On Wed, 2010-09-15 at 14:25 +0200, Lars Ellenberg wrote:
> On Wed, Sep 15, 2010 at 02:17:09AM -0400, Peter Larsen wrote: 
> > Never in an active/active configuration. drbd makes a lot of sense if
> > you have a single active host but with an active/active solution you
> > have no way of dealing with distributed conflicts? drbd starts by
> > keeping two copies of everything on separate nodes and asyncronly
> 
> Nope.  For obvious reasons,
> we allow dual-primary mode only in _synchronous_ replication mode.

Wasn't aware that DRBD allowed for synchronous replication. I'm still
trying to grasp how multiple local volumes being updated across a
network helps? Not only do you have 3 IOs for each logical IO; you now
have journals too? I would like to learn a bit more about the
architecture being attempted with sync replication mode here - so I'll
start looking for some docs. I presume http://www.drbd.org/docs/about/
is the place to go to learn the details?

> > exchange the data between the nodes to keep the logical device
> > consistent. For an application that runs on two separate nodes
> > independently this just makes no sense. Not only are we tripling the
> > writes needed but you have no way to dealing with two master copies in
> > conflict.
> 
> But yes, dual-primary is more complex to handle, as most replication link
> breakage currently necessitates an immediate reboot of one of the servers.
> So you better make sure your replication link is redundant and stable in
> itself.  We try to improve the handling.

No kidding! It's a lot more complex - you have chosen a very impressive
challenge! I'm trying to hold DRBD up against the complexity of a
NAS/SAN configuration. Would you have any thoughts on comparing the
"decentralized storage" approach of DRBD with a centralized storage like
a NAS?

> > My main concern is the huge overhead with the solution. drbd looks like
> > the way to go in passive/active solutions though.

I'm still partial to that opinion. But I also should disclose that I
just learned about drbd a week ago. I wouldn't exactly call myself a
expert in that architecture ( ...... yet).

-- 
Best Regards
  Peter Larsen

Wise words of the day:
I could dance with you till the cows come home.  On second thought, I'd rather
dance with the cows till you come home.
                -- Groucho Marx

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