What is SRB?
The Storage Resource Broker ( SRB ) provides a uniform interface to a virtual distributed data storage resource where users can access files and database objects. The physical location of the data is abstracted from the user as it implements a logical namespace. The metadata on data-objects (files), users, groups, resources, and collections are maintained in a Metadata Catalog ( MCAT ) which is stored in a relational database management system ( RDBMS ). This provides a way to access data sets and resources based on their attributes or logical names rather than their names or physical locations. There are four main components to SRB : The Metadata Catalogue ( MCAT ) The MCAT database is a metadata repository that provides a mechanism for storing information used by the SRB system. It includes both the Internal system data required for running the system and the Application (user) metadata regarding data sets being brokered by SRB . The MCAT -Enabled SRB Server.
Storage Resource Broker is a product of the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC). In short, SRB is a robust, sophisticated storage manager that offers essentially unlimited storage and straightforward means to replicate (in simple terms, backup) the content on other local or remote storage resources. Quoting from SRB’s home page: “The SDSC Storage Resource Broker (SRB) is client-server middleware that provides a uniform interface for connecting to heterogeneous data resources over a network and accessing replicated data sets. SRB, in conjunction with the Metadata Catalog (MCAT), provides a way to access data sets and resources based on their attributes and/or logical names rather than their names or physical locations.” SRB is distributed freely to educational institutions.
