[Starlingx-discuss] CEPH Based Testing Options

[Arce Moreno, Abraham]

In today's "Weekly StarlingX non-OpenStack Distro" [0] there was a requirement for
our validation activities around CEPH so we need your help to learn more about
the specific hardware.

StarlingX allows a flexible storage options:

1. Linux Logical Volume Manager
2. CEPH
3. External SAN

[ CEPH : StarlingX Dedicated Storage ]

StarlingX system can be configured as Ceph-backend storage (Controller) and
have available N number of Compute and Storage hosts, today we are deploying this as
a "Dedicated Storage" configuration [1] :

- 2 Controller Nodes
- 2 Compute Nodes
- 2 Storage Nodes

[ CEPH : Homepage Documentation ]

Looking at the Hardware Recommendations from CEPH Documentation, they list N number of
components including requirements for CPU, RAM and a bunch of storage devices
(Hard Disks, SSDs) [2] StarlingX provides this provisioning automatically if "Dedicated Storage" is 
configuration chosen.

[CEPH : Specific Hardware ]

Can you please guide us on what does that specific need makes it unique?
Is it a hardware? Is it a configuration? Is the mix of both?

1. Is StarlingX "Dedicated Storage" configuration one of the 2 possible CEPH based testing options?
2. Do we need a separate CEPH cluster provisioned including their own OSDs and monitors?
3. Any other?

We would appreciate any link to information and architecture to learn more about this request.
 
[0] https://wiki.openstack.org/wiki/StarlingX/Distro
[1] https://wiki.openstack.org/wiki/StarlingX/Installation_Guide_Virtual_Environment/Dedicated_Storage
[2] http://docs.ceph.com/docs/jewel/start/hardware-recommendations/