Configure Ceph Storage for Optimal Performance

How to Configure Ceph Storage for Optimal Performance

Ceph is an open-source storage platform that offers high performance, reliability, and scalability. It provides unified storage in the form of object, block, and file storage. In this tutorial, we will guide you through configuring Ceph Storage to ensure optimal performance for your infrastructure needs.

Prerequisites

A working Linux environment. Ubuntu 18.04 or later is recommended.
A minimum of three nodes for the Ceph cluster to ensure data redundancy and reliability.
Network configuration allowing inter-node communication.
Basic knowledge of Linux command-line operations.

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Preparing Your Nodes

Ensure that all nodes are updated and have NTP synchronized for accurate timekeeping. On each node, run:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install ntp

2. Installing Ceph

On each node, add the Ceph repository and install the Ceph packages:

wget -q -O- 'https://download.ceph.com/keys/release.asc' | sudo apt-key add -

Then, create a source list and install Ceph:

echo 'deb https://download.ceph.com/debian-octopus/ $(lsb_release -sc) main' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ceph.list
debian-cd
sudo apt update
sudo apt install ceph-deploy

3. Deploying the Monitor Nodes

Initialize the cluster and deploy the first monitor node:

ceph-deploy new <node-name>
ceph-deploy mon create-initial

4. Adding OSDs

Prepare and activate OSDs (Object Storage Daemons):

ceph-deploy osd prepare <node-name>:/dev/sdb
ceph-deploy osd activate <node-name>:/dev/sdb

5. Managing and Verifying the Cluster

Once the OSDs are active, verify the cluster’s health:

ceph -s

This command should show a healthy status with all nodes in sync.

Troubleshooting

Issue: Network latency causing poor performance.
Solution: Ensure low-latency network interfaces and switches. Ceph performance largely depends on network setup.
Issue: Monitors not synchronizing.
Solution: Check NTP synchronization and firewall rules. All nodes must communicate on required ports.