# Hardware Specifications for Access Nodes for CIFS Shares and NFS Exports

An access node is a machine with Commvault software installed to manage communication to and from the protected system. MediaAgents can be used as access nodes, or access nodes can be separate machines. The access nodes must have permissions to mount and access shares from the NAS file server.

## CPU/RAM, OS or Software Disk, and Index Cache Disk

Commvault recommends having a minimum of two access nodes for improved redundancy and performance reasons.

Component | Large | Medium | Small
--- | --- | --- | ---
CPU/RAM | 16 CPU cores, 64 GB RAM (or 16 vCPUs/64GB) | 12 CPU cores, 48 GB RAM (or 12 vCPUs/48 GB) | 8 CPU cores, 32 GB RAM (or 8 vCPUs/32 GB)
OS or Software Disk | 400 GB usable disk, min 4 spindles 15K RPM or higher OR SSD class disk | 400 GB usable disk, min 4 spindles 15K RPM or higher OR SSD class disk | 400 GB usable disk, min 4 spindles 15K RPM
Frontend CIFS/NFS Data Size to protect | 100 to 150 TB | 20 to 100 TB | 1 to 20 TB

Load balancing across nodes is better when using CIFS shares. For example, if backing up 400 TB data, Commvault recommends using four medium-sized access nodes rather than two large-sized access nodes. - Commvault recommends using the Use optimal number of backup streams setting, which automatically and intelligently determines the appropriate number of streams needed for efficient backup operations.

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