ZStack ZStone 5.2.0
On February 2, 2024, ZStack ZStone officially released its latest version, ZStack ZStone 5.2.0. This release introduces a series of important features, which are described in detail below.
Highlights
- Enhanced lifecycle management for block storage volumes: Provides comprehensive, flexible, and efficient control of block storage resources.
- iSCSI access for Block Storage: Provides upper-layer applications with block storage resources through seamless iSCSI access to the distributed storage system.
Release Overview
- Enhanced lifecycle management for block storage volumes.
- Supports configuring service QoS to precisely control volume IOPS and bandwidth.
- Supports expanding block storage volumes on demand.
- Supports volume snapshots and rollback to protect data.
- Supports cloning block storage volumes to quickly create data copies.
- Supports migrating volumes across storage pools.
- iSCSI access for Block Storage.
- Supports block gateway management.
- Supports client group management.
- Supports access path management.
- Improves the performance of the independently developed cache solution.
- Adds the Block Storage - iSCSI Protocol license.
- Adds iSCSI-related alarms.
Other Improvements and Fixes
Block Storage
Enhanced Lifecycle Management for Block Storage Volumes
In previous versions, lifecycle management for block storage volumes supported only creation and deletion. ZStack ZStone 5.2.0 enhances lifecycle management and provides comprehensive, flexible, and efficient control of storage resources.
Configuring Service QoS to Precisely Control Volume IOPS and Bandwidth
Starting from ZStack ZStone 5.2.0, service QoS can be configured independently for each block storage volume, including maximum read/write IOPS and bandwidth. Users can precisely control data access speed, priority, and resource allocation for different workloads. This ensures the required storage performance for critical services while preventing an overloaded volume from affecting the entire storage pool.
Expanding Block Storage Volumes On Demand
Starting from ZStack ZStone 5.2.0, block storage volumes can be expanded online to meet growing data storage requirements and improve resource utilization.
Volume Snapshots and Rollback for Data Protection
Starting from ZStack ZStone 5.2.0, snapshot creation and rollback are supported. Users can quickly create point-in-time copies of volume data for backup, recovery, development, or testing, reducing data protection costs and improving data security. ZStack ZStone also provides a unified interface for centralized snapshot management and easier O&M.
Cloning Block Storage Volumes to Quickly Create Data Copies
Starting from ZStack ZStone 5.2.0, block storage volumes can be cloned from snapshots or from other block storage volumes. When cloning from a snapshot, users can choose linked cloning or full cloning.
Migrating Volumes Across Storage Pools
Starting from ZStack ZStone 5.2.0, block storage volumes can be migrated across storage pools. Users can move a volume from one pool to another and flexibly adjust its location based on load changes, performance requirements, or hardware maintenance, improving resource scheduling and management flexibility.
iSCSI Access for Block Storage
ZStack ZStone 5.2.0 adds iSCSI support. Users can seamlessly access the distributed storage system through iSCSI and provide block storage resources to upper-layer applications.
Block Gateway Management
Starting from ZStack ZStone 5.2.0, the Block Gateway page allows users to centrally manage and monitor gateway devices used by iSCSI connections.
Client Group Management
- Add client devices: Users can create client groups for workload requirements and add specified client devices to a group by IQN.
- Configure CHAP authentication: To secure iSCSI connections, an initiator username and password can be configured for a client group. After configuration, mutual CHAP authentication can be enabled for an access path.
Access Path Management
- CHAP authentication: Supports enabling one-way or mutual CHAP as needed to secure iSCSI connections.
- Multipathing: Supports multipath ALUA configuration for failover.
- Flexible resource management: Supports adding or removing client groups, block gateways, and block storage volumes for an access path.
Performance Improvement
Performance Improvements for the Independently Developed Cache Solution
- 4 KB random reads and writes: The optimized cache solution delivers better performance for 4 KB random I/O and improves overall system I/O throughput.
- 4 KB random read/write latency: Lower latency provides smoother and more responsive data access for applications that rely on high-speed access to small blocks.
License Management
New Block Storage - iSCSI Protocol License
ZStack ZStone 5.2.0 adds the Block Storage - iSCSI Protocol license, which provides iSCSI-based block storage services and improves data management and transfer capabilities. This license requires a Block Storage feature license and cannot be used independently.
Monitoring and Alarming
New iSCSI-Related Alarms
Starting from ZStack ZStone 5.2.0, multiple iSCSI-related alarm rules monitor access paths and block gateway service status in real time. When related resources meet alarm conditions, alarms are triggered so that users can promptly and accurately understand iSCSI storage access conditions.
Other Improvements and Fixes
- Adjusts the resource deletion policy and removes the force-delete option to better protect resources.
- Updates product terminology by renaming the management network, storage public network, and storage cluster network to Admin IP, Public IP, and Cluster IP, respectively, to avoid ambiguity.
- Optimizes monitoring chart display logic so that monitoring data for unhealthy resources can be viewed, helping users quickly locate and diagnose issues.