Exciting News: Metro Volume Now Available for Linux
Wed, 29 May 2024 18:17:31 -0000
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I'm thrilled to share that PowerStoreOS 4.0 has just been released. This major update extends the advanced data protection capabilities of the Metro Volume feature to new operating systems. Originally exclusive to VMware, Metro Volume now supports several major Linux versions as well as the Microsoft Windows platform.
Metro Volume and Linux
Metro Volume, a native PowerStore feature based on synchronous replication technology, is a stretched volume that spans two PowerStore clusters within a metro distance, providing active-active access. It operates seamlessly without requiring any modifications to the Linux hosts or applications. Each Metro Volume comprises two volumes, one on each PowerStore cluster, which are synchronized bi-directionally over a replication network. These two volumes share the same volume identifier, WWN, and when mapped to a Linux host, they appear as a single volume with paths to either or both clusters.
Metro Volume for Linux adds the support of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES), and Oracle Linux (OL) for standalone hosts, and RHEL and SLES for clustered hosts. The supported list of Linux operating systems and versions changes over time. For the most current information, see the Dell PowerStore Simple Support Matrix on the Dell E-Lab Navigator portal.
What benefits does Metro Volume provide?
Metro Volume offers an unparalleled level of high availability and data mobility, crucial for supporting business-critical environments. It helps minimize data loss and ensures fast recovery times in the event of site or storage system failure. While based on synchronous replication, Metro Volume delivers far more than what synchronous replication alone can provide. Here are a few features that set it apart from other replication technologies:
- Active-active access: Metro Volume allows concurrent data access to both PowerStore clusters during normal operation. In the event of a site failure, the surviving site continues to have access to the data without delay.
- Bi-directional synchronous replication: Data written to either PowerStore cluster is automatically synchronized by PowerStoreOS to the other PowerStore cluster, ensuring that it is committed on both sides and that the data consistency is guaranteed.
- Simple to set up and manage: Setting up Metro Volume requires no complicated command line or programming skills. Everything is managed through PowerStore Manager using a web browser, which provides a simple and intuitive interface for users to manage and monitor Metro Volume.
- Witness Server: While it is an optional component, the Witness Server enhances the resiliency of Metro Volume. It helps prevent split-brain situations in a broad range of failure scenarios. The Dell PowerStore: Metro Volume white paper details these failure scenarios.
- Cost-effective: Metro Volume is built into PowerStoreOS. There are no additional licenses or hardware to purchase.
Common use cases of Metro Volume for the Linux environment
Metro Volume is ideal for environments that require uninterrupted business continuity. Here are a few common use cases that can benefit your Linux environment:
- Disaster avoidance
- Workload distribution across sites
- Non-disruptive storage migration
- Zero downtime SAN maintenance and data migration
Presenting Metro Volume to Linux
Metro Volume can be mapped to the Linux host using Fibre Channel or iSCSI protocols in two ways:
- Uniform storage presentation: In this setup, both sides of the Metro Volume are mapped to the Linux host. Cross-site mapping ensures maximum access paths and optimal protection.
- Non-uniform storage presentation: In this setup, only one side of the Metro Volume is mapped to the Linux host. This is suitable for environments where cross-site mapping is impractical due to long distances or high latency.
PowerStore uses implicit ALUA and works with native Linux MPIO to recommend and optimize paths to the Metro Volume for the Linux host. For more information about Metro Volume presentation and ALUA optimization, see the Dell PowerStore: Metro Volume white paper.
Linux applications with Metro Volume
You can use Metro Volume with these popular Linux applications to meet the storage needs of other applications:
- Native Linux MPIO
- Regular Linux Logical Volume Manager on standalone host
- ext4 and xfs file systems on a standalone host
- Storage pool for KVM
- Clustered Linux Logical Volume Manager
- GFS2 cluster file system
- Red Hat High Availability Cluster
- SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability
For more information about supported cluster software, see the Dell PowerStore Simple Support Matrix on the Dell E-Lab Navigator portal.
Conclusion
PowerStore Metro Volume for Linux enhances your enterprise environment by extending its robust data protection, data mobility, and replication technologies to the Linux environment. You can find more information about PowerStore Metro Volume in the white paper Dell PowerStore: Metro Volume. Contact your Dell Technologies representative today and discover how PowerStore can transform your enterprise Linux environment.
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Author: Henry Wong