Using snapshot enabled filesystem to create clones and AppVMs from templates (ZFS, btrfs)

[stumbaumr]

Hi,
just started out on using QubesOS. Trying to extensively using templates and cloned templates and basing AppVMs on them (Windows and Linux).
From my experience at my workplace (using Diskless root NFS servers booting from ZFS snapshots) I would like to propose following improvements:

• Use ZFS for the file system
• On template shutdown create automatically a snapshot (using a volume per template)
• Use snapshot clone to create new templates
• Use snapshot to start AppVM from template

Benefits

• Rollback to a working template is very easy, just use the previous working snapshot
• Saving space and cloning in the blink of an eye
• Snapshots are per definition readonly
• and all the other benefits of ZFS

[indolering]

This would violate the terms of the GPL.

[indolering]

This would violate the terms of the GPL.

[marmarek]

We plan to have something very similar in Qubes 4.0, done with LVM thin snapshots.

[marmarek]

We plan to have something very similar in Qubes 4.0, done with LVM thin snapshots.

[liilac]

btrfs would probably be a better candidate than ZFS, if this were to be done with the FS rather than LVM

[liilac]

btrfs would probably be a better candidate than ZFS, if this were to be done with the FS rather than LVM

[rustybird]

@stumbaumr:

If you use the btrfs installation layout, clones are already done instantly using reflink copies.

There are some additional btrfs specific improvements that would be pretty easy, e.g. allowing running VMs to be cloned or backed up.

@marmarek:

We plan to have something very similar in Qubes 4.0, done with LVM thin snapshots.

Interesting. Is LVM going to become the preferred or even mandatory layout?

[rustybird]

@stumbaumr:

If you use the btrfs installation layout, clones are already done instantly using reflink copies.

There are some additional btrfs specific improvements that would be pretty easy, e.g. allowing running VMs to be cloned or backed up.

@marmarek:

We plan to have something very similar in Qubes 4.0, done with LVM thin snapshots.

Interesting. Is LVM going to become the preferred or even mandatory layout?

[marmarek]

On Tue, Jul 05, 2016 at 06:43:05AM -0700, Rusty Bird wrote:

We plan to have something very similar in Qubes 4.0, done with LVM thin snapshots.

Interesting. Is LVM going to become the preferred or even mandatory layout?

Yes.

Best Regards,
Marek Marczykowski-Górecki
Invisible Things Lab
A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?

[marmarek]

On Tue, Jul 05, 2016 at 06:43:05AM -0700, Rusty Bird wrote:

We plan to have something very similar in Qubes 4.0, done with LVM thin snapshots.

Interesting. Is LVM going to become the preferred or even mandatory layout?

Yes.

Best Regards,
Marek Marczykowski-Górecki
Invisible Things Lab
A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?

[kalkin]

@andrewdavidwong I think we can close this, because we already have a snapshot enabled filesystem for VMs now.

[kalkin]

@andrewdavidwong I think we can close this, because we already have a snapshot enabled filesystem for VMs now.

[andrewdavidwong]

Great, thanks!

[andrewdavidwong]

Great, thanks!