Users praise the solution for its ease of use and reliability. It offers out-of-the-box deployment, with set up often completed within a few hours. The platform leverages Qumulo Scale, thereby allowing the solution to adapt to varying demands and data quantities. The solution’s scalability, customer support, and ability to handle varying amounts of data make it the ideal solution for small to medium enterprises that may have to manage fluctuations in volume.

Qumulo Logo
Weka Logo

Weka is a California-based software company that specializes in data and file storage systems. The Weka File System (WekaFS) solution is a cloud file system which offers a singular, global storage space for all of your data, which can be easily accessed and managed from one directory. The solution can run in a range of locations, including on all standard server hardware systems, on-prem, cloud, and hybrid environments. It is available to be deployed on all standard X86 infrastructures as a dedicated storage server (appliance model) or has the option to be integrated into the application cluster (converged).

WekaFS Features:

  • Delivers > 10 GB/sec to a single client
  • Proactive cloud-based monitoring and analytics for application tuning
  • Files can be configured to email, SMS, and Slack
  • Offers up to 4096 snapshots
  • User authentication
  • No limit to cluster size or number, so admins can grow as many Weka cluster nodes as needed

Expert Insights’ Comments: The WekaFS solution is an efficient file system that can easily manage large workloads, no matter how localized or global your organization may be. Access control to WekaFS can be managed through the platform’s user authentication, LDAP (lightweight directory access protocol), and extended ACL (access control lists) features. The platform also supports instant snapshots, clones, and remote snapshots to storage for disaster recovery, cloud-bursting, user quota purposes and more. Due to its ability to handle data at scale, we would recommend the solution for mid-market and enterprise level organizations.

Weka Logo
Top 10 File System Software