Re: [RFD] Layering: Use-Case Composers (was: DRBD - what is it, anyways? [compare with e.g. NBD + MD raid])

[David Greaves <david@dgreaves.com>]

david@lang.hm wrote:
> per the message below MD (or DM) would need to be modified to work 
> reasonably well with one of the disk components being over an unreliable 
> link (like a network link)
> 
> are the MD/DM maintainers interested in extending their code in this 
> direction? or would they prefer to keep it simpler by being able to 
> continue to assume that the raid components are connected over a highly 
> reliable connection?
> 
> if they are interested in adding (and maintaining) this functionality 
> then there is a real possibility that NBD+MD/DM could eliminate the need 
> for DRDB. however if they are not interested in adding all the code to 
> deal with the network type issues, then the argument that DRDB should 
> not be merged becouse you can do the same thing with MD/DM + NBD is 
> invalid and can be dropped/ignored
> 
> David Lang

As a user I'd like to see md/nbd be extended to cope with unreliable links.
I think md could be better in handling link exceptions. My unreliable memory 
recalls sporadic issues with hot-plug leaving md hanging and certain lower level 
errors (or even very high latency) causing unsatisfactory behaviour in what is 
supposed to be a fault 'tolerant' subsystem.


Would this just be relevant to network devices or would it improve support for 
jostled usb and sata hot-plugging I wonder?

David