Create a shared storage for Linux

Overview

This document explains how to create workspaces that share the same storage volume with the use of Samba Server and Samba Client components.

These components offer an automatic way to setup shared storage with Samba.

Please, note that this procedure currently works only for Linux-based systems.

The overall setup is illustrated in the diagram below.

Step 1: Create Samba password

Create a collaboration secret with the key "samba_password”.

To create a secret, please, refer to the paragraph “How to store a secret to a collaboration” in Secrets and workspace info: special parameter source types.

This password will be used as a parameter for both Samba components.

Step 2: Create a private network

Create a private network if you have not made a private network in your collaboration, yet.

This can be done by following the steps in Private network.

Step 3: Create your server and client catalog items

If you are creating your own catalog items that are supposed to share a storage volume, add the Samba Server component to a catalog item that plays the role of the server and Samba Client (Linux) to the one that plays the role of a client.

Check Create your own catalog items for the detailed description of the steps for creating a catalog item on Research Cloud.

Samba Server and Samba Client (Linux) components are also available on SURF Research Cloud by themselves, "wrapped" in the catalog items "Samba Server" and "Samba Client (Linux)”.

These catalog items can be used if you want to have two workspaces sharing a storage volume without creating your own catalog item.

Or you can use these catalog items as the base to develop your own one.

Step 4: Start a server workspace

Start a new workspace that will play the role of the server.

Follow the standard procedure for creating a new workspace.

On the step “Catalog items”, select your catalog item that contains the Samba Server component.

You can also choose the “Samba Server” catalog item from the Research Cloud catalog.

Step 5: Storage volume of the server

Continue creating a server workspace, and on the step “Options” choose a corresponding storage volume that you would like to share between your server workspace and clients.

The server shares the directory /data/volume_2/samba-share.

Step 6: Connect the server to a local network

On the same step, choose a local network that you would like to use for sharing your storage.

Finalise your workspace creation procedure.

Step 7: Start a client workspace

Start a new workspace that will play a role of a client.

Follow the standard procedure for creating a new workspace.

On the step “Catalog items”, select your catalog item that contains Samba Client (linux) component.

You can also choose the “Samba Client (Linux)” catalog item from the Research Cloud catalog.

Step 8: Connect the client to a local network

Continue creating a client workspace, and on the step “Options” select the same local network that you chose for your server workspace.

Step 9: Storage volume of a client

Please, note that you do not have to choose a storage volume for a client workspace.

Components will make sure that your client workspace is connected to the same storage volume as your server workspace.

The clients mount the shared storage at /samba_share.