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       lvmcache — LVM caching

       lvm(8) includes two kinds of caching that can be used to improve the

       performance of a Logical Volume (LV). When caching, varying subsets

       of an LV's data are temporarily stored on a smaller, faster device

       (e.g. an SSD) to improve the performance of the LV.

       To do this with lvm, a new special LV is first created from the

       faster device. This LV will hold the cache. Then, the new fast LV is

       attached to the main LV by way of an lvconvert command. lvconvert

       inserts one of the device mapper caching targets into the main LV's

       i/o path. The device mapper target combines the main LV and fast LV

       into a hybrid device that looks like the main LV, but has better

       performance. While the main LV is being used, portions of its data

       will be temporarily and transparently stored on the special fast LV.

       The two kinds of caching are:

       · A read and write hot-spot cache, using the dm-cache kernel module.

         This cache tracks access patterns and adjusts its content

         deliberately so that commonly used parts of the main LV are likely

         to be found on the fast storage. LVM refers to this using the LV

         type cache.

       · A write cache, using the dm-writecache kernel module.  This cache

         can be used with SSD or PMEM devices to speed up all writes to the

         main LV. Data read from the main LV is not stored in the cache,

         only newly written data.  LVM refers to this using the LV type

         writecache.

       1. Identify main LV that needs caching

       The main LV may already exist, and is located on larger, slower

       devices.  A main LV would be created with a command like:

         $ lvcreate -n main -L Size vg /dev/slow_hhd

       2. Identify fast LV to use as the cache

       A fast LV is created using one or more fast devices, like an SSD.

       This special LV will be used to hold the cache:

         $ lvcreate -n fast -L Size vg /dev/fast_ssd

         $ lvs -a

         LV   Attr       Type   Devices

         fast -wi------- linear /dev/fast_ssd

         main -wi------- linear /dev/slow_hhd

       3. Start caching the main LV

       To start caching the main LV, convert the main LV to the desired

       caching type, and specify the fast LV to use as the cache:

       using dm-cache:

         $ lvconvert --type cache --cachevol fast vg/main

       using dm-writecache:

         $ lvconvert --type writecache --cachevol fast vg/main

       using dm-cache (with cachepool):

         $ lvconvert --type cache --cachepool fast vg/main

       4. Display LVs

       Once the fast LV has been attached to the main LV, lvm reports the

       main LV type as either cache or writecache depending on the type

       used.  While attached, the fast LV is hidden, and renamed with a

       _cvol or _cpool suffix.  It is displayed by lvs -a.  The _corig or

       _wcorig LV represents the original LV without the cache.

       using dm-cache:

         $ lvs -a

         LV           Pool        Type   Devices

         main         [fast_cvol] cache  main_corig(0)

         [fast_cvol]              linear /dev/fast_ssd

         [main_corig]             linear /dev/slow_hhd

       using dm-writecache:

         $ lvs -a

         LV            Pool        Type       Devices

         main          [fast_cvol] writecache main_wcorig(0)

         [fast_cvol]               linear     /dev/fast_ssd

         [main_wcorig]             linear     /dev/slow_hhd

       using dm-cache (with cachepool):

         $ lvs -a

         LV                 Pool         Type       Devices

         main               [fast_cpool] cache      main_corig(0)

         [fast_cpool]                    cache-pool fast_pool_cdata(0)

         [fast_cpool_cdata]              linear     /dev/fast_ssd

         [fast_cpool_cmeta]              linear     /dev/fast_ssd

         [main_corig]                    linear     /dev/slow_hhd

       5. Use the main LV

       Use the LV until the cache is no longer wanted, or needs to be

       changed.

       6. Stop caching

       To stop caching the main LV, separate the fast LV from the main LV.

       This changes the type of the main LV back to what it was before the

       cache was attached.

         $ lvconvert --splitcache vg/main

         $ lvs -a

         LV   VG Attr       Type   Devices

         fast vg -wi------- linear /dev/fast_ssd

         main vg -wi------- linear /dev/slow_hhd

       To stop caching the main LV and also remove unneeded cache pool,

       use the --uncache:

         $ lvconvert --uncache vg/main

         $ lvs -a

         LV   VG Attr       Type   Devices

         main vg -wi------- linear /dev/slow_hhd

   Create a new LV with caching.

       A new LV can be created with caching attached at the time of creation

       using the following command:

       $ lvcreate --type cache|writecache -n Name -L Size

            --cachedevice /dev/fast_ssd vg /dev/slow_hhd

       The main LV is created with the specified Name and Size from the

       slow_hhd.  A hidden fast LV is created on the fast_ssd and is then

       attached to the new main LV.  If the fast_ssd is unused, the entire

       disk will be used as the cache unless the --cachesize option is used

       to specify a size for the fast LV.  The --cachedevice option can be

       repeated to use multiple disks for the fast LV.

   option args

       --cachevol LV

       Pass this option a fast LV that should be used to hold the cache.

       With a cachevol, cache data and metadata are stored in different

       parts of the same fast LV.  This option can be used with dm-

       writecache or dm-cache.

       --cachepool CachePoolLV|LV

       Pass this option a cachepool LV or a standard LV.  When using a cache

       pool, lvm places cache data and cache metadata on different LVs.  The

       two LVs together are called a cache pool.  This has a bit better

       performance for dm-cache and permits specific placement and segment

       type selection for data and metadata volumes.  A cache pool is

       represented as a special type of LV that cannot be used directly.  If

       a standard LV is passed with this option, lvm will first convert it

       to a cache pool by combining it with another LV to use for metadata.

       This option can be used with dm-cache.

       --cachedevice PV

       This option can be used in place of --cachevol, in which case a

       cachevol LV will be created using the specified device.  This option

       can be repeated to create a cachevol using multiple devices, or a tag

       name can be specified in which case the cachevol will be created

       using any of the devices with the given tag.  If a named cache device

       is unused, the entire device will be used to create the cachevol.  To

       create a cachevol of a specific size from the cache devices, include

       the --cachesize option.

   dm-cache block size

       A cache pool will have a logical block size of 4096 bytes if it is

       created on a device with a logical block size of 4096 bytes.

       If a main LV has logical block size 512 (with an existing xfs file

       system using that size), then it cannot use a cache pool with a 4096

       logical block size.  If the cache pool is attached, the main LV will

       likely fail to mount.

       To avoid this problem, use a mkfs option to specify a 4096 block size

       for the file system, or attach the cache pool before running mkfs.

   dm-writecache block size

       The dm-writecache block size can be 4096 bytes (the default), or 512

       bytes.  The default 4096 has better performance and should be used

       except when 512 is necessary for compatibility.  The dm-writecache

       block size is specified with --cachesettings block_size=4096|512 when

       caching is started.

       When a file system like xfs already exists on the main LV prior to

       caching, and the file system is using a block size of 512, then the

       writecache block size should be set to 512.  (The file system will

       likely fail to mount if writecache block size of 4096 is used in this

       case.)

       Check the xfs sector size while the fs is mounted:

       $ xfs_info /dev/vg/main

       Look for sectsz=512 or sectsz=4096

       The writecache block size should be chosen to match the xfs sectsz

       value.

       It is also possible to specify a sector size of 4096 to mkfs.xfs when

       creating the file system.  In this case the writecache block size of

       4096 can be used.

   dm-writecache settings

       Tunable parameters can be passed to the dm-writecache kernel module

       using the --cachesettings option when caching is started, e.g.

       $ lvconvert --type writecache --cachevol fast \

            --cachesettings 'high_watermark=N writeback_jobs=N' vg/main

       Tunable options are:

       · high_watermark = <percent>

         Start writeback when the writecache usage reaches this percent

         (0-100).

       · low_watermark = <percent>

         Stop writeback when the writecache usage reaches this percent

         (0-100).

       · writeback_jobs = <count>

         Limit the number of blocks that are in flight during writeback.

         Setting this value reduces writeback throughput, but it may improve

         latency of read requests.

       · autocommit_blocks = <count>

         When the application writes this amount of blocks without issuing

         the FLUSH request, the blocks are automatically commited.

       · autocommit_time = <milliseconds>

         The data is automatically commited if this time passes and no FLUSH

         request is received.

       · fua = 0|1

         Use the FUA flag when writing data from persistent memory back to

         the underlying device.  Applicable only to persistent memory.

       · nofua = 0|1

         Don't use the FUA flag when writing back data and send the FLUSH

         request afterwards.  Some underlying devices perform better with

         fua, some with nofua.  Testing is necessary to determine which.

         Applicable only to persistent memory.

   dm-cache with separate data and metadata LVs

       When using dm-cache, the cache metadata and cache data can be stored

       on separate LVs.  To do this, a "cache pool" is created, which is a

       special LV that references two sub LVs, one for data and one for

       metadata.

       To create a cache pool from two separate LVs:

       $ lvcreate -n fast -L DataSize vg /dev/fast_ssd1

       $ lvcreate -n fastmeta -L MetadataSize vg /dev/fast_ssd2

       $ lvconvert --type cache-pool --poolmetadata fastmeta vg/fast

       Then use the cache pool LV to start caching the main LV:

       $ lvconvert --type cache --cachepool fast vg/main

       A variation of the same procedure automatically creates a cache pool

       when caching is started.  To do this, use a standard LV as the

       --cachepool (this will hold cache data), and use another standard LV

       as the --poolmetadata (this will hold cache metadata).  LVM will

       create a cache pool LV from the two specified LVs, and use the cache

       pool to start caching the main LV.

       $ lvcreate -n fast -L DataSize vg /dev/fast_ssd1

       $ lvcreate -n fastmeta -L MetadataSize vg /dev/fast_ssd2

       $ lvconvert --type cache --cachepool fast --poolmetadata fastmeta vg/main

   dm-cache cache modes

       The default dm-cache cache mode is "writethrough".  Writethrough

       ensures that any data written will be stored both in the cache and on

       the origin LV.  The loss of a device associated with the cache in

       this case would not mean the loss of any data.

       A second cache mode is "writeback".  Writeback delays writing data

       blocks from the cache back to the origin LV.  This mode will increase

       performance, but the loss of a cache device can result in lost data.

       With the --cachemode option, the cache mode can be set when caching

       is started, or changed on an LV that is already cached.  The current

       cache mode can be displayed with the cache_mode reporting option:

       lvs -o+cache_mode VG/LV

       lvm.conf(5) allocation/cache_mode

       defines the default cache mode.

       $ lvconvert --type cache --cachevol fast \

            --cachemode writethrough vg/main

   dm-cache chunk size

       The size of data blocks managed by dm-cache can be specified with the

       --chunksize option when caching is started.  The default unit is KiB.

       The value must be a multiple of 32KiB between 32KiB and 1GiB. Cache

       chunks bigger then 512KiB shall be only used when necessary.

       Using a chunk size that is too large can result in wasteful use of

       the cache, in which small reads and writes cause large sections of an

       LV to be stored in the cache. It can also require increasing

       migration threshold which defaults to 2048 sectors (1 MiB). Lvm2

       ensures migration threshold is at least 8 chunks in size. This may in

       some cases result in very high bandwidth load of transfering data

       between the cache LV and its cache origin LV. However, choosing a

       chunk size that is too small can result in more overhead trying to

       manage the numerous chunks that become mapped into the cache.

       Overhead can include both excessive CPU time searching for chunks,

       and excessive memory tracking chunks.

       Command to display the chunk size:

       lvs -o+chunksize VG/LV

       lvm.conf(5) cache_pool_chunk_size

       controls the default chunk size.

       The default value is shown by:

       lvmconfig --type default allocation/cache_pool_chunk_size

       Checking migration threshold (in sectors) of running cached LV:

       lvs -o+kernel_cache_settings VG/LV

   dm-cache migration threshold

       Migrating data between the origin and cache LV uses bandwidth.  The

       user can set a throttle to prevent more than a certain amount of

       migration occurring at any one time.  Currently dm-cache is not

       taking any account of normal io traffic going to the devices.

       User can set migration threshold via cache policy settings as

       "migration_threshold=<#sectors>" to set the maximum number of sectors

       being migrated, the default being 2048 sectors (1MiB).

       Command to set migration threshold to 2MiB (4096 sectors):

       lvcreate --cachepolicy 'migration_threshold=4096' VG/LV

       Command to display the migration threshold:

       lvs -o+kernel_cache_settings,cache_settings VG/LV

       lvs -o+chunksize VG/LV

   dm-cache cache policy

       The dm-cache subsystem has additional per-LV parameters: the cache

       policy to use, and possibly tunable parameters for the cache policy.

       Three policies are currently available: "smq" is the default policy,

       "mq" is an older implementation, and "cleaner" is used to force the

       cache to write back (flush) all cached writes to the origin LV.

       The older "mq" policy has a number of tunable parameters. The

       defaults are chosen to be suitable for the majority of systems, but

       in special circumstances, changing the settings can improve

       performance.

       With the --cachepolicy and --cachesettings options, the cache policy

       and settings can be set when caching is started, or changed on an

       existing cached LV (both options can be used together).  The current

       cache policy and settings can be displayed with the cache_policy and

       cache_settings reporting options:

       lvs -o+cache_policy,cache_settings VG/LV

       Change the cache policy and settings of an existing LV.

       $ lvchange --cachepolicy mq --cachesettings \

            'migration_threshold=2048 random_threshold=4' vg/main

       lvm.conf(5) allocation/cache_policy

       defines the default cache policy.

       lvm.conf(5) allocation/cache_settings

       defines the default cache settings.

   dm-cache spare metadata LV

       See lvmthin(7) for a description of the "pool metadata spare" LV.

       The same concept is used for cache pools.

   dm-cache metadata formats

       There are two disk formats for dm-cache metadata.  The metadata

       format can be specified with --cachemetadataformat when caching is

       started, and cannot be changed.  Format 2 has better performance; it

       is more compact, and stores dirty bits in a separate btree, which

       improves the speed of shutting down the cache.  With auto, lvm

       selects the best option provided by the current dm-cache kernel

       module.

   RAID1 cache device

       RAID1 can be used to create the fast LV holding the cache so that it

       can tolerate a device failure.  (When using dm-cache with separate

       data and metadata LVs, each of the sub-LVs can use RAID1.)

       $ lvcreate -n main -L Size vg /dev/slow

       $ lvcreate --type raid1 -m 1 -n fast -L Size vg /dev/ssd1 /dev/ssd2

       $ lvconvert --type cache --cachevol fast vg/main

   dm-cache command shortcut

       A single command can be used to create a cache pool and attach that

       new cache pool to a main LV:

       $ lvcreate --type cache --name Name --size Size VG/LV [PV]

       In this command, the specified LV already exists, and is the main LV

       to be cached.  The command creates a new cache pool with the given

       name and size, using the optionally specified PV (typically an ssd).

       Then it attaches the new cache pool to the existing main LV to begin

       caching.

       (Note: ensure that the specified main LV is a standard LV.  If a

       cache pool LV is mistakenly specified, then the command does

       something different.)

       (Note: the type option is interpreted differently by this command

       than by normal lvcreate commands in which --type specifies the type

       of the newly created LV.  In this case, an LV with type cache-pool is

       being created, and the existing main LV is being converted to type

       cache.)

       lvm.conf(5), lvchange(8), lvcreate(8), lvdisplay(8), lvextend(8),

       lvremove(8), lvrename(8), lvresize(8), lvs(8), vgchange(8),

       vgmerge(8), vgreduce(8), vgsplit(8)

       This page is part of the lvm2 (Logical Volume Manager 2) project.

       Information about the project can be found at 

       ⟨http://www.sourceware.org/lvm2/⟩.  If you have a bug report for this

       manual page, see ⟨https://github.com/lvmteam/lvm2/issues⟩.  This page

       was obtained from the tarball

       https://github.com/lvmteam/lvm2/archive/v2_03_10.tar.gz fetched from

       ⟨https://github.com/lvmteam/lvm2/releases⟩ on 2020-08-13.  If you

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       COLOPHON (which is not part of the original manual page), send a mail

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Red Hat, Inc          LVM TOOLS 2.03.10(2) (2020-08-09)          LVMCACHE(7)