Rockstor is an open source distribution of Linux based off of Fedora and designed from the ground up to provide users with a powerful, smart, stable, free and reliable Network-attached storage (NAS) solution. It features an easy-to-use and intuitive web-based interface, easy setup and management, enterprise features for cloud builders and SMBs (Small and medium businesses), as well as commercial support.
Features at a glance
Key features include support for LDAP, NIS and ActiveDirectory services, server-side NFS (Network File System) analytics, online snapshot and share management, online disk management, online pool management, a user-friendly web interface, as well as a user-friendly command-line interface (CLI).
Distributed as an installable-only ISO image
The Rockstor software appliance is actually distributed as a Linux kernel-based operating system, using an installable-only ISO image that fits perfectly on a CD disc or a USB thumb drive of 1GB or higher capacity. It is fully bootable on computers supporting either of the 64-bit and 32-bit instruction set architectures.
Boot menu à la Fedora Linux
Being derived from Fedora, the Rockstor Linux distribution features a Live CD boot menu that is very similar with the one of the upstream operating system, except for the fact that it allows the user to start the installation directly with or without testing the bootable medium for defects (only if using a CD disc). In the Troubleshooting section you will find options for rescuing a broken system, perform a system memory diagnostic test, as well as to boot from the local drive.
Recommended hardware requirements
The Rockstor developers recommend you to install their GNU/Linux operating system on a computer that comes with a 64-bit Intel or AMD processor, at least 2GB of RAM, at least 8GB free disk space, one or more additional disk drives, 1Gbps Ethernet interface with Internet access, as well as a CD/DVD-ROM drive or USB port for the installation.
Installing Rockstor Linux
The installation process is very similar with the one of the Fedora Linux distribution, as Rockstor uses the same graphical installer script, which requires them to only set the timezone, choose a target drive, enter a password for the root (system administrator) account, as well as to set up users and passwords.
