BeeFS¶
Routinely, distributed corporative file systems are deployed on dedicated servers - machines built from special components that are more reliable and performable than typical workstations and desktops. Of course, these quality characteristics result on a more expensive setting. This cost problem is more noticeable when an installation arrives its scalability limit. At this point, a whole new server machine must be deployed even resulting in an overcapacity.
BeeFS is a distributed file system for corporative use that harnesses the free disk space of desktops machines (already deployed on the corporation). By exploiting the computational underutilized infrastructure, BeeFS can build an aggregate storage area in a much more economic fashion than the prevalent dedicated servers approach. Furthermore, increases on service's demand (frequently caused by arrival of new corporative users) can be handled on a more precise way, by adding a single desktop (usually a new user comes together a new desktop).
10.000 feet Design Overview¶
BeeFS is based on a hybrid architecture that mixes characteristics of peer-to-peer and client-server systems. Data and meta-data are stored in separate components. A centralized component (Meta-data server) is used to store meta-data and is responsible for the naming service. Data blocks are collaboratively stored by the desktops in the corporation LAN. Data blocks are replicated over a group of desktop machines in order to mitigate machines turns-off. A typical BeeFS installation consists of a single metadata server and multiple data servers accessed by clients as shown in the below figure.
How can BeeFS help you ?¶
- Promoting a better utilization of computational infrastructure
- Decreasing the cost of storage service
- Aiding distributed data processing
BeeFS in a glance¶
- POSIX-Compliant
- Reliable Data Storage
- Plataform Agnostic
- Scalable
Documentation¶
- Design documents
- Papers and Presentations
Installation¶
Getting Involved¶
The following are just a few areas ways in which you can help:
- Join Mailing lists.
- Read the development polices
- Answer questions posted to the forums.
- Report bugs/request features.