Messages posted by: NLS

iSCSI?

I was going to tell you to make sure you make a robust product first and THEN add features.
Then I read this:

Of course, this will come after I am done with FlexRAID Live! and after I update the WebUI.

So we already agree.

Great!

Huge space... (expensive setup)

If you read my older articles you'll see that I wanted to utilize disks I already had (even IDE).

I posted about FlexRAID in my blog...

http://www.ilogic.gr/blog

ok test done

I don't attach a screenshot of the scheduler though because is simply... the same
(it used English and still uses English)

instead, I attach you my tomcat start "log" (without the locale variable), to see if you can see something interesting (for example I notice a "getLocale" problem - note that I see the same error with or without the variable set)

I am not sure how these relate to the command client though (or you just try to debug one at a time?)

will do that in about 20 hours

you see my VM is setup on my company PC (I don't take it along with me, as I don't use external hard disks any more)

will get back to you with this test

thanks

there...

Clear.

I just hope what you "concur" go in your "to do" list.

(we need to see a new version of this list - ok when wiki is ready)

I am trying to step away from webUI (mostly because it doesn't allow me to make my schedules system-wide yet) and reading about the console capabilities.

Questions:

(1) Where does webUI store it's data? (RAID setup, schedules I defined etc.)

(2) Is it possible to use those data and "migrate" to command line mode? By migrate I mean being able to make myself a proper config.txt not by hand, but by using webUI data.

(3) Where are the metadata stored by default? (or by the webUI)

(4) I don't get what you need the simple.cmd (in "dummies" thread) since I suspect the equivalent of:

is

(am I correct?)
It is simple enough you don't need an extra script for that.

myce, all the solutions I know of that make something "close" to what flexRAID does are NOT open source

good luck finding what you seek

(searching is good... for example I found flexRAID after something else - that I paid - led me to believe my investment was not valued by the author and I was possibly "just one open wallet" for him... we all are like that in commercial software, but we don't want to be rubbed on our face of the fact)

OK I have a nice picture for you.

You can see a screen grab of my virtual WHS + FlexRAID. I am using Sun's VirtualBox btw (really great, you can see even my USB webcam is installed).

Anyway here are things for you to note:

- Tomcat window, middle top. You can see it correctly picked the environment variable you proposed.

- Firefox window.
(a) Left window (btw it shouldn't just say "localhost" but "Chooser - localhost) shows the files and folder with Greek letters, with SOME of them (strangely enough, NOT all) as control characters.
(b) Right window (which should again say "Task panel - localhost"), shows that the problem with Greek is even when displaying the date!

- Left top window \\Flexwhs\Temp. You can see how the folder and files SHOULD look (it's the correct display).

- Left bottom window, normal DOS. You can see the files and folder look correctly.

- Bottom window, FlexRAID CMD client. You see how the Greek date, displays as trash (so I am sure everything Greek will display wrong there).

Displaying is one side of the problem... I wonder what will happen if I even try to use Greek named folders as DRU (using webUI or CMD client...).

Thanks man.
Clear as always.

I hope the "system schedule" function of the webUI got in your "to do" shortlist.

(now going to look for the extra info in the "for dummies" post... must have missed it)

Before going to a full "live" (as you call it) solution, it would be nice if you could utilize the engine you already got in a smarter way to make the Basic host, "semi" live.

IIRC quick-validate, is "light" enough to call during the day (maybe even every hour?). What if quick-validate (or validate) return code, could allow for an rsync to kickstart?
So an rsync could automatically start ONLY if there is (enough) data difference.
Or it can work the opposite way, NOT start a scheduled rsync if the parity is in fact already synced.

I am sure what I describe is maybe (up to a point) already possible with some smart scripting, but in any case it would become better if validate (and/or quick-validate) had a more usable output (like percentage of difference or something).

1---

I am not sure how your log system works now. I think it's just a matter of "live" console output, which someone could just grab by a redirection (>

and put to a file.
Shouldn't the system just have a proper log system? (a log file and in a perfect world also... syslog we can capture in some syslog client)

2---

I would love videos on properly restoring a failed RAID (or even WHS specific case).

3---

I would love to have some ready scripts (even just as an example), not only to create a RAID, but to define a FULL generic RAID's functionality.
More specifically:

- A script to create a RAID (you already have this)

- A script (that must be scheduled) to periodically check that RAID status (verify or validate?)

- A script (again to schedule) to periodically rsync the RAID

- A script to run after resolving a failure (replacing failed disk, wanting to "undelete" something, or whatever) to actually do the restore.

...this would allow n00bs (like me in FlexRAID) have a good start with the system even now that is not yet fully "intuitive".

4---

That is not a request, but a question, but I didn't want to create YET another thread.
I've seen that using webUI it is possible to schedule tasks.
Does this work only while webUI server is running or it uses another method (windows scheduler or cron job in linux), so that everything you set in webUI is actually scheduled "for ever and ever"?
(if it just works while webUI is running, then #4 turns to a request: please make the webUI schedules as system schedules)

5---

Packaging your solution:

- If you ask me, don't give ANY weight to GUI client. It would be one more thing to maintain, for no reason. A more feature-rich webUI is MORE than enough for everybody. I understand that since you use Java, the GUI is not something THAT hard to make (and takes off your hands the inter-OS porting), but still... no point doing it.

- Bundle the command-line client with the host ...single setup. I understand separating the webUI (for now), esp. since many people won't need it, but your command line should be your "beachhead", something to be able to push any user to go (without requesting to install anything extra) when there is something you need to debug or info you need from the system. Plus it will warranty that the user has the proper command-line version, for the host he runs (not an issue now, but could be an issue in the future when there will be newer command line versions etc.).

6---

Consider WHS add-in (yes again). Even if it's just a trick, like just hiding your normal webUI in a normal WHS button. I am saying this because of the much bigger "exposure" this would give to FlexRAID.

7---

Next-gen webUI:

- Add wizards for some common tasks (what I say in #3 above, is a nice example on what a great wizard should help the user configure).

- Prefer the clean interface, over "wow" but incompatible with browsers, interfaces.

---

...well that's all for now. I hope it doesn't look overwhelming. They are just ideas (and I am sure many of those, you already had in mind) ...in fact this gives use request #8:

8---

Make a nice thread that you keep an organized "wishlist". Possibly even with your own comments on how simple (or complex) or how soon (or not) something COULD be added.

Thaaaanks.

indeed - and tomcat is very light after all

but it would be nice in next webui version to have a nicer install (that also installs as service)

fine by me

after all WHS already has IIS, why use an extra web server?

Tried this:

http://www.andrewgrant.org/whiist

(not yet tab creator)

and worked fine to add a FlexRAID link in my WHS personal web page...

the problem now is to start the batch file that kickstarts tomcat, WITHOUT logging in my WHS (i.e. as a service)

any ideas?

(and you are interested in doing that ANYWAY)

Is this "shift" post obsolete or is it how things still are?

I suppose he didn't take a hard look eh?

I opened this thread since I want to ask a different question: If/when FlexRAID-Live comes, will you provide for a method for people using FlexRAID-Basic to migrate? I don't suppose FlexRAID-Live is a "stand-alone" entity, like FlexRAID-NAS? So it will still be something to use in a Windows machine or even WHS...

I've read in many places in your forum that you are actually open to other devs... Yet such an interesting program hasn't attracted more devs... Is there a reason? Is it your filtering or lack of interest by other devs? (btw, I would for example try to bring back the guy that made disparity - back when you had to disappear - and cooperate) Please comment (sorry if I am a bit "intrusive" - I am not even a journalist).

Hm ...btw I just figured the real meaning of "Live" in the title... I thought it would be like an OS live distribution, which makes no sense in FlexRAID, now I know you mean "live parity"... I think your marketing needs rethinking

...title sounds good but is misleading. If indeed Live is like Basic, just better, then FlexRAID2 would suffice as a title. If it's a different program that will not replace Basic, then may I suggest FlexRAID-Active or something in like that...

Not even rough, like "more in a month than in a year"?

since I don't want to mess this thread, I'll open a new one in 5'

Just to make the thread more complete, here is something else that might be useful towards this end:

http://blog.compugeeksoftware.com/blog/addins/releases/tabcreator-v0-0-1/