External storage

The switch has limited capacity to store data, collected by switch features and protocols. You can provide virtually unlimited storage capacity by adding user-supplied external storage volumes. Supported volume types and storage protocols include: NFSv3, NFSv4, and SCP (sshfs).

One application of external storage is the saving and restoring of DHCP lease files over SCP or NFS network attached storage systems. SCP file system protocol uses a user mode process to emulate a network file system. The key advantage is packet level encryption and simple configuration. The key disadvantage is slow performance.

You can set up external storage volume credentials and then enable it. A storage management process acts on your requests by enabling the storage volume using the requested storage protocol. You can disable the external storage volume or set it up but leave it disable.

The feature maintains storage volume state. The states are: *disabled* (down), *connecting* (establishing connection), *operational* (up), and *unaccessible* (unavailable).

If a storage volume is unavailable, the system attempts to reconnect periodically. Multiple volumes could connect concurrently. If one connection times out the others can connect immediately.

The system supports server connection through data and management ports.

Data port support requires server IP address on a default VRF.

Once a storage volume is enabled, applications can use the volume to store retrieve and delete files and directories.