[luau] Linux Fibre Channel Server?

Thu Feb 26 15:39:00 PST 2004

Brian,

Thanks for the info.

I guess my question is poorly formed, because everyone keeps telling me
what FC is.  I know that part.

I think I have answered my question with this Mayastor software.

Right now I don't have any FC hardware and that is why I didn't mention
any brands.

Basically I want to take a Linux system with a SATA RAID array, put a FC
HBA  card in it and then share the SATA RAID array across FC to another
system.  The only FC part in the Linux system will be the FC HBA.  It
sounds like Mayastor does exactly this.  Now I just have to come up with a
couple cheap HBAs to test it.

My end goal is to build a multi TB SATA RAID Linux file server sharing
volumes across 2Gb Fibre Channel.

We do video editing and are looking to get into Hi Def.  That means we
need tons of disk space and a minimum of 150MBytes per sec of disk I/O.

Thanks,
Dusty

> ok....basically the gist as I understand is that an FC array once
> configured
> with the HBA utilities looks like a SCSI drive....VERY similar to a SCSI
> RAID array. The key is the HBA utilities that it lets you carve up the
> array
> into LUNs (logical units) that then can be assigned to drive pointers or
> multiple hosts over an FC network...but FC switches cost a kings ransom
> and
> you really don't want to use a hub for anything other than a single
> system.
> FC comes both copper and fiber with the copper using a DB-9 varient that
> is
> WELL shielded.
>
> Now if you want to export arrays, take a look at the iscsi stuff....very
> cool and it doesn't matter what kind of drives you use....the
> Networld+Interop iLabs guys did a raid5 array of thumb drives exported via
> iscsi over 802.11a to a win2k laptop that mounted them as dynamic
> drives....
>
> Since you didn't include which HBA you're trying to use, nor the drive
> array
> type, nor the type of FC hub/switch...I just picked an HBA at random and
> assume you're using a reasonable array. I attached the readme file from a
> qlogic (my only experience driving an install alone) HBA. Such readme's
> are
> typically found with the card and are VERY specific to the HBA, since
> there
> is quite a bit more to an FC array than just the driver. You MUST have
> access to some sort of utility that can setup the FC array, or you're
> going
> nowhere. Opensource hasn't quite caught up on FC yet, and this is why I've
> stuck to qlogic so far...it's also why I'm leaning away from FC and more
> towards SATA.
>
> /brian chee
>
>
> University of Hawaii ICS Dept
> Advanced Network Computing Lab
> 1680 East West Road, POST rm 311
> Honolulu, HI  96822
> 808-956-5797 voice, 877-284-1934 fax
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dustin Cross" <dusty at sandust.com>
> To: <luau at videl.ics.hawaii.edu>
> Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 2:23 PM
> Subject: Re: [luau] Linux Fibre Channel Server?
>
>
>> Brian,
>>
>> I understand how Fibre Channel works and the cost involved with buying
>> the
>> HBAs and switch.  What I am trying to get information on is can I use my
>> existing Linux file server, put a Fibre Channel HBA in it and share
>> disks
>> out to other systems on the Fibre Channel SAN?
>>
>> It sounds like this Mayastor software
>> (http://www.pavitrasoft.com/mayastor/) does exactly what I am looking
>> for.
>>
>> I don't want to invest thousands of dollars in something like an Apple
>> Xraid if I can accomplish the same thing with my existing Linux File
>> Server.
>>
>>
>> Mahalo,
>> Dusty
>>
>>
>> >
>> > Hi Dusty,
>> >
>> > I have setup many systems with FiberChannel and GigE networks (mainly
>> > FreeBSD).
>> > There is really not much to it other than installing the Fiber/GigE
>> NIC
> in
>> > your server. Before you buy
>> > a NIC it would be a good idea to make sure the drivers for the NIC
>> exist
>> > for
>> > Linux. I don't know what type of file server software you are using
>> but
>> > installing FiberChannel NIC may or may not help you. If all the hosts
>> on
>> > your network are connected via 100Mbps connections to the file server
> and
>> > the current NIC on your file server isn't maxing out on throughput at
> any
>> > given time, then you will not notice much of a performance difference.
>> > Fiber
>> > Channel can also be expensive, remember you will need a FiberChannel
>> > switch
>> > too. I have no idea what type of data you share over your network, but
> if
>> > it
>> > isn't extremely brandwidth intensive you may want to look at a GigE
>> > (10/100/1000 Mbps) solution instead. This route may save you quite a
>> bit
>> > of
>> > cash.
>> >
>> > --Brian
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Dustin Cross" <dusty at sandust.com>
>> > To: <luau at videl.ics.hawaii.edu>
>> > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 12:55 PM
>> > Subject: [luau] Linux Fibre Channel Server?
>> >
>> >
>> >> Aloha,
>> >>
>> >> I am trying to find out if it is possible to put a Fibre Channel card
> in
>> >> my Linux File Server and start sharing disk space over 2Gb fibre
>> >> Channel.
>> >> Does anyone have any knowledge of doing this?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Thanks,
>> >> Dusty
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> LUAU mailing list
>> >> LUAU at videl.ics.hawaii.edu
>> >> http://videl.ics.hawaii.edu/mailman/listinfo/luau
>> >>
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > LUAU mailing list
>> > LUAU at videl.ics.hawaii.edu
>> > http://videl.ics.hawaii.edu/mailman/listinfo/luau
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> LUAU mailing list
>> LUAU at videl.ics.hawaii.edu
>> http://videl.ics.hawaii.edu/mailman/listinfo/luau
>