Dell Fluid File System

The FluidFS software layer running on the NAS Appliance creates a single name-space to the users, offering access via Server Message Block (SMB) and Network File System (NFS).

[1] FluidFS is the result of Dell's acquisition of intellectual property from Exanet, a firm whose assets included a hardware-independent, scalable NAS storage product.

[2] Dell further developed the Exanet file system to support NDMP backup and integrated it with the IP obtained from the acquisition of Ocarina Networks, which included deduplication and data compression technology.

[1] The underlying software architecture of FluidFS employs a Linux-based symmetric clustering model with distributed metadata, native load balancing, flexible caching capabilities and other features.

The FluidFS architecture is layered, and presents a traditional file system to network clients while performing special functions at the back end.