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><H1
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><A
NAME="STRUCTURE"
>3. Structure</A
></H1
><P
> <I
CLASS="EMPHASIS"
>A quick overview on how all parts fit together in the overall
structure. An example from the Multi Disk HOWTO is used.</I
>
</P
><P
> As this type of document is supposed to be as much for learning as
a technical reference document I have rearranged the structure to
this end. For the designer of a system it is more useful to have
the information presented in terms of the goals of this exercise
than from the point of view of the logical layer structure of the
devices themselves. Nevertheless this document would not be
complete without such a layer structure the computer field is so
full of, so I will include it here as an introduction to how it
works.
</P
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><A
NAME="LOGICAL-STRUCT"
>3.1. Logical structure</A
></H2
><P
> This is based on how each layer access each other, traditionally
with the application on top and the physical layer on the bottom.
It is quite useful to show the interrelationship between each of
the layers used in controlling drives.
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> ___________________________________________________________
|__ File structure ( /usr /tmp etc) __|
|__ File system (ext2fs, vfat etc) __|
|__ Volume management (AFS) __|
|__ RAID, concatenation (md) __|
|__ Device driver (SCSI, IDE etc) __|
|__ Controller (chip, card) __|
|__ Connection (cable, network) __|
|__ Drive (magnetic, optical etc) __|
-----------------------------------------------------------
</PRE
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>
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> In the above diagram both volume management and RAID and
concatenation are optional layers. The 3 lower layers are in
hardware. All parts are discussed at length later on in this
document.
</P
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><A
NAME="DOC-STRUCT"
>3.2. Document structure</A
></H2
><P
> Most users start out with a given set of hardware and some plans
on what they wish to achieve and how big the system should be.
This is the point of view I will adopt in this document in
presenting the material, starting out with hardware, continuing
with design constraints before detailing the design strategy that
I have found to work well. I have used this both for my own
personal computer at home, a multi purpose server at work and
found it worked quite well. In addition my Japanese co-worker in
this project have applied the same strategy on a server in an
academic setting with similar success.
</P
><P
> Finally at the end I have detailed some configuration tables for
use in your own design. If you have any comments regarding this
or notes from your own design work I would like to hear from you
so this document can be upgraded.
</P
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><H2
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><A
NAME="READING-PLAN"
>3.3. Reading plan</A
></H2
><P
> <I
CLASS="EMPHASIS"
>As you go beyond 50 pages or so there will be a lot of
text that experts and even the experienced do not need to read.
Keeping in mind that we wish to care for all kinds of people in
the Linux world we might have to make a reading plan. Again,
an example follows from the Multi Disk HOWTO.</I
>
</P
><P
> Although not the biggest HOWTO it is nevertheless rather big
already and I have been requested to make a reading plan to make
it possible to cut down on the volume.
</P
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> <P
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><DT
>Expert</DT
><DD
><P
> (aka the elite). If you are familiar with Linux as well as
disk drive technologies you will find most of what you need in
the appendices. Additionally you are recommended to read the
FAQ and the <A
HREF="bits-n-pieces.html"
>Section 12</A
>chapter.
</P
></DD
><DT
>Experienced</DT
><DD
><P
> (aka Competent). If you are familiar with computers in
general you can go straight to the chapters on
<A
HREF="technologies.html"
>Section 4</A
> and continue from there on.
</P
></DD
><DT
>Newbie</DT
><DD
><P
> (mostly harmless). You just have to read the whole thing.
Sorry. In addition you are also recommended to read all the
other disk related HOWTOs.
</P
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