Installation guide

Chapter 4. Running GFS on a GNBD Server Node
You can run GFS on a GNBD server node, with some restrictions. In addition, running GFS on a GNBD
server node reduces performance. T he following restrictions apply when running GFS on a GNBD
server node.
Important
When running GFS on a GNBD server node you must follow the restrictions listed; otherwise, the
GNBD server node will fail.
1. A GNBD server node must have local access to all storage devices needed to mount a GFS file
system. The GNBD server node must not import (gnbd_im port command) other GNBD devices
to run the file system.
2. T he GNBD server must export all the GNBDs in uncached mode, and it must export the raw
devices, not logical volume devices.
3. GFS must be run on top of a logical volume device, not raw devices.
Note
You may need to increase the timeout period on the exported GNBDs to accommodate reduced
performance. The need to increase the timeout period depends on the quality of the hardware.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 Global Network Block Device
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