Note: "permalinks" may not be as permanent as we would like,
direct links of old sources may well be a few messages off.
Chris, DRBD works on top of a block device (partition, LVM, harddisk) and replicates "low-level" what ever is on top of the DRBD device. In your case this will probably a ext3 filesystem with /home mounted on it. Hardware does not need to be identical, but when using protocol C (safest, write OK only if confirmed by other node) replication or syncing speed will be limited to the slowest of the two servers. About the underlaying device: I usually use LVM since it allows me to easily resize the DRBD device on top of it (in case the DRBD metadata is on the same device). HTH, Bart ----- "Chris Barnes" <chris-barnes at tamu.edu> schreef: > First, I hope this is ok to post this question in this email list... > Secondly, I have been reading the Users Guide at > http://www.drbd.org/users-guide/ - but still have a few "before I > start" > type of questions. > > I am wanting to create a high-availability cluster and I *think* DRBD > is > what I am looking for. But I'm not quite sure. > > > My *thought* was to use DRBD to mirror the /home filesystem between > the > 2 machines - but I have someone working for me that is saying the DRBD > > mirrors "entire systems". If he is correct, wouldn't that mean that > 2 > computers would require the exact same hardware? > > > Or am I not even thinking of DRBD in the correct terms? After all, a > > "true high availability cluster" would mean my down time is measured > in > seconds, right? I would not have that if all I am mirroring is > /home... > > > > My systems (if it matters): > I have one disk array (10TB, Raid5+1) with /home on it's own > filesystem > using 7.2T (according to the df command). This machine is in > production > and has been in use for a couple of years now. > > I have another system that is completely blank and ready to configure > > any way that makes sense. It has 2 250gb drives in a hardware Raid0, > > and 8 2tb drives in a hardware Raid5 (currently Raid5+3 - trying to > give > me 8tb of space). > > > > So - where do I start? > By that I mean - I am unsure of even how to partition the drives on > the > new system: do I use LVM, or attempt to use partitions similar to the > > old system? Does it matter? > > > -- > Chris Barnes AOL IM: CNBarnes > chris-barnes at tamu.edu Yahoo IM: chrisnbarnes > Computer Systems Manager MSN IM: chris at txbarnes.com > Department of Physics ph: 979-845-1379 > Texas A&M University fax: 979-845-2590 > _______________________________________________ > drbd-user mailing list > drbd-user at lists.linbit.com > http://lists.linbit.com/mailman/listinfo/drbd-user