ClusterFilesystems

Status

• Created: Date(2005-04-25T02:23:42Z) by MattZimmerman

• Priority: MediumPriority

• People: FabioDiNittoLead, JeffWaughSecond,

• Contributors: MattZimmerman

• Interested: JamesTroup

• Status: ApprovedSpecification, UduBof, DistroSpecification, MattZimmermanQueue

• Branch:
• Malone Bug:
• Packages:
• Depends:
• Dependents:

  FullSearch(ClusterFilesystems)

• UduSessions: 1, 4, 8, etc

Introduction

Establish a strategy to support cluster-oriented filesystems (CFS) in Ubuntu.

Rationale

We have a great opportunity to capitalize on growing interest in the clustering space, thanks to Ubuntu's appropriateness for infrastructure deployments, predictable release and support cycles. We have already had interest from cluster administrators, and CFS support has been raised as a major feature that would tip the scales in favor of Ubuntu. It would also strengthen Ubuntu's reputation as a server operating system.

CFS Options

1. GFS is already in Ubuntu! It doesn't scale as well as the other CFS, but is well known and quite popular.

2. OCFS 2 is in beta, and may not be ready or appropriate for BreezyBadger. Jeff will contact Oracle about collaboration on this.

3. Lustre is now on a delayed Free release cycle, and is administratively expensive, so without further discussion and/or support from [http://clusterfs.com/ clusterfs.com], it is unlikely that we will support Lustre in Ubuntu under our own steam.

Implementation Plan

1. kernel side of GFS is already in our development tree. It will hit Breezy at the first upload.
   1. done - 09/05/2005 with 2.6.11.91 kernel upload. The gfs module is available everywhere. NOTE: the rh cluster suite kernel side is not complete yet. Apparently there are a few issues with 64 bit arches and PREEMPT.
2. the userland part of GFS and the entire RH cluster suite is already being packaged. It has been beta tested in a 14-node cluster in Germany. (Week of May 13th 2005 should be an expected first release in Breezy.)
   1. done - 10/05/2005. gfs-tools from universe are capable to handle the GFS module in our kernel with no problems.

   2. the remaining part of the cluster suite can be demoted to LowPriority.

3. there will be no d-i support to install on CFS for Breezy. We will evaluate the option for Breezy+1 on users input.
4. as above there will be no rootfs over CFS.

Data Preservation and Migration

none

Packages Affected

1. linux-image-* (done)

User Interface Requirements

1. The configuration of clusters is not something that can be done easily. These kinds of environments are way too specific and related to the application that will run on it. We will provide an example configuration in the beginning and we will grow it only after users/administrators input.

Outstanding Issues

• Plan for on-going maintenance of user space components and synchronization with kernel code
• d-i and kickstart integration for automated installs with GFS

Addition after Approval

On Mark request:

• OCFS2 is now in the kernel (or it will be as soon as we can upload)
• OCFS2 tools have been uploaded.

Solution has been tested on i386.

Approved -- ColinWatson