What is Ceph?
Ceph, The Future of Storage™, is a massively scalable, open source, software-defined storage system that runs on commodity hardware. Ceph has been developed from the ground up to deliver object, block, and file system storage in a single software platform that is self-managing, self-healing and has no single point of failure. Because of its highly scalable, software defined storage architecture, Ceph is an ideal replacement for legacy storage systems and a powerful storage solution for object and block storage for cloud computing environments.
View the range of Boston Ceph reference architecture validated solutions – in partnership with Supermicro and Inktank.
CEPH OBJECT STORAGE
Ceph’s software libraries provide client applications with direct access to the RADOS object-based storage system, and also provide a foundation for some of Ceph’s advanced features, including RADOS Block Device (RBD), RADOS Gateway, and the Ceph File System.
LIBRADOS
The Ceph librados software libraries enable applications written in C, C++, Java, Python and PHP to access Ceph’s object storage system using native APIs. The librados libraries provide advanced features, including:
- partial or complete reads and writes
- snapshots
- atomic transactions with features like append, truncate and clone range object level key-value mappings
CEPH BLOCK STORAGE
Ceph’s object storage system isn’t limited to native binding or RESTful APIs. You can mount Ceph as a thinly provisioned block device! When you write data to Ceph using a block device, Ceph automatically stripes and replicates the data across the cluster. Ceph’s RADOS Block Device (RBD) also integrates with Kernel Virtual Machines (KVMs), bringing Ceph’s virtually unlimited storage to KVMs running on your Ceph clients.
BENEFITS
- Thinly provisioned
- Resizable images
- Image import/export
- Image copy or rename
- Read-only snapshots
- Revert to snapshots
- Ability to mount with Linux or QEMU KVM clients!
CEPH FILE SYSTEM
Ceph’s object storage system offers a significant feature compared to many object storage systems available today: Ceph provides a traditional file system interface with POSIX semantics. Object storage systems are a significant innovation, but they complement rather than replace traditional file systems. As storage requirements grow for legacy applications, organizations can configure their legacy applications to use the Ceph file system too! This means you can run one storage cluster for object, block and file-based data storage.
BENEFITS
- It provides stronger data safety for mission-critical applications.
- It provides virtually unlimited storage to file systems.
- Applications that use file systems can use Ceph FS with POSIX semantics. No integration or customization required!
- Ceph automatically balances the file system to deliver maximum performance.
System Configurations
| System | Supermicro 6027R-E1R12T |
|---|---|
| CPUs | 2x Intel Xeon E5-2630 V2 |
| OSD Data Disks | 12x 4TB Digital Se HDDs |
| OSD Journal Disks | 2x 250GB 2.5” HDDs |
| Memory | 64GB Reg ECC 1866MHz DDR3 |
| Storage Controller | LSI 2208 with battery backup |
| Network Controller | Mellanox dual port ConnectX-3 |
| System | Supermicro 6017R-TDF |
|---|---|
| CPUs | 1x Intel Xeon E5-2630 V2 |
| Memory | 16GB Reg ECC 1866MHz DDR3 |
| OSD Journal Disks | 2x 250GB 2.5” HDDs |
| Network Controller | Mellanox dual port ConnectX-3 |