Server-Side Copy: Difference between revisions

From SambaWiki
(add section describing Offload Data Transfer (ODX))
(Restructuring the page and trying to make more clear to end users, how it works and what is needed (with less technical words :-)))
Line 1: Line 1:
== Introduction ==
= Introduction =
Samba 4.1.0 was the first release to ship with support for server-side copy operations via the SMB2 [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc246475.aspx FSCTL_SRV_COPYCHUNK] request.
Clients making use of server-side copy support, such as Windows Server 2012, can experience considerable performance improvements for file copy operations, as file data need not traverse the network.
This feature is enabled by default on the smbd file server.


Samba 4.1.0 was the first release to ship with support for server-side copy operations via the SMB2 [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc246475.aspx FSCTL_SRV_COPYCHUNK] request. Clients making use of server-side copy support, such as Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8, can experience considerable performance improvements for file copy operations, as file data need not traverse the network. <u>This feature is enabled by default on the smbd file server.</u>





= Client Support =

== Windows ==

* Windows Server 2012 and later

* Windows 8 and later

''Note: On these platforms, Windows Explorer initiated file copies attempt server-side copy offload by default. For other tools, ask the respective vendor for SMB2 FSCTL_SRV_COPYCHUNK support.''



== Linux ==

The Linux Kernel CIFS client [https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=9bf0c9cd431440a831e60c0a0fd0bc4f0e083e7f includes support] for issuing SMB2 FSCTL_SRV_COPYCHUNK_WRITE server-side copy requests. This feature can currently only be utilised by issuing a special CIFS_IOC_COPYCHUNK_FILE ioctl. Attempts to plumb this into the ''cp --reflink'' code path [http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel.cifs/9139 were rejected].





= Filesystem Support=

Client Side Copy works with any filesystem. But there are some additional improvements for [[#Btrfs_Enhanced_Server-Side_Copy_Offload|Btrfs]] in comparison with [[#Server-Side_Copy_Offload|other filesystems]].





= Traditional File Copy =


== Traditional File Copy ==
Prior to Samba 4.1.0, clients traditionally copied files by reading the source file data over the network and writing it back to the server through to the destination file on disk.
Prior to Samba 4.1.0, clients traditionally copied files by reading the source file data over the network and writing it back to the server through to the destination file on disk.

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
|-
|-
Line 26: Line 58:





== Server-Side Copy Offload ==


= Server-Side Copy Offload =

With Samba 4.1.0 and later, clients can offload copy operations to the server using Copy-Chunk requests. In processing such a request, the network round-trip is avoided.
With Samba 4.1.0 and later, clients can offload copy operations to the server using Copy-Chunk requests. In processing such a request, the network round-trip is avoided.

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
|-
|-
Line 44: Line 81:
* Duplicate file data stored on disk
* Duplicate file data stored on disk
|}
|}


Samba's smbd file server supports SMB2 Copy-Chunk requests by default, no additional configuration is required.
Samba's smbd file server supports SMB2 Copy-Chunk requests by default, no additional configuration is required.


'''Limitations'''
* The client must [https://wiki.samba.org/index.php?title=Server-Side_Copy#Client_Support support], and issue SMB2 FSCTL_SRV_COPYCHUNK server-side copy requests
* Both source and destination files must reside on the same Samba share


'''Limitations:'''

* The [[#Client_Support|client must support]], and issue SMB2 FSCTL_SRV_COPYCHUNK server-side copy requests.

* Both source and destination files must reside on the same Samba share!





= Btrfs Enhanced Server-Side Copy Offload =


== Btrfs Enhanced Server-Side Copy Offload ==
Along with server-side copy support, a Btrfs specific Samba VFS Module was newly added with 4.1.0. This module improves the performance and efficiency of server-side copy operations on Btrfs backed shares, by using the Btrfs clone-range IOCTL.
Along with server-side copy support, a Btrfs specific Samba VFS Module was newly added with 4.1.0. This module improves the performance and efficiency of server-side copy operations on Btrfs backed shares, by using the Btrfs clone-range IOCTL.

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
|-
|-
Line 69: Line 116:
** Source and destination files share the same on disk data extents
** Source and destination files share the same on disk data extents
|}
|}


Btrfs enhanced server-side copy can be enabled in ''smb.conf'' on a per share basis with:
Btrfs enhanced server-side copy can be enabled in ''smb.conf'' on a per share basis with:
<pre>
<pre>
Line 76: Line 125:
</pre>
</pre>



'''Limitations'''
'''Limitations:'''
* The client's FSCTL_SRV_COPYCHUNK server-side copy request must be Btrfs filesystem aligned

** Otherwise, Samba falls back to a [https://wiki.samba.org/index.php/Server-Side_Copy#Server-Side_Copy_Offload regular server-side copy]
* The client's FSCTL_SRV_COPYCHUNK server-side copy request must be Btrfs filesystem aligned.
* All other limitations associated with regular server-side copies

** Otherwise, Samba falls back to a [[#Server-Side_Copy_Offload|regular server-side copy]].

* All other limitations associated with [[#Server-Side_Copy_Offload|regular server-side copies]].





== Client Support ==
=== Windows ===
Windows Server 2012, Windows 8, and later releases support SMB2 FSCTL_SRV_COPYCHUNK server-side copy operations. On these platforms, Windows Explorer initiated file copies attempt server-side copy offload by default.


=== Linux ===
The Linux Kernel CIFS client [https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=9bf0c9cd431440a831e60c0a0fd0bc4f0e083e7f includes support] for issuing SMB2 FSCTL_SRV_COPYCHUNK_WRITE server-side copy requests. This feature can currently only be utilised by issuing a special CIFS_IOC_COPYCHUNK_FILE ioctl. Attempts to plumb this into the ''cp --reflink'' code path [http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel.cifs/9139 were rejected].


= Offload Data Transfer (ODX) =


== Offload Data Transfer (ODX) ==
ODX makes use of the [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/hh451101%28v=vs.85%29.aspx FSCTL_OFFLOAD_READ] and [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/hh451122%28v=vs.85%29.aspx FSCTL_OFFLOAD_WRITE] requests, such that the underlying storage subsystem independently transfers data, represented by tokens, between source and destination. This allows for offloaded data transfer between independent servers, provided that they are connected to an intelligent storage subsystem capable of generating and handling the ODX tokens. See Neal Christiansen's [http://www.snia.org/sites/default/files2/SDC2011/presentations/monday/NealChristiansen_Win8FileSystemPerformance.pdf SNIA SDC slides] for further details.
ODX makes use of the [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/hh451101%28v=vs.85%29.aspx FSCTL_OFFLOAD_READ] and [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/hh451122%28v=vs.85%29.aspx FSCTL_OFFLOAD_WRITE] requests, such that the underlying storage subsystem independently transfers data, represented by tokens, between source and destination. This allows for offloaded data transfer between independent servers, provided that they are connected to an intelligent storage subsystem capable of generating and handling the ODX tokens. See Neal Christiansen's [http://www.snia.org/sites/default/files2/SDC2011/presentations/monday/NealChristiansen_Win8FileSystemPerformance.pdf SNIA SDC slides] for further details.



Revision as of 08:36, 19 June 2014

Introduction

Samba 4.1.0 was the first release to ship with support for server-side copy operations via the SMB2 FSCTL_SRV_COPYCHUNK request. Clients making use of server-side copy support, such as Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8, can experience considerable performance improvements for file copy operations, as file data need not traverse the network. This feature is enabled by default on the smbd file server.



Client Support

Windows

  • Windows Server 2012 and later
  • Windows 8 and later

Note: On these platforms, Windows Explorer initiated file copies attempt server-side copy offload by default. For other tools, ask the respective vendor for SMB2 FSCTL_SRV_COPYCHUNK support.


Linux

The Linux Kernel CIFS client includes support for issuing SMB2 FSCTL_SRV_COPYCHUNK_WRITE server-side copy requests. This feature can currently only be utilised by issuing a special CIFS_IOC_COPYCHUNK_FILE ioctl. Attempts to plumb this into the cp --reflink code path were rejected.



Filesystem Support

Client Side Copy works with any filesystem. But there are some additional improvements for Btrfs in comparison with other filesystems.



Traditional File Copy

Prior to Samba 4.1.0, clients traditionally copied files by reading the source file data over the network and writing it back to the server through to the destination file on disk.

Traditional copy.png

Sequence

  1. Client issues read requests to server
  2. Server reads file data off disk
  3. Server sends data to client
  4. Client sends duplicate file data to server
  5. Server writes duplicate file data to disk


Result

  • File data traverses network and disk
  • Duplicate file data stored on disk



Server-Side Copy Offload

With Samba 4.1.0 and later, clients can offload copy operations to the server using Copy-Chunk requests. In processing such a request, the network round-trip is avoided.

Serverside copy.png

Sequence

  1. Client issues FSCTL_SRV_COPYCHUNK requests to server
  2. Server reads file data off disk
  3. Server writes duplicate file data to disk


Result

  • File data traverses disk only
    • Network round trip avoided
  • Duplicate file data stored on disk


Samba's smbd file server supports SMB2 Copy-Chunk requests by default, no additional configuration is required.


Limitations:

  • Both source and destination files must reside on the same Samba share!



Btrfs Enhanced Server-Side Copy Offload

Along with server-side copy support, a Btrfs specific Samba VFS Module was newly added with 4.1.0. This module improves the performance and efficiency of server-side copy operations on Btrfs backed shares, by using the Btrfs clone-range IOCTL.

Btrfs serverside copy.png

Sequence

  1. Client issues FSCTL_SRV_COPYCHUNK requests to server
  2. Server issues BTRFS_IOC_CLONE_RANGE filesystem ioctl


Result

  • File data does not traverse network or disk
    • Filesystem meta-data update only
  • No duplication of file data
    • Source and destination files share the same on disk data extents


Btrfs enhanced server-side copy can be enabled in smb.conf on a per share basis with:

   [share]
   path = /mnt/btrfs_fs/        # must reside within a Btrfs filesystem
   vfs objects = btrfs


Limitations:

  • The client's FSCTL_SRV_COPYCHUNK server-side copy request must be Btrfs filesystem aligned.



Offload Data Transfer (ODX)

ODX makes use of the FSCTL_OFFLOAD_READ and FSCTL_OFFLOAD_WRITE requests, such that the underlying storage subsystem independently transfers data, represented by tokens, between source and destination. This allows for offloaded data transfer between independent servers, provided that they are connected to an intelligent storage subsystem capable of generating and handling the ODX tokens. See Neal Christiansen's SNIA SDC slides for further details.

Samba does not currently support ODX - SMB2 FSCTL_SRV_COPYCHUNK server-side copies offer similar benefits, without the need for an ODX capable storage array or emulation within Samba.