Multi-site Collaboration for Autodesk Applications with CloudNAS
Morro Data CloudNAS modernizes enterprise file sharing with a scalable and distributed hybrid cloud architecture. Connected through a global file system, CacheDrive gateways are deployed on premises to store files in the cloud and sync among multiple sites while presenting the fast, secure, and familiar NAS interface to users. Applications for CloudNAS include multi-site sync, cloud backup and archive, and collaboration. RTC for Revit is a vertically integrated App as part of the CloudNAS File Services.
Remote Team Collaboration for Design enables remote teams to work on the same project as if on the same local network using Autodesk applications including Revit, AutoCAD, Civil3D, Bluebeam. For example, Revit users can perform Sync-with-Central and Reload Latest operations across remote sites and CloudNAS handles the necessary file syncing and locking in the background. The project files are safely stored in the cloud and cached to the local CacheDrive gateway for performance.
Key Benefits
- Remote Collaboration: Sync and lock files among multiple users
- Business Continuity: Files are safely stored in the cloud
- Easy Expansion: Simply add CacheDrive to expand the number of sites
- Rich Applications: Consolidate needs for primary and secondary data with CloudNAS Apps
Cloud-based Management for Global Sites
File system and CacheDrive gateways for global sites are managed in the Morro Cloud Manager. MCM also provides Apps for Cloud-to-Cloud Sync, Access Audit, SharePoint Sync, and Slack integration.
Sync-with-Central
Files are stored in the cloud and synced to the CacheDrive gateway at each site. Each CacheDrive keeps a a copy of the design files for fast access. Revit user performs ”Sync-with-Central” to upload the latest design to the central server (cloud) and sync with other sites.
File Locking
To ensure that remote users do not overwrite each other’s designs, real-time file locking is managed by the cloud server. Users can request and grant permission to edit from each other when working on the same workset or element from different sites.
Site and User Security
CloudNAS gateways at different sites can be mapped to shares to have read/write, read only, or no access permissions. Likewise users can be allowed to have on premises access only or with web access. Files are encrypted in transit and at rest in the cloud. CloudNAS supports Active Directory, Azure AD, or Morro Users modes of user authentication to work with most IT environments.
NAS Interface with Cache Acceleration
Users can access files of an unlimited file system through the CacheDrive NAS interface at LAN speed using network share names or by mapped network drive letters.
Performance Considerations
CloudNAS is designed with performance in mind. For best performance, the project share should enable prefetch and RTC for Revit options. Gateway to share mapping should be planned so only relevant gateways are mapped to the project share to optimize performance. It is a good practice to keep project design files separately from other general office files or backup/archive files in different shares.
RTC for Revit is designed to optimally sync Revit project files among CacheDrive gateways at different sites. The recommended minimum Internet upload/download speeds are 20/50 mbps. Please consult with support for your needs and choice of cloud storage providers.
Did You Know
Morro Global File System
The Morro global file system provides multi-site collaborative file services for sync, lock, transfer, and caching. Interfaces supported include SMB (Windows, Mac) and Web with ACL. At each CacheDrive, users complete unlimited file system is presented as a single namespace.
Object Storage
Morro Data supports S3 compatible object storage including AWS S3 and Azure, presenting a single interface to different storage tiers and cloud providers for collaboration/sync (primary), transfer/replication, backup, and archive.
Global File Services
Consolidated Data Management:
- Unlimited cloud capacity
- Primary + Backup in one global namespace
- Multiple cloud providers to save cost
- Deduped and Encrypted
Multi-Site File Sync and Lock:
- NAS Interface for cloud data. No VPN.
- Global file locking
- Add CacheDrive for fast Disaster Recovery
- Large File Transfer
Cloud-to-Cloud Sync:
- Sync with SharePoint
- Backup to economic cloud storage
- Business Continuity
- User error recovery
Morro Data Features
| File Services | |
|
Consolidated Data Management |
NAS access with cloud reliability for primary and secondary data |
|
Multi-Site Sync |
Store files in cloud and sync files locally with cache. Add CacheDrive for easy expansion and instant disaster recovery. |
|
Cloud-to-Cloud Sync |
Sync and backup SharePoint and other cloud files |
| Global File System | |
|
Global Namespace |
Data in cloud and synced across gateways in a single namespace. Gateway cache enables high performance access to unlimited file system. |
|
Unlimited Storage |
Choice of Cloud Storage providers for primary and secondary data. |
|
Storage Pool |
Pool specifies where and how data is stored and synced. A pool contains multiple shares. Pool types include Sync, Replicate, and Gateway. |
|
Share Access |
Network share with user access and gateway access controls |
|
Global File Locking |
Lock Office and other application files across gateways for remote collaboration. |
|
Disaster Recovery |
Fast metadata sync for replacement gateway for full file system access. |
|
File Versioning |
Version control of 1, 30, 300, or unlimited versions. |
|
Prefetch |
Automatic download to destination gateway vs. on-demand download. |
|
Deduplication |
Files are de-duplicated to save cloud storage and upload bandwidth |
|
Compression |
Files are compressed to save cloud storage and upload bandwidth |
|
Bandwidth Limiting |
Control sync window and sync bandwidth per share |
|
Share Mapping |
Shares can be optionally mapped to gateways for security |
|
Advanced SMB Share Controls |
Options to enable oplocks and to use Extended Attributes to save streams |
| Security | |
|
Encryption |
Files are encrypted both in transit and at rest in cloud |
|
Access Based Enumeration |
Hidden shares |
|
Web Access Security |
ACL-based file access permission |
| User Management | |
|
Users and Groups |
User and Group access permissions |
|
Active Directory |
Supports Microsoft Active Directory and Azure AD |
|
User Permissions |
Access permission per user/group/location (read only / RW / no access) |
|
Location Based Permissions |
File access based on Gateway (location) and on/off premises |
|
Share Folder Security |
Manage shared folder’s ownership and access control list |
| System Interface | |
|
NAS Interface |
Present shares the same as NAS, with unlimited capacity |
|
Local Network Interface |
Support SMB protocol version 2.0/2.1/3.0/3.1 working with Windows and MacOS clients |
|
Client OS Support |
Windows, MAC OSX, Linux, Major Browser |
|
Web Interface |
Team Portal for ACL-based file access and management. Upload files and create folders to shares. Manage file versions, download, rename, copy, move, delete, purge files, create share link for files. |
| Morro Cloud Manager | |
|
Gateway Management |
Globally manage all gateways on MCM |
|
File System Management |
Globally manage all shares in a Global Namespace |
|
Dashboard |
Usage analytics and system diagram |
|
Analytics |
Storage usage, User activities, and Data transfer activities |
|
Role Based Management |
Business Admin, Global Admin, Regular User |
|
Users and Groups |
Users, Primary Group, Secondary Groups |
|
Logs |
By category – team/device/file system. By severity – information/warning/error |
| Apps | |
|
Cloud-to-Cloud Sync |
Sync shares with SharePoint document library, Dropbox or OneDrive |
|
Morro Audit |
Access history for retrospective investigation |
|
Morro Migrate |
Managed data migration to cloud |
| Gateway | |
|
CacheDrive Models |
Desktop G80, G80 Pro, Tower T600, Rackmount R1100. Virtual Machine V200 (VMware) V201 (Hyper-V) |
|
Device Information |
CacheDrive Model number, serial number, firmware version, IP address, UUID and cache size |
|
Cloud Caching |
Files are uploaded to cloud through cache, presenting access window to unlimited file system size |
|
Backup Target |
Unlimited backup target through cache |
|
NAS Interface |
SMB network share interface same as NAS |
|
Deduplication |
Files are de-duplicated on gateway to save upload bandwidth |
|
Compression |
Files are compressed on gateway to save upload bandwidth and storage |
|
Encryption |
Files are encrypted on gateway before upload |
|
Upload Status |
Monitor upload status, speed, remaining upload and files |
|
Prefetch Status |
Monitoring prefetch files, status, speed etc. |
|
Advanced Device Option |
Hostname and SMB version selection |
|
Device Clock |
Global time zone based device clock |
|
Device Management |
Shutdown, reboot, and scheduled firmware update from centralized cloud management UI |
|
Green Computing |
Low power consumption gateway replacing traditional NAS or file server |
| Cloud Storage | |
|
Amazon S3 |
US (OR, VA, OH, CA), UK (London), Germany (Frankfurt), Australia, Japan (Tokyo), Singapore, China (Beijing), China (Ningxia) |
|
Azure |
BYOS All Regions |
|
Wasabi |
US (East), US (West) |
|
Backblaze B2 |
US |
| Morro Connect Desktop App | |
|
Supported OS |
Windows, MacOS |
|
Simple Connect |
Auto start and login for persistent network share connection |
