About OrangeFS
OrangeFS is a next-generation parallel file system for compute and storage clusters of the future. OrangeFS data resides on multiple servers instead of just one. IO performance is gained by storing a file in objects across multiple servers and accessing these objects in parallel.
Step1: plan
Preview system requirements
● The three basic system types
● Recommended distributions of Linux and related software packages
● Hardware requirements
● General rules for choosing a network protocol
Preview security
This topic introduces the three modes of security available for OrangeFS:
● Default
● Key-based
● Certificate-based
Preview OrangeFS configuration file
This topic discusses the OrangeFS configuration file, which is copied to all servers as a single reference point for operation and performance. In this file you specify settings and preferences for all servers in your installation. During installation, the file is automatically generated in basic default mode. After installation, you can revisit the configuration file to make more changes and additions from a range of options and their associated values.
Step 2: Build and Configure
Build OrangeFS
This involves downloading the source software from orangefs.org onto a system preconfigured with several standard Linux packages. On this system you will extract and build OrangeFS in a portable directory named /opt/orangefs. From there, you can complete its configuration and deploy it to other Linux systems that have fewer package requirements
Set up security
After you build the OrangeFS installation directory, your selected security mode determines the additional setup and configuration tasks.
Much of this work can be done once on the Build system, then copied to your servers and even your Linux-based clients
Create OrangeFS configuration file
The OrangeFS installation directory on the Build system requires an OrangeFS configuration file. You will enter some basic information for this file in a program called pvfs2-genconfig. Once the configuration file has been created, you might need to make additional modifications (regarding security, for example) for the initial deployment.
Step 3: Add Servers
Copy OrangeFS Installation directory
Begin your deployment by copying the OrangeFS installation directory from the Build system to each server designated in your OrangeFS solution. You will have already identified these servers in the OrangeFS configuration file.
Set up security
If you select key-based security mode, you must copy a private key generated on the Build system to each of your Server systems.
Run
Running each server involves two administrative tasks:
● Initializing the working directories that represent the server's storage space
● Starting the server process A command statement that includes the OrangeFS server daemon (pvfs2-server) accomplishes both tasks.
Step 4: Add Clients
select client interface(s)
The Client system, with a variety of Client Interfaces supported by OrangeFS, provides many options for accessing OrangeFS. Client systems are not limited to the Linux operating environment. Depending on the Client Interface you select, the OS on your Client system can be Linux, Windows, MacOS X or even Apache (web-based).
Follow individual installation instructions
The requirements for client systems and interfaces can be addressed separately, since their instructions assume the file system servers are already installed and running.
Set up security
As you add each client, you must consider additional setup and configuration tasks, depending on the mode of security you select.
