EXAScaler SW & Support Subscription

1. Service Overview

1.1.  EXAScaler SW & Support Subscription (the “Service”) is a software subscription offered on qualified DDN platforms that enables a customer to deploy and manage a high-performance parallel file system.

1.2.  The Service provides access to DDN EXAScaler persisted data and access to all available service features included in the subscription tier.

1.3.  As part of the Service, DDN authorizes Customer to access the Service during the term in accordance with the Agreement.

• At the end of the term, the Customer’s entitlement to new software releases, updates, and support will cease.
• DDN will continue to provide critical security updates where legally required.
• Operating without a valid and active subscription is a violation of the DDN End User License Agreement (EULA).

1.4.  The Service will be available to operate on DDN validated platforms.

1.5.  The Service shall be licensed per raw capacity available to a DDN EXAScaler file system.

1.6.  The subscription provides the customer with the right to access and receive support for DDN EXAScaler OS, EXAScaler Management Framework (EMF), DDN Insight, S3, SMB, and NFS, parallel file system services, and all software releases and updates for the term in accordance with the Agreement. Functionality released in future versions that exceeds the scope of the subscribed tier may be subject to a separate entitlement and additional fees.

2. Core Service Features

2.1.  Software Access — Includes the current EXAScaler release and all software updates during the term.  Refer to the DDN Release notes for current listing of capabilities.

2.2.  EXAScaler Management Framework (EMF): A management platform providing web-based management capabilities including monitoring and observability.

2.3.  Data Services and Client Access: EXAScaler S3 Data Services (S3DS) provides an S3-compatible API for object storage access. EXAScaler NFS/SMB Data Services (NSDS) exports the file system to any OS via standard NFS/SMB protocols. EXAScaler CSI Driver enables Kubernetes-native storage integration with dynamic provisioning and volume management.

2.4.  DDN Hot Nodes – Caches data on local NVMe of GPU systems, reducing IO latency and traffic for workloads, such as ingest, labelling and archive.

2.5.  Premium Support — DDN Premium Support is included with the Service.

• Technical support is available 24x7x365 via the DDN Customer Support Portal, email, or phone.
• Remote software and firmware upgrades are included, either customer-installed or DDN remotely installed.
• Access to the DDN Customer Support Portal and Knowledge Base is provided throughout the term.
• Includes comprehensive Remote Access Service (RAS) and Call Home capabilities.

3. Optional Service Features

3.1  Hot Pools (Included with EXAScaler SW Subscription for HDD) — Hot Pools adds automatic NVMe/HDD tiering to EXAScaler, dynamically placing data on the fastest or most cost-effective storage tier based on access patterns. This optional feature requires a separate license in addition to the base EXAScaler SW Subscription and is licensed by HDD capacity.

4. Requirements

4.1.  The Service does not include hardware support and requires a separate support contract with DDN or platform provider.

4.2.  For upgrade and co-term purposes, when expanding an EXAScaler SW subscription (“Service”), an active DDN EXAScaler subscription shall be required for the initial subscription and shall have an expiration that matches or exceeds the expansion Services term.

4.3.   The Service requires call home (i.e. telemetry) to be configured to ensure support service levels and full feature delivery.  

5. Customer Responsibilities

5.1.  Hardware environment: Customer is responsible for procuring and enabling the installation (including platform connectivity) of the hardware covered by the Service. Customer must maintain these hardware assets at the latest configuration and revision levels published by DDN.

6. Applicable Terms and Conditions