ZDM: Using an STL for Zoned Media on Linux
As zoned block devices supporting the T10 ZBC and T13 ZAC specifications are becoming available there few strategies for putting these low TCO ($/TB and watts/TB) drives into existing storage clusters with minimal changes to the existing software stack.
ZDM is a Linux device mapper target for zoned media that provides a Shingled Translation Layer (STL) to support a normal block interface at near normal performance for certain use cases.
ZDM-Device-Mapper is an open source project available on github with a goal of being upstreamed to the kernel.
Learning Objectives
ZDM performance compared to existing disc drive options
How to determine if your workload is a likely candidate for using ZDM.
How to use and tune ZDM effectively for your workload.
Using ZDM in cloud storage environments.
Using ZDM in low resource embedded NAS / mdraid.