PowerScale OneFS 9.8.0.0 Web Administration Guide

Writing files

On a node, the input-output operations of the OneFS software stack split into two functional layers: A top layer, or initiator, and a bottom layer, or participant. In read and write operations, the initiator and the participant play different roles.

When a client writes a file to a node, the initiator on the node manages the layout of the file on the cluster. First, the initiator divides the file into blocks of 8 KB each. Second, the initiator places the blocks in one or more stripe units. At 128 KB, a stripe unit consists of 16 blocks. Third, the initiator spreads the stripe units across the cluster until they span a width of the cluster, creating a stripe. The width of the stripe depends on the number of nodes and the protection setting.

After dividing a file into stripe units, the initiator writes the data first to non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM) and then to disk. NVRAM retains the information when the power is off.

During the write transaction, NVRAM guards against failed nodes with journaling. If a node fails mid-transaction, the transaction restarts without the failed node. When the node returns, it replays the journal from NVRAM to finish the transaction. The node also runs the AutoBalance job to check the file's on-disk striping. Meanwhile, uncommitted writes waiting in the cache are protected with mirroring. As a result, OneFS eliminates multiple points of failure.