The software defined data center continues to evolve with Storage, compute, and networking. ScaleIO has become a leading SDS solution and is continuing to improve. Below will cover some enhancements of ScaleIO 3.0.
Storage Efficiency
- Space Efficient layout
- 4k granularity disk layout – optimized for SSD
- Optimized for SSD and leverage NVDIMM’s
- Snaps now on equal footing with AFA when it comes to efficiency, management and performance
- Compression
- Variable size compression algorithm based on LZ4
- Optimized for SSD and leverages NVDIMM’s
- Can be turned on / off at a pool or volume level
Volume Migration
- Zero application impact
- Non-disruptive storage-side volume migrations moving volumes between different Storage Pools and Protection Domains
- Entire VTree can be non-disruptively migrated
Full Support for Dell EMC PowerEdge 14G and NVMe Drives
- ScaleIO 3.0 takes full advantage of the latest Dell hardware
- NVDIMMs
- NVMe
- ScaleIO Ready Nodes
- R740XD and R640 Support
- SSD, NVMe and HDD Options. Hybrid to be released later.
VMware vVols Support
- Tie VMs more directly to storage Volumes which provides simplified management, less resource contention, and the ability to leverage storage side features like snapshots
- Requires ESXi 6.0 and newer
- VASA service runs in a VM
- Mapping database is stored in a ScaleIO Volume
- HA is handled by VMware
- VASA services presents an API to VMware and talks directly to ScaleIO MDM
- Uses existing ScaleIO SVM Template and adds services to it
Snapshot enhancements
- Snapshot count increased by 4x
- 31 to 127 for current medium granular layout
- Fine granular layout snapshot count is increased 8x – 255 snapshots
- Volumes can be reverted to any snapshot within the vTree
- Volumes can be refreshed in place
- Snapshot can be deleted anywhere in the vTree without affecting other snapshots in the vTree
- Automated snapshot management
- Set snapshot creation and retention policy and ScaleIO will automatically manage the snapshots
- Snapshot management works with CG as well
AMS with OS/FW patching and Storage Only Support
- AMS handles Storage SW, OS and Firmware
- VMware support now for 6.5
- All components upgrade in a rolling manner
- ScaleIO Software
- SVM Operating System
- VMware ESX / RHEL OS
- Firmware for hardware components
I will be working increasingly with ScaleIO in the future so expect more posts!!