[linux-lvm] Mirroring implementation

[brem belguebli]

Hi Malahal,


2009/7/27, malahal at us.ibm.com <malahal at us.ibm.com>:
>
> brem belguebli [brem.belguebli at gmail.com] wrote:
> >    Hi,
> >    I have a few questions concerning LVM mirror implementation, and I
> >    couldn't find any suitable design doc
> >    I need to setup a dual site ( a few miles between the 2 sites, around
> 1 ms
> >    RTD) mirror based cluster system.
>
> You need asynchronous mirroring (remote replication module). This is not
> in mainline (not sure if included in the latest RHEL release). The
> following comments apply to dm-mirror module that is already in the
> mainline.


Do you mean a Disk array based replication mechanism (SRDF, CA, etc...)? or
is it system based , and if so do you have any technical document link to
provide me ?


>    - *what is the default behaviour of the mirroring, writing in parallel
> to
> >    both mirror legs or serialized ? what about read requests ?
>
> It writes in parallel. Reads from a single device (switches on a device
> failure only).
>
> >    - for write requests, is the ack returned to the application (thru
> VFS)
> >    when the 2 legs are updated or only when the first is updated ?
>
> When two are updated. (you need 'remote replication' module for the
> latter behaviour)

As I said, I couldn't find suitable doc about this, and in fact that's the
behaviour I'm expecting (acking only when the 2 legs are up to date) . Can
you point me to the good doc ?


>    - Is there a way to control it ?
>
>     I don't think so.
>
> >    - what happens if the log device is lost ?
>
> The mirror stops and a daemon re-allocates the log and the mirror should
> be back to business (this depends on your lvm configuration though).


As the mirrorlog is in my case bound to a given SAN device (let's say
/dev/sdx) and this device belongs to the SAN array located on the datacenter
that experienced a disaster, my mirror won't be able to be brought back
online as long as /dev/sdx is down .

>    I saw a post about LVM mirror vs mdadm where it is about the location
> of
> >    the mirror log
> >    ([1]https://www.redhat.com/archives/linux-lvm/2009-July/msg00012.html
> )
> >    someone gave the answer that when creating the LV's with --alloc
> anywhere
> >    it will auto locate the log on any of the PV's.
> >    According to what I could read, the --alloc doesn't intend for that,
> am I
> >    right ?
>
> Replace your "auto locate" to "allocate the log on any of the PV's".
>
> What is the intention of the "--alloc anywhere" from your reading?


According to the lvm man page, --alloc anywhere, in crontrary to --alloc
strict (default) would allocate "data" LE to any pv forming the VG,
resulting in having striped or mirrored LE on the same PV (sic!).

It doesn't seem to concern log device which is de facto a 3rd device not
necessary belonging to the VG, or the man page is not up2date.


--Malahal.
>
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