Openfiler For Linux

Openfiler is an open source distribution of Linux derived from CentOS and designed as a block-based SAN (Storage Area Networking) and file-based NAS (Network Attached Storage) solution.

The Openfiler operating system can only be installed on a local drive of a 64-bit computer. It is available for download as an ISO image of approximately 600MB in size, designed to fit on a CD disc or a USB thumb drive of 1GB or higher capacity.

When booting the ISO image from the BIOS of a PC, the user will encounter a boot menu that looks like the one of the CentOS or Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system. From there, you can install or upgrade the OS in graphical or text mode, as well as to use a different kernel to boot the system or pass extra parameters.

Anyone can install Openfiler using the built-in graphical installer, which will require you to select the appropriate keyboard for the system, partition the drive, configure network devices, hostname and network settings, select a timezone and configure the system clock, as well as to enter a root password.

Openfiler is well known for containing a vast amount of powerful feaures, among which we can mention full iSCSI support (including iSCSI initiator), pervasive physical and volume storage management support, complete software RAID management support, volume usage reporting and support for large block devices.

The distribution features support for multiple shares per volume, quota and resource allocation, accounts management, PAM authentication, guest/public account support, per-volume group-quota management, UPS management support, as well as support for CIFS, SMB, NFSv3, NFSv4, WebDAV, HTTP 1.1 and FTP protocols.