NAS @ HOME part 3 openfiler.com install and benchmark

Presentation

Openfiler is a powerful, intuitive browser-based network storage software distribution. Openfiler delivers file-based Network Attached Storage and block-based Storage Area Networking in a single framework.

Openfiler sits atop of CentOS #Linux (which is derived from sources freely provided to the public by a prominent North American Enterprise #Linux vendor). It is distributed as a stand-alone #Linux distribution. The entire software stack interfaces with third-party software that is all open source.

Status: stable, in development
# Developers: __

 Installation

Is straightforward, You only have to follow the flow on screen. But here is a small HowTo:

 HowTo: software RAID 5 install

What I want: software RAID 5, 4 disk of 320GB (real 305GB), using NVIDIA SATA chipset (not a dedicated RAID5 board).

Note: these pictures are not screenshots but picture taken with a sony camera…

http://www.openfiler.com/download
Download iso image from sourceforge and burn it to a CD	Insert CD, and boot the PC
The first step is to TEST the quality of the medium.	Openfiler did not recognize the NVIDIA controller.
choose "Add device"	NVIDIA drivers (both Ethernet and drive controller) are at the end of the list.
I’ve add both drivers manually. Then "Done"	The welcome page. click "Next"
Choose Keyboard language.	I am not a novice, so let’s look at the advanced configuration.
The 4 disks are recognized. First I add some space for the Operating System.	If You do not want to have a fifth disk just for the operating system, You’ll have to reserve a small amount of the global space for the Openfiler system. Note: this space will be located on the first disk and wont be in the raid array…so no redundancy. Anyway it is uncommon to install the RAID engine on the RAID array itself. Lets have 2GB for System.
And  1 GB for SWAP	Then I click on th button RAID, since I have no RAID predefined only the first choice is available: "Create a RAID partition"
I will have to create a RAID partition for each of the 4 drives, I reserved 300GB for disk SDB	300GB for disk SDC, for Disk SDA
and for disk SDD…till all 4 disks contains a RAID partition.	I click on the RAID button for the 5th times: and choose "create a RAID device"
My disk array will be named /RAID (mount point), Raid level 5	Result, a /RAID (device /dev/md0) with an EXT3 file system.
Nothing particular, default values are good	Language support: English
Choose TimeZone	Enter a good Root password. Mine s too small but it is only a prototype for determining performances and reliability of the setup.
Confirm all values entered by clicking Next	wait till the raid array initialization
CD get ejected, and reboot.	Point your browser to https://box_ip:446/ And administer remotely the box

If all my explanations are not clear enough, or You want more details, visit the official installation page

 HowTo: hardware RAID 5 install

in progress…

 Administration

Check Openfiler Administration guide
point your browser to https://box_ip:446/

 Problems encountered

 Web Interface GUI

Screenshots

 Performances Tests

in progress

 Conclusions