1.2. Prerequisites

Ensure that your environment meets the following requirements.
File System Requirements

XFS - Format the back-end file system using XFS for glusterFS bricks. XFS can journal metadata, resulting in faster crash recovery. The XFS file system can also be defragmented and expanded while mounted and active.

Note

Red Hat assists existing Gluster Storage Software Appliance customers using ext3 or ext4 to upgrade to a supported version of Red Hat Gluster Storage using the XFS back-end file system.
Logical Volume Manager

Format glusterFS bricks using XFS on the Logical Volume Manager to prepare for the installation.

Network Time Configuration
  • Synchronize time across all Red Hat Gluster Storage servers using the Network Time Protocol (NTP) daemon.

1.2.1. Network Time Protocol Setup

Use a remote server over the Network Time Protocol (NTP) to synchronize the system clock. Set the ntpd daemon to automatically synchronize the time during the boot process as follows:
  1. Edit the NTP configuration file /etc/ntp.conf using a text editor such as vim or nano. 
    # nano /etc/ntp.conf
  2. Add or edit the list of public NTP servers in the ntp.conf file as follows: 
    server 0.rhel.pool.ntp.org
server 1.rhel.pool.ntp.org
server 2.rhel.pool.ntp.org
    The Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 version of this file already contains the required information. Edit the contents of this file if customization is required.
  3. Optionally, increase the initial synchronization speed by appending the iburst directive to each line: 
    server 0.rhel.pool.ntp.org iburst
server 1.rhel.pool.ntp.org iburst
server 2.rhel.pool.ntp.org iburst
  4. After the list of servers is complete, set the required permissions in the same file. Ensure that only localhost has unrestricted access: 
    restrict default kod nomodify notrap nopeer noquery
restrict -6 default kod nomodify notrap nopeer noquery
restrict 127.0.0.1
restrict -6 ::1
  5. Save all changes, exit the editor, and restart the NTP daemon: 
    # service ntpd restart
  6. Ensure that the ntpd daemon starts at boot time: 
    # chkconfig ntpd on
Use the ntpdate command for a one-time synchronization of NTP. For more information about this feature, see the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Deployment Guide.