7.6 Mirror Disk.




This function uses to share necessary data for services between cluster nodes which are connected by networks.

Mirroring enables a standby server to have the same data as an active server, by replicating data which is accessible from only local point to the standby server through network.

The replication software DRBD9 helps with such mirroring function, and an agent indicates  the thing that manages the software. The agent manages and registers mirroring configuration for 1:1 replication.

The agent also manages volume to replicate by receiving event in real time from the replication software DRBD9.

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It is essential for DRBD9 to be installed in advance, the function of the internal meta data is not available.



[Figure] Mirroring Configuration


Mirror Mode

Mirror mode employs both asynchronous and synchronous mirroring schemes. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages between synchronous and asynchronous mirroring is essential to the correct operation of this.

Asynchronization Mode

With asynchronous mirroring, each write is captured and a copy of this is made. That copy is queued to be transmitted to the target system as soon as the network will allow it. Meanwhile, the original write request is committed to the underlying storage device and control is immediately returned to the application that initiated the write. At any given time, there may be write transactions waiting in the queue to be sent to the target machine.  But it is important to understand that these writes reach the target volume in time order, so the integrity of the data on the target volume is always a valid snapshot of the source volume at some point in time.  Should the source system fail, it is possible that the target system did not receive all of the writes that were queued up, but the data that has made it to the target volume is valid and usable.

Semi Synchronization Mode

With semi-synchronous mirroring, each write is captured and transmitted to the target system. Local write completes in the source as soon as the replication packet has reached the target. Normally, no writes are lost in case of failover , but this may can be lost when both nodes are failed simultaneously.

Synchronization Mode

With synchronous mirroring, each write is captured and transmitted to the target system to be written on the target volume at the same time that the write is committed to the underlying storage device on the source system.  Once both the local and target writes are complete, the write request is acknowledged as complete and control is returned to the application that initiated the write.  With synchronous mirroring, each write is intercepted and transmitted to the target system to be written on the target volume at the same time that the write is committed to the underlying storage device on the source system.  Once both the local and target writes are complete, the write request is acknowledged as complete and control is returned to the application that initiated the write. 


Adding

Add the mirror disk resource to a group.

  1. When add a resource from a group name, select a group → right click → 'Add Resource'. Or select "Edit(E)" from the main menu bar select "Add Resource". Or select "Add Resource" icon from the tool bar.
  2. Select 'MirrorDisk' from Resource Type lists and click 'Next' button. When add a resource from the MirrorDisk resource type name, this step will be skipped.
  3. Select the source server and mirror volume
  4. Chooses a volume of the meta disk.

    The volume of the meta disk needs another seperate volume available to attach a drive letter. The followings need to be prepared for making such volume:

    1. Drive letter
      For example, M

    2. Directory mount
      For example, C:\vdrive
    3. Volume's name in GUID format
      For example, \\?\Volume{ed8a8f02-18b3-11e6-91b4-000c29ac57f8}\
    4. VHD (Virtual Hard Disk)
      For example
        1. m c:\r0_meta.vhd # VHD + format of drive letter
        2. C:\vdrive c:\r0_meta.vhd # VHD + mounting format of a directory
        3. \\?\Volume{ed8a8f02-18b3-11e6-91b4-000c29ac57f8}\  c:\r0_meta.vhd # VHD + GUID method


    외부 메타 데이터 볼륨

    A meta volume should be created with RAW status that the volume was not formatted, when creating a separate volume. WDRBD accesses to a meta volume as a sector unit basically, therefore, some part of a sector may not accessible because those are protected because of result from request for an authority to write against a boot record area if the volume has been formatted through the particular file system such as NTFS type. Moreover, it would not be able to use as a meta disk for WDRBD because a meta area of the file system such as MFT is made. So it is recommended choosing the option for what the volume is not formatted when creating the initial volume.


    [Figure] Mirror Disk Added

  5. When click the "OK" button, following warning message will be displayed and click the "OK" button if the informations are correct.
     
    [Figure] Alert popup message after click OK button

  6. Click the "Finish" button to add the mirror disk resource 


Deleting

Select "Resource type" → right click → delete resource.

  1. Click the "Delete resource" and a confirming message about deleting resource will appear.

    [Figure] Check resource view

  2. Click the "OK" button and a confirming message about deleting the mirror configuration will appear.

    [Figure] Deleting mirror disk view

  3.  Click the "OK" button to delete all, or click the "Cancel" button to delete only a DR resource of a mirrored disk configured on MCCS.



State

The following table explains the state of mirror disk resource.

Mirror disk agent: Manages a mirror disk, and to use this, it is necessary to install a replication program

StateAgent commandDescriptionNote

Online

Source disk is accessible to read/write.

Offline

the role of mirror disk is demoted to Secondary.


Monitoring

<Source Volume>

Checks if replication is in the Primary status and data is UptoDate.

<Target Volume>

Checks if replication is in the Secondary status.


Offline

Source and target disk is not fault state but locked so that cannot access both disk.

Online

After setting the role of mirror disk to Primary.


Monitoring

Refer to the description of monitoring as above.


Fault

Online

Refer to the above online command.


Offline

the role of mirror disk is demoted to Secondary.




Attribute

Show the specified attribute of mirror disk resource.

Attribute

Description

TypeDefaultEditNote
AddressIt is an IP address used by mirror disk.STRING
X
ChkDskIf this is set to true, it perform the check disk command when the mirror disk is taken online.
Before perform this, the mirroring will be automatically paused and this will be resumed after this is completed.
BOOLEANfalseO
ChkDskArgIt defines check disk command option when Chkdsk is true.
/F: Modifies the error in the disk.
/R: Recovers the information of damaged sector. (Including /F)
STRING/FO
ChkDskTimeoutIt is timeout limit to complete or stop the check disk of mirror disk before attaching the disk . If value is '0', MCCS waits to complete the check disk before attaching the disk.INTEGER120secO
ConnectionDisplay the status of connection between the mirror disk's nodes.STRING
X
DeviceThis is a virtual device name used by mirror disk.STRING
X
DirtyBitThere are dirty bits in the source disk.
When changed block isn't transmitted to the target disk, this is marked on the block.
BOOLEANfalseX
DiskStateDisplay the status of disk managed by the mirror disk.STRING
X
GIIt is an identifier used to determine whether each household's data copied by the mirror disk is of the latest version.STRING
X
HostMirrorDisk host name of using resource configuration.STRING
X
MetaDiskIt is the disk where meta data is saved.STRING
X
OutOfSync

Displays whether there is a value of Out Of Sync which needs synchronization. In case it is,

the value is true and it also indicates that there is data that synchronization or replication between nodes has not finished.

Therefore, failover will be blocked out in case of the true value.

BOOLEANfalseX
PortIt is the communication port number used for mirror disk.INTEGER7788X
ProtocolIt displays mirror type.
A = Async mode
B = Semi sync mode
C = Sync mode 
STRINGBX
Replication

Display the status of replication between the mirror disk's nodes.

STRING
X
Resource

Displays the name managed by DRBD

STRING
X
Role

Display the disk role (Primary or Secondary) of the node.

STRING
X

Specified attribute values are normally entered when add the resource, This value can be edited or viewed through Specified Attribute table in the Resource Attributes tab on the detailed information panel.  

MCCS has function to limit input values against user's input field, and it provides function detects automatically data which is input wrong by user's mistake