ILRI Research Computing

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====== Research computing storage infrastructure, 2012 ======
Brainstorming the current status and future needs of the ILRI research computing storage infrastructure.

===== Current situation =====
  * HPC (June, 2011)
    * ~6TB of usable disk space, ~2.5TB in use right now
  * boran (database + VM server, January, 2012)
    * ~1.5TB usable disk space, ~20GB in use right now



===== Timeline =====
  * **May 18**: Alan, Isaac, Etienne, and Mark meet to discuss projects and upcoming storage requirements.  Notable:
    * very real possibility of a getting an Illumina MiSeq (shorter reads, but lots and lots of overlapping data)
    * Cassava genome project?
  * **May 24**: Alan and Isaac meet with NetApp storage representative ("GK" <gkumawat@techno-associates.co.ke>), facilitated by George Ogoti from ICT
    * Existing NetApp is expandable, there are various options we can explore
    * GK is going to get us a quote for the following infrastructure
      * RAID-DP (NetApp's version of RAID6, 2 disk failure)
      * Site redundancy (storage syncs nightly via fiber to ICRAF)
      * ILRI site will have two controllers for high availability
      * ICRAF site will have one controller (less critical storage)
      * Capacity 12TB or 24TB (with usable space roughly half of each figure)
  * **June 13, 2012**:
    * Got the quote back from GK at Techno Associates, two options:
      * 12TB dual configurations: $40,000
      * 24TB dual configurations: $48,000
    * We need to talk to Ian Moore to see what he thinks
    * It's possible we now use ICT's NetApp to provide 1-2TB for GIS server, then building some custom solution for the DMZ
  * **June 14, 2012**:
    * Brainstorming raw storage costs vs NetApp quote:
    * <file>NetApp quote	1TB x 24 = 29000 USD
NetApp quote	2TB x 24 = 39000 USD

scan.co.uk	1TB Seagate	75 GBP x 24 = 1800 (~2800 USD)
amazon.co.uk	1TB Seagate	65 GBP x 24 = 1560 (~2500 USD)

scan.co.uk	2TB Seagate	70 GBP x 24 = 1680 (~2600 USD)
amazon.co.uk	2TB Seagate	83 GBP x 24 = 1992 (~3100 USD)

scan.co.uk	3TB Hitachi	130 GBP x 24 = 3120 (~4900 USD)
amazon.co.uk	3TB Seagate	120 GBP x 24 = 2928 (~4600 USD)</file>
  * **June 18, 2012**:
    * Had a meeting with Ian Moore and Isaac Kahugu about storage
      * He said he'd support us building our own, but gave us tips to talk to Tor at ICRAF (GIS, MySQL, Drobo), and to consider Dell Equalogic for storage
      * Another point was that we could possibly buy storage from KENET (to sync off site), or maybe colocate a box there
  * **July 10, 2012**:
    * GK from Techno Associates called again with a new offer for a single-site, single-controller NetApp solution:
      * He said he can give us 12TB raw for $9,000, or 24TB for $11,000 (one controller only, excludes pricing for replication licenses)
  * **July 22, 2012**:
    * Begin compiling report about current situation, options, and recommendations
      * https://docs.google.com/document/d/123VL6l5xt1AspzqTaW2tpJ_XFUZGDIXUCsaFK2_EwUY/edit#
  * **July 23, 2012**:
    * George Ogoti provided us with an iSCSI target on their NetApp so we can test configuration and performance, but we're still waiting for a password to auto to the iSCSI.

===== Proposed NetApp architecture =====
Proposed architecture assuming we expand ICT's existing NetApp rack with extra controllers and storage.

{{ :brainstorms:research_computing_storage_2012.png?nolink |}}

**Key points**:
  * Raw storage is sliced in several chunks and shared appropriately
  * NetApp exports CIFS shares to corporate clients and servers (users authenticate with Active Directory credentials)
  * NetApp exports iSCSI block devices to Linux servers in order to allow them to manage their own storage/access/users directly in the OS

===== Alternatives =====
  * Build our own storage, ala Backblaze "pods": http://blog.backblaze.com/2011/07/20/petabytes-on-a-budget-v2-0revealing-more-secrets/
  * Using FreeBSD + ZFS?
  * FreeNAS storage based on AMD Fusion APUs: http://the.only.ipnextgen.net/fnas/doku.php

===== Links =====
  * Growing a ZFS pool (with good background on pools vs filesystems in ZFS): http://www.itsacon.net/?p=158