Hi, Andreas.
As you might remember, I've been using and advocating the "LizardFS" SDS
(Software Defined Storage) filesystem as shared cluster storage for my
bioinformatics work for a long time. I used it for many years on the HPC
cluster I built at the Mario Negri Institute in Milan and on my servers
in Italy. I'm currently using "LizardFS" at AAU (Assam Agricultural
University) in India and also on my own 'Garage' cluster in Scotland.
However, I've become increasingly worried about the abrupt removal of
"LizardFS" from Debian/Ubuntu repositories because of FTCFS errors and,
in particular, long-term support for the research group I work for at
AAU. So, I've been looking for an alternative SDS cluster filesystem.
I've looked at several SDS alternatives but, recently, I found out about
"SaunaFS" in a comment on the "LizardFS" repo:
https://github.com/lizardfs/lizardfs/issues/805#issuecomment-2238866486
I followed this up and took a look at the "SaunaFS" GitHub" repo:
https://github.com/aNeutrino/open-saunafs
This looks promising as a replacement for "LizardFS" and, today, I had a
meeting online with Aleksandr Ragel and the "SaunaFS" team at "leil
Storage":
https://leil.io/
This company sells storage hardware and, when "LizardFS" ceased trading,
they hired some of the former "LizardFS" developers to work for them on
"SaunaFS":
https://saunafs.com/
This is NOT a version of "LizardFS", but "SaunaFS" does use some of the
code from "LizardFS" and is being developed as a completely open-source
filesystem that underpins their commercial storage products and paid for
commercial support.
During our conversation, I asked Aleksandr if they plan to issue an RFP
(Request for Packaging) for Debian/Ubuntu. I've already compiled my own
'unofficial' deb's from their GitHub sources under Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.
However, at present, the official "SaunaFS" deb's are only available on
request from their company's private repo.
Whilst I realise that this is not quite within your remit as the leader
of the "Debian-Med" project I believe that people who use your packages
might be interested in "SaunaFS" as shared storage for bioinformatics.
If Aleksandr or one of the "SaunaFS" team post an RFP to:
https://wiki.debian.org/WNPP
Would you, as a Debian Developer, be willing to take an interest, or ask
another developer who might be interested?
Thanks,
Tony.
--
Minke Informatics Limited, Registered in Scotland - Company No. SC419028
Registered Office: 3 Donview, Bridge of Alford, AB33 8QJ, Scotland (UK)
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