IBM Spectrum Scale 5.0.4 has been released and here are the features now available for IBM Z:
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Spectrum Scale NSD client running as KVM client
KVM (Kernel based Virtual Machine) is a strategic open source component for the IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE platforms. IBM
provides the KVM enablement for IBM Z and LinuxONE to the open source community, enabling distribution partners of IBM to
deliver KVM on Z and LinuxONE. For more information about KVM on your distribution, contact your Linux distributor.
KVM is an open source software that allows the Linux kernel to act as a hypervisor. Linux itself provides the base capabilities
and QEMU (Quick Emulator) provides I/O device virtualization and emulation. KVM guest definition and management is
available through the standard management interface “libvirt”.
With IBM Spectrum Scale 5.0.4 it is supported to setup KVM clients as IBM Spectrum Scale NSD clients. The current support
is limited to NSD clients with no direct access to the storage backend. Access to the data is possible through an NSD server
using the NSD protocol. The IBM Spectrum Scale node providing access to a disk for the IBM Spectrum Scale client node has
to be setup outside the KVM environment. KVM is a strategic open source component for the IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE
platforms.
Example configuration:
- KVM host running in IBM Z LPAR
- KVM clients used to setup the IBM Spectrum Scale 5.0.4 clients
- IBM Spectrum Scale NSD servers setup as z/VM guests in another LPAR
- IBM Spectrum Scale cluster spans KVM and z/VM environment
- IBM Spectrum Scale NSD servers with direct access to backend SAN storage (ECKD type DASD or SCSI disks)
- IBM Spectrum Scale NSD clients access backend SAN storage through IBM Spectrum Scale NSD servers
Integrated NFS Protocol with LDAP Authentication on RPQ Base²
The NFS support for IBM Spectrum Scale enables clients to access the IBM Spectrum Scale file system by using NFS
clients with their inherent NFS semantics. The NFS services can be configured to authenticate against the Lightweight
Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) or a user-defined configuration is available. The mmuserauth service create command
can be used to set up all authentication-related settings. With IBM Spectrum Scale 5.0.4 the NFS integrated protocol
access method is now supported on RPQ base² . The following features are provided:
- Clustered NFS Support
NFS clients can connect to any of the protocol nodes and get access to the exports defined. A clustered registry makes
sure that all nodes see the same configuration data. This means that it does not matter to the client to which of the
CES (cluster export service) nodes the connections are established. Moreover, the state of opened files is also shared
among the CES nodes so that data integrity is maintained. On failures, clients can reconnect to another cluster node
as the IP addresses of failing nodes are automatically transferred to another healthy cluster node. The supported
protocol levels are NFS version 3 (NFSv3) and NFS version 4 (NFSv4.0). NFS-Ganesha version 2.7 is supported with
IBM Spectrum Scale 5.0.4.
- Export management commands
With the mmnfs export command, IBM Spectrum Scale provides a comprehensive entry point to manage all NFS-
related export tasks such as creating, changing, and deleting NFS exports. The mmnfs export command follows the
notions of supported options, that is, a limited set of NFS-related options that have proven useful.
- Export configuration commands
With the mmnfs config command, IBM Spectrum Scale provides a tool for administering the global NFS configuration.
You can use this command to set and list default settings such as the port number for the NFS service, the default
access mode for exported file systems, and the NFS server log level. This command follows the notions of supported
options, that is, a limited set of NFS-related options that have proven useful.
- NFS monitoring
The monitoring framework detects issues with the NFS services and triggers failover in case of an unrecoverable error.
Moreover, the mmces command provides a quick access to current and past system states and these states enable you
to diagnose issues with the NFS services on the CES nodes. Issues that are detected and causing failover are, for example, GPFS daemon failures, node failures, or NFS service failures.
- Integrated install
The integrated installer allows the installation of NFS services and CES framework, if desired.
- NFS performance metrics
The NFS services provide performance metrics that are collected by the performance monitor framework. The mmperfmon query tool provides access to the most important NFS metrics through predefined queries
- Authentication and ID mapping
You can configure NFS services to authenticate against the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). If this authentication
and mapping scheme does not match the environmental requirements, the option to establish a user-defined configuration is available.
The mmuserauth service create command can be used to set up all authentication-related settings.
² An RPQ would be required for IBM to review any requests for NFS support. Ask your sales representative to contact IBM Spectrum Scale
development about the RPQ or SCORE process.
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