Architecture and Design of the Linux Storage Stack

Master the design and structure of Linux storage stack and explore its sophisticated architecture

Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook

Key Features

• Explore the virtual file system (VFS) and how it serves as an abstraction layer for the actual file system
• Understand how the block layer acts as an intermediary between file systems and physical storage
• Discover the physical layout and protocols linked with storage media

Book Description

The Linux storage stack serves as a prime example of meticulously coordinated layers. Embark on a journey through the kernel code with Architecture and Design of the Linux Storage Stack, crafted for anyone seeking in-depth knowledge about the layered design of Linux storage and its landscape.

You'll explore the Linux storage stack and its various concepts. You'll unlock the secrets of the virtual filesystem and the actual filesystem and the differences in their implementation, the role of the block layer, the Multi-Queue and Device Mapper frameworks, I/O schedulers, physical storage layout, and how to analyze all the layers in the storage stack.

By the end of this book, you'll be acquainted with how a simple I/O request from a process travels down through all the layers and ends up in physical storage.

What you will learn

• Understand the role of the virtual filesystem
• Explore the different flavors of Linux filesystems and their key concepts
• Manage I/O operations to and from block devices using the block layer
• Deep dive into the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) subsystem and the layout of physical devices
• Gauge I/O performance at each layer of the storage stack
• Discover the best storage practices

Who this book is for

This book is for system and storage administrators, engineers, linux professionals, linux community in general, and anyone looking to expand their understanding of Linux and its storage landscape. Prior knowledge of Linux operating system is a must.

Table of Contents

1. Where It All Starts From – The Virtual Filesystem
2. Explaining the Data Structures in a VFS
3. Exploring the Actual Filesystems Under the VFS
4. Understanding the Block Layer, Block Devices, and Data Structures
5. Understanding the Block Layer, Multi-Queue, and Device Mapper
6. Understanding I/O Handling and Scheduling in the Block Layer
7. The SCSI Subsystem
8. Illustrating the Layout of Physical Media
9. Analyzing Physical Storage Performance
10. Analyzing Filesystems and the Block Layer
11. Tuning the I/O Stack

Muhammad Umer (RHCA®) is a systems engineer and trainer with more than six years of experience in working with Linux based systems, HA design & architecture, tuning operating system and underlying hardware for optimal performance and root cause analysis. Ever since a virus infected his laptop ten years ago, he switched to Linux. Turns out, it wasn’t the worst thing that ever happened. He has a particular preference for all things storage and in this book, he has tried to decode the mysteries of the Linux storage stack one disk sector at a time. When not immersed in the binary wonders of storage, you can find him savoring pizza and dreaming of a world where storage is as reliable as a perfectly timed cron job.