Hi, I have an ad-hoc cluster of seven machines that are used for batch processed computations. Each machine has either a 1TB or 2TB local array. I'm currently investigating methods to gain cluster-wide visability of all the local arrays on all nodes. However, there are a few complications: - Each node should have read-only access to the rest of the cluster. - Any writes should only be done to the local array. - I need to support disconnected operation of any node. - Hot add/remove of a node. I think this also requires that there are no metadata servers. Some more background, we are performing batch image processing operations on large [constant] data sets. Currently we divide the data up and replicate it across the machines; then follows the nightmare of trying to assign work to the correct node with the correct portion of the source data. Having all nodes see the whole [distributed] data set would be of great benefit. When a node processes the data, it needs to be stored on its local array, since the machine may then be disconnected from the network to playback the video (at rates of upto 400MB/sec). This also requires that the disconnected node can read the filesystem without assistance from the rest of the cluster. Interconnect between the nodes is 1000baseT ethernet. A final spanner in the works, it `would be nice' if identical (by name) files appearing on seperate nodes could be load balanced in access in some way. Is any of this achievable with GlusterFS? Is any more achievable with modification? ..david
