Quota Implementation

Quota Implementation

[Arne Jansen]

Hi,

If no one is already working on it, I'd like to take the Quota lock and
see how far I come.
Let me sketch out in short what I'm planning to do:

  - Quota will be subvolume based. Only the FS-trees and data extents
    will be accounted.
  - Quota Groups can be defined. Every quota group can comprise any
    number of subvolumes. A subvolume can be assigned to any number
    of quota groups.
  - A Quota Group can account/limit the total amount of space that is
    referenced by it and/or the amount of space that is exclusively
    referenced (i.e. referenced by no other quota group).
  - With this it is possible to define a hierarchical quota that need
    not necessarily reflect the filesystem hierarchy.
  - It is also possible to decide for each snapshot if it should be
    accounted into the parent group. So in a scenario where each
    subvolume reflect a user home, it's possible to have some snapshots
    accounted to the user and others not (e.g. the ones needed for system
    backups).
  - Quota information will be stored in new records, possibly in a
    separate tree.
  - It should be possible to change the Quota config and group
    assignments online, though this might need a full re-scan of the fs.
  - It does NOT include any kind of user/group (UID/GID) quota.

Any addenda or arguments why it's impossible or insane welcome.

-Arne

Re: Quota Implementation

[Hugo Mills]

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On Fri, Jun 03, 2011 at 06:24:41PM +0200, Arne Jansen wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> If no one is already working on it, I'd like to take the Quota lock and
> see how far I come.
> Let me sketch out in short what I'm planning to do:
> 
>  - Quota will be subvolume based. Only the FS-trees and data extents
>    will be accounted.
>  - Quota Groups can be defined. Every quota group can comprise any
>    number of subvolumes. A subvolume can be assigned to any number
>    of quota groups.
>  - A Quota Group can account/limit the total amount of space that is
>    referenced by it and/or the amount of space that is exclusively
>    referenced (i.e. referenced by no other quota group).
>  - With this it is possible to define a hierarchical quota that need
>    not necessarily reflect the filesystem hierarchy.
>  - It is also possible to decide for each snapshot if it should be
>    accounted into the parent group. So in a scenario where each
>    subvolume reflect a user home, it's possible to have some snapshots
>    accounted to the user and others not (e.g. the ones needed for system
>    backups).
>  - Quota information will be stored in new records, possibly in a
>    separate tree.
>  - It should be possible to change the Quota config and group
>    assignments online, though this might need a full re-scan of the fs.
>  - It does NOT include any kind of user/group (UID/GID) quota.
> 
> Any addenda or arguments why it's impossible or insane welcome.

   There's a problem in that in some cases, it's possible to get into
a situation where you can't *delete* files because you're going over
quota. If I have two subvolumes that share most of their data
(e.g. one is a snapshot of the other), and both subvolumes have a
limit under the "exclusive use" clause, then deleting material from
subvolume A could cause subvolume B to go over quota.

   If users can create their own subvolumes, then using the "exclusive
use" form is also pointless, because as a user, I can simply snapshot
(or otherwise CoW copy) all my data into a snapshot, and I then don't
pay for it. That one probably comes under the "admin shot himself in
the foot", though.

   Getting out the bike-shed brush, I might suggest the use of some
name other than "quota", because inevitably people will think of
UID/GID-type quotas, and we've got enough confusingly-modified
terminology already. "Size bounds", "storage bounds", possibly?

   Hugo.

-- 
=== Hugo Mills: hugo@... carfax.org.uk | darksatanic.net | lug.org.uk ===
  PGP key: 515C238D from wwwkeys.eu.pgp.net or http://www.carfax.org.uk
         --- Is it true that "last known good" on Windows XP ---         
                            boots into CP/M?                             

[-- Attachment #2: Digital signature --]
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Re: Quota Implementation

[Andrey Kuzmin]

On Fri, Jun 3, 2011 at 8:47 PM, Hugo Mills <hugo@carfax.org.uk> wrote:
> On Fri, Jun 03, 2011 at 06:24:41PM +0200, Arne Jansen wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> If no one is already working on it, I'd like to take the Quota lock =
and
>> see how far I come.
>> Let me sketch out in short what I'm planning to do:
>>
>> =C2=A0- Quota will be subvolume based. Only the FS-trees and data ex=
tents
>> =C2=A0 =C2=A0will be accounted.
>> =C2=A0- Quota Groups can be defined. Every quota group can comprise =
any
>> =C2=A0 =C2=A0number of subvolumes. A subvolume can be assigned to an=
y number
>> =C2=A0 =C2=A0of quota groups.
>> =C2=A0- A Quota Group can account/limit the total amount of space th=
at is
>> =C2=A0 =C2=A0referenced by it and/or the amount of space that is exc=
lusively
>> =C2=A0 =C2=A0referenced (i.e. referenced by no other quota group).
>> =C2=A0- With this it is possible to define a hierarchical quota that=
 need
>> =C2=A0 =C2=A0not necessarily reflect the filesystem hierarchy.
>> =C2=A0- It is also possible to decide for each snapshot if it should=
 be
>> =C2=A0 =C2=A0accounted into the parent group. So in a scenario where=
 each
>> =C2=A0 =C2=A0subvolume reflect a user home, it's possible to have so=
me snapshots
>> =C2=A0 =C2=A0accounted to the user and others not (e.g. the ones nee=
ded for system
>> =C2=A0 =C2=A0backups).
>> =C2=A0- Quota information will be stored in new records, possibly in=
 a
>> =C2=A0 =C2=A0separate tree.
>> =C2=A0- It should be possible to change the Quota config and group
>> =C2=A0 =C2=A0assignments online, though this might need a full re-sc=
an of the fs.
>> =C2=A0- It does NOT include any kind of user/group (UID/GID) quota.
>>
>> Any addenda or arguments why it's impossible or insane welcome.
>
> =C2=A0 There's a problem in that in some cases, it's possible to get =
into
> a situation where you can't *delete* files because you're going over
> quota. If I have two subvolumes that share most of their data
> (e.g. one is a snapshot of the other), and both subvolumes have a
> limit under the "exclusive use" clause, then deleting material from
> subvolume A could cause subvolume B to go over quota.
>
> =C2=A0 If users can create their own subvolumes, then using the "excl=
usive
> use" form is also pointless, because as a user, I can simply snapshot
> (or otherwise CoW copy) all my data into a snapshot, and I then don't
> pay for it. That one probably comes under the "admin shot himself in
> the foot", though.
>
> =C2=A0 Getting out the bike-shed brush, I might suggest the use of so=
me
> name other than "quota", because inevitably people will think of
> UID/GID-type quotas, and we've got enough confusingly-modified
> terminology already. "Size bounds", "storage bounds", possibly?

Budget :)?

Regards,
Andrey

>
> =C2=A0 Hugo.
>
> --
> =3D=3D=3D Hugo Mills: hugo@... carfax.org.uk | darksatanic.net | lug.=
org.uk =3D=3D=3D
> =C2=A0PGP key: 515C238D from wwwkeys.eu.pgp.net or http://www.carfax.=
org.uk
> =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 --- Is it true that "last known good" on =
Windows XP ---
> =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0=
 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0boots into CP/M?
>
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
> Version: GnuPG v1.4.10 (GNU/Linux)
>
> iD8DBQFN6RAiIKyzvlFcI40RAkkQAKCAulO65dL1F/vaO7W20qJEAKuonwCghfvH
> XlliA+eCfmLmP/G0quVALe0=3D
> =3Dm513
> -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
>
>
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Re: Quota Implementation

[Arne Jansen]

On 03.06.2011 22:44, Andrey Kuzmin wrote:
> On Fri, Jun 3, 2011 at 8:47 PM, Hugo Mills<hugo@carfax.org.uk>  wrote:
>> On Fri, Jun 03, 2011 at 06:24:41PM +0200, Arne Jansen wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> If no one is already working on it, I'd like to take the Quota lock and
>>> see how far I come.
>>> Let me sketch out in short what I'm planning to do:
>>>
>>>   - Quota will be subvolume based. Only the FS-trees and data extents
>>>     will be accounted.
>>>   - Quota Groups can be defined. Every quota group can comprise any
>>>     number of subvolumes. A subvolume can be assigned to any number
>>>     of quota groups.
>>>   - A Quota Group can account/limit the total amount of space that is
>>>     referenced by it and/or the amount of space that is exclusively
>>>     referenced (i.e. referenced by no other quota group).
>>>   - With this it is possible to define a hierarchical quota that need
>>>     not necessarily reflect the filesystem hierarchy.
>>>   - It is also possible to decide for each snapshot if it should be
>>>     accounted into the parent group. So in a scenario where each
>>>     subvolume reflect a user home, it's possible to have some snapshots
>>>     accounted to the user and others not (e.g. the ones needed for system
>>>     backups).
>>>   - Quota information will be stored in new records, possibly in a
>>>     separate tree.
>>>   - It should be possible to change the Quota config and group
>>>     assignments online, though this might need a full re-scan of the fs.
>>>   - It does NOT include any kind of user/group (UID/GID) quota.
>>>
>>> Any addenda or arguments why it's impossible or insane welcome.
>>
>>    There's a problem in that in some cases, it's possible to get into
>> a situation where you can't *delete* files because you're going over
>> quota. If I have two subvolumes that share most of their data
>> (e.g. one is a snapshot of the other), and both subvolumes have a
>> limit under the "exclusive use" clause, then deleting material from
>> subvolume A could cause subvolume B to go over quota.
>>
>>    If users can create their own subvolumes, then using the "exclusive
>> use" form is also pointless, because as a user, I can simply snapshot
>> (or otherwise CoW copy) all my data into a snapshot, and I then don't
>> pay for it. That one probably comes under the "admin shot himself in
>> the foot", though.
>>
>>    Getting out the bike-shed brush, I might suggest the use of some
>> name other than "quota", because inevitably people will think of
>> UID/GID-type quotas, and we've got enough confusingly-modified
>> terminology already. "Size bounds", "storage bounds", possibly?
>
> Budget :)?

I wouldn't bother trying to coin a new term. Quota is already widely
in use for non-UID style quotas. ZFS has Filesystem Quotas, NetApp has
Tree Quotas (well, originally Quota Trees). So with calling them
Subvolume Quotas or Subvol Quotas I feel comfortable. This is distinct
enough from "User Quota".

-Arne

>
> Regards,
> Andrey
>
>>
>>    Hugo.
>>
>> --
>> === Hugo Mills: hugo@... carfax.org.uk | darksatanic.net | lug.org.uk ===
>>   PGP key: 515C238D from wwwkeys.eu.pgp.net or http://www.carfax.org.uk
>>          --- Is it true that "last known good" on Windows XP ---
>>                             boots into CP/M?
>>
>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
>> Version: GnuPG v1.4.10 (GNU/Linux)
>>
>> iD8DBQFN6RAiIKyzvlFcI40RAkkQAKCAulO65dL1F/vaO7W20qJEAKuonwCghfvH
>> XlliA+eCfmLmP/G0quVALe0=
>> =m513
>> -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
>>
>>
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> To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-btrfs" in
> the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org
> More majordomo info at  http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html

Re: Quota Implementation

[Arne Jansen]

On 03.06.2011 18:47, Hugo Mills wrote:
> On Fri, Jun 03, 2011 at 06:24:41PM +0200, Arne Jansen wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> If no one is already working on it, I'd like to take the Quota lock and
>> see how far I come.
>> Let me sketch out in short what I'm planning to do:
>>
>>   - Quota will be subvolume based. Only the FS-trees and data extents
>>     will be accounted.
>>   - Quota Groups can be defined. Every quota group can comprise any
>>     number of subvolumes. A subvolume can be assigned to any number
>>     of quota groups.
>>   - A Quota Group can account/limit the total amount of space that is
>>     referenced by it and/or the amount of space that is exclusively
>>     referenced (i.e. referenced by no other quota group).
>>   - With this it is possible to define a hierarchical quota that need
>>     not necessarily reflect the filesystem hierarchy.
>>   - It is also possible to decide for each snapshot if it should be
>>     accounted into the parent group. So in a scenario where each
>>     subvolume reflect a user home, it's possible to have some snapshots
>>     accounted to the user and others not (e.g. the ones needed for system
>>     backups).
>>   - Quota information will be stored in new records, possibly in a
>>     separate tree.
>>   - It should be possible to change the Quota config and group
>>     assignments online, though this might need a full re-scan of the fs.
>>   - It does NOT include any kind of user/group (UID/GID) quota.
>>
>> Any addenda or arguments why it's impossible or insane welcome.
>
>     There's a problem in that in some cases, it's possible to get into
> a situation where you can't *delete* files because you're going over
> quota. If I have two subvolumes that share most of their data
> (e.g. one is a snapshot of the other), and both subvolumes have a
> limit under the "exclusive use" clause, then deleting material from
> subvolume A could cause subvolume B to go over quota.

I wouldn't prevent the deletion in A, but let go B over quota instead.
Maybe a limit on exclusive use is of little practical use, but a
tracking of it is very useful, as it is the space that will get freed
if this subvol should get deleted. So it is an answer to the question
'how big is this snapshot?'.

Re: Quota Implementation

[Johannes Hirte]

On Friday 03 June 2011 18:24:41 Arne Jansen wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> If no one is already working on it, I'd like to take the Quota lock and
> see how far I come.
> Let me sketch out in short what I'm planning to do:
> 
>   - Quota will be subvolume based. Only the FS-trees and data extents
>     will be accounted.
>   - Quota Groups can be defined. Every quota group can comprise any
>     number of subvolumes. A subvolume can be assigned to any number
>     of quota groups.
>   - A Quota Group can account/limit the total amount of space that is
>     referenced by it and/or the amount of space that is exclusively
>     referenced (i.e. referenced by no other quota group).
>   - With this it is possible to define a hierarchical quota that need
>     not necessarily reflect the filesystem hierarchy.
>   - It is also possible to decide for each snapshot if it should be
>     accounted into the parent group. So in a scenario where each
>     subvolume reflect a user home, it's possible to have some snapshots
>     accounted to the user and others not (e.g. the ones needed for system
>     backups).
>   - Quota information will be stored in new records, possibly in a
>     separate tree.
>   - It should be possible to change the Quota config and group
>     assignments online, though this might need a full re-scan of the fs.
>   - It does NOT include any kind of user/group (UID/GID) quota.
> 
> Any addenda or arguments why it's impossible or insane welcome.

What's the benefit of this complexity? Why not a more simple quota/reservation 
per subvolume? The semantics you described, can be achived by user/group 
quotas too. And we need them anyway. Perhaps this can be implemented together, 
reusing the code. Then we have the question if user/group quotas are per 
filesystem or per subvolume.

regards,
  Johannes

Re: Quota Implementation

[Arne Jansen]

On 03.06.2011 23:18, Johannes Hirte wrote:
> On Friday 03 June 2011 18:24:41 Arne Jansen wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> If no one is already working on it, I'd like to take the Quota lock and
>> see how far I come.
>> Let me sketch out in short what I'm planning to do:
>>
>>    - Quota will be subvolume based. Only the FS-trees and data extents
>>      will be accounted.
>>    - Quota Groups can be defined. Every quota group can comprise any
>>      number of subvolumes. A subvolume can be assigned to any number
>>      of quota groups.
>>    - A Quota Group can account/limit the total amount of space that is
>>      referenced by it and/or the amount of space that is exclusively
>>      referenced (i.e. referenced by no other quota group).
>>    - With this it is possible to define a hierarchical quota that need
>>      not necessarily reflect the filesystem hierarchy.
>>    - It is also possible to decide for each snapshot if it should be
>>      accounted into the parent group. So in a scenario where each
>>      subvolume reflect a user home, it's possible to have some snapshots
>>      accounted to the user and others not (e.g. the ones needed for system
>>      backups).
>>    - Quota information will be stored in new records, possibly in a
>>      separate tree.
>>    - It should be possible to change the Quota config and group
>>      assignments online, though this might need a full re-scan of the fs.
>>    - It does NOT include any kind of user/group (UID/GID) quota.
>>
>> Any addenda or arguments why it's impossible or insane welcome.
>
> What's the benefit of this complexity? Why not a more simple quota/reservation
> per subvolume?

Because it's already the simplest solution I can think of. The
described scenarios are not arbitrary, I'm going to need all of
them. Just having a subvolume limitation in the sense that the
amount of referenced data is limited makes implementation of those
impossible, even with user quota. Implementation with the proposed
mechanisms would be very straightforward and wouldn't need any
tricks. Btw, in my use case every user has the same UID.

> The semantics you described, can be achived by user/group
> quotas too. And we need them anyway. Perhaps this can be implemented together,
> reusing the code. Then we have the question if user/group quotas are per
> filesystem or per subvolume.

I currently have no use of user quotas, and sensibly implementing them
in the presence of writable snapshots and cp --reflink would probably
lead to a design similar to the above.

-Arne

>
> regards,
>    Johannes