Re: [LSF/MM TOPIC] linux servers as a storage server - what's missing?

[Tom Coughlan <coughlan@redhat.com>]

On Mon, 2012-01-09 at 13:18 +0100, Hannes Reinecke wrote:
> On 12/22/2011 09:54 PM, Shyam_Iyer@Dell.com wrote:
> > 
> > 
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: linux-scsi-owner@vger.kernel.org [mailto:linux-scsi-
> >> owner@vger.kernel.org] On Behalf Of Vivek Goyal
> >> Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 10:59 AM
> >> To: Iyer, Shyam
> >> Cc: rwheeler@redhat.com; linux-fsdevel@vger.kernel.org; linux-
> >> scsi@vger.kernel.org
> >> Subject: Re: [LSF/MM TOPIC] linux servers as a storage server - what's
> >> missing?
> >>
> >> On Thu, Dec 22, 2011 at 01:44:16PM +0530, Shyam_Iyer@Dell.com wrote:
> >>
> >> [..]
> >>
> >>> Simple asks -
> >>> 1) Provide a consistent storage and fs management library that
> >> discourages folks to write their own usespace storage library. Include
> >> things like fs formatting(fs profiles), transport configuration(eg:
> >> iscsiadm as a library), thin provisioning watermarks, cluster
> >> management, apis for cgroups etc.
> >>                                       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >> For cgroups, we have libcgroup library. Not many people like to use it
> >> though as cgroup is exported as a filesystem and they prefer to use
> >> normal
> >> libc api to traverse and configure cgroups (Instead of going through
> >> another library). Some examples include libvrit, systemd.
> >>
> >> Thanks
> >> Vivek
> > 
> > Well honestly I think that is a libvirt/systemd issue and libvirt also
> > invokes things like iscsiadm, dcb etc as a binary :-/
> > 
> > Some one could always use qemu command lines to invoke KVM/XEN but
> > libvirt has saved me one too many days in doing a quick operation
> > without wondering about a qemu commandline.
> >  
> > I am also asking for ideas on how to avoid this fragmentation because
> > just like libvirt others are also encouraged to do their own libc
> thing
> > in the absence of a common storage management framework..
> > 
> > Does the standard interface for linux end at the user/kernel boundary
> > or the user/libc boundary? If so I feel we would continue to lag
> behind
> > other OSes in features because of the model.
> > 
> StorageAPI _again_.
> 
> I was under the impression RH had someone working on it.

Yes, Red Hat does. Tony Asleson. libStorageMgmt:

http://sourceforge.net/apps/trac/libstoragemgmt

The current focus is on managing external storage (SMI-S, etc.). This
focus can be expanded over time. Contributions welcome.  

> (Actually I was trying to give it a go, but then got buried under
> customer escalations).
> 
> So yes, we know there is a shortcoming.
> And yes, we should improve things.
> 
> But I feel another discussion about this will only give us more
> insight, but not moving things forward.
> 
> What about having a separate session at the storage summit (or even
> at the collab summit) to hammer out the requirements here?

That would be fine, although as you say, we need more than talk.

Tom