[Linux-cluster] storage clustering without SAN

[Sridhar Ramaswamy (srramasw)]

Don't we have a potential solution using GNBD and CLVMD? 

So you've bunch of PCs with hard disks. 

1) Each PC create LVM PhysicalVolume (pvcreate) on its storage device
2) Each PC exports the physical device using GNBD non-cached
3) Each PC imports other PCs storage using GNBD
4) Create a VolumeGroup combining GNBD devices (like
/dev/gnbd/gnbd_pc01) and local physical devices (/dev/hda8). CLVMD will
take care of distributing LVM info among cluster nodes.
5) Create GFS on top of an logical-volume created off this above
VolumeGroup

Would such a thing work alteast as described above? Such a setup will
aggregate storage off these PCs into a single volume.

Ofcourse, even if it does "work", it is a different question whether it
make sense to deploy such a solution. Major downside is - even if one PC
shuts down, the whole VolumeGroup would be offline and GFS won't be
available. Fencing doesn't apply here.

Thanks,
Sridhar 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: linux-cluster-bounces at redhat.com 
> [mailto:linux-cluster-bounces at redhat.com] On Behalf Of Robert Peterson
> Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 7:12 AM
> To: linux clustering
> Subject: Re: [Linux-cluster] storage clustering without SAN
> 
> Shailesh wrote:
> > Hi Everyone,
> >              I am looking for a storage solution where there is NO
> > common storage area like a SAN. But just a bunch of PC 
> clustered togther
> > with their internal disk space used collectively as a storage area.
> > 
> > Can you suggest me any information that talks about such an
> > architecture ?
> > 
> > Can I use the redhat clustering suite with these bunch of PC
> > connected on a ethernet network ?
> > 
> > Do I have to use GFS , if RHCS is employed ?
> > 
> > I'll appreciate your answer to the above. 
> > 
> > Thanks & Regards
> > Shailesh P S
> 
> Hi Shailesh,
> 
> If your storage is not shared, what exactly do you mean by "used
> collectively"?
> 
> You can use the cluster suite to cluster a bunch of PCs together
> so they cooperate, provide High Availability services (through
> rgmanager) and so forth, regardless of whether you use GFS.
> 
> If your storage isn't shared between the systems, you don't
> need GFS.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Bob Peterson
> Red Hat Cluster Suite
> 
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