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DRBD

DRBD is an open-source, high-performance, high-availability replicated block device storage solution for Linux and Windows.

Description

DRBD (Distributed Replicated Block Device) is open-source software providing high-performance, high-availability block storage for Linux systems. It functions as a kernel driver, mirroring data across multiple nodes for redundancy and failover. Used extensively in high-availability clusters, DRBD also facilitates the creation of larger, software-defined storage pools, particularly beneficial in cloud environments. Its efficient data path minimizes user-space involvement, resulting in fast write operations even with frequent small writes. This makes it ideal for supporting applications such as HA databases and messaging queues. DRBD offers several utilities for managing configurations, resources, and metadata.

Features

DRBD operates as a kernel driver, interacting directly with the system's block devices and networking. It supports synchronous and asynchronous data replication between nodes to accommodate various performance needs. It provides advanced networking options, including TCP/IP and RDMA over InfiniBand or Ethernet, to optimize network performance. DRBD offers several command-line utilities for configuration management, monitoring, and troubleshooting. It's designed with a focus on efficient data handling, making it suitable for high-volume, low-latency applications. DRBD also supports Windows with its WinDRBD product offering similar functionalities on that platform.

Benefits

High availability and data redundancy ensure continuous operation even in case of hardware or network failures. High performance is achieved through efficient data path design and support for various networking options, including RDMA for optimal throughput and low latency. DRBD's versatility allows for scaling and flexibility in various deployment scenarios, including high-availability clusters and software-defined storage. The open-source nature fosters community support and enables customization. It provides disaster recovery capabilities to mitigate issues caused by varying bandwidth and latency across different network connections. The command-line interface simplifies cluster management and integration with existing infrastructure.

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