Configuring storage layouts

MAAS storage layouts unveiled

When configuring storage in MAAS, you’ve got multiple layout options to explore. If your system isn’t UEFI-compatible, consider sda2 as sda1 and enjoy an additional 512 MB of space.

One partition to rule them all: Flat layout

The Flat layout means one partition takes up the whole boot disk, formatted with ext4 and mounted at the root (/).

Options:

• boot_size: Sets the size of the boot partition. Default is zero, putting /boot on the root filesystem.
• root_device: The block device for the root partition. Usually the boot disk.
• root_size: Root partition size, 100% by default.

The flexible friend: LVM layout

LVM (Logical Volume Management) offers flexibility. A volume group vgroot covers a partition on your boot disk. Within it, a logical volume lvroot is defined.

Options:

• vg_name: Customise your volume group’s name.
• lv_name: Personalise your logical volume’s name.
• lv_size: Set the size, defaulting to the entire volume group.

The speedster: bcache layout

For better disk performance, the bcache layout uses your boot disk as the backing device and an SSD as the cache.

Options:

• cache_device: Opt for your cache device, defaulting to the smallest SSD.
• cache_mode: Adjust the cache mode; writethrough is standard.
• cache_size: Define your cache partition size.
• cache_no_part: Decide on partition creation for the cache device.

For VMware aficionados: VMFS6 layout

For VMware ESXi deployments, VMFS6 is your layout, automating both OS and datastore configurations.

Options:

• root_size: Sets the default VMFS Datastore size, generally the remaining disk space.

The blank canvas: Blank layout

The Blank layout clears all, making way for custom configurations. It leaves your system undeployable until you manually configure storage.

Note: Machines with this layout need manual storage configuration before deployment.

Choose wisely and tweak the options to make the storage layout fit your specific requirements.