[HDFS-5223] Allow edit log/fsimage format changes without changing layout version

• Type: Bug
• Status: Open
• Priority: Major
• Resolution: Unresolved
• Affects Version/s: 2.1.1-beta
• Component/s: namenode
• Assignee: Colin McCabe
• Reporter: Aaron Myers
• Created: 18/Sep/13 18:22
• Updated: 19/May/15 17:54

Description

Currently all HDFS on-disk formats are version by the single layout version. This means that even for changes which might be backward compatible, like the addition of a new edit log op code, we must go through the full `namenode -upgrade' process which requires coordination with DNs, etc. HDFS should support a lighter weight alternative.

Copied description from HDFS-8075 which is a duplicate and now closed. (by sanjay on APril 7 2015)
Background

• HDFS image layout was changed to use Protobufs to allow easier forward and backward compatibility.
• Hdfs has a layout version which is changed on each change (even if it an optional protobuf field was added).
• Hadoop supports two ways of going back during an upgrade:
  • downgrade: go back to old binary version but use existing image/edits so that newly created files are not lost
  • rollback: go back to "checkpoint" created before upgrade was started - hence newly created files are lost.

Layout needs to be revisited if we want to support downgrade is some circumstances which we dont today. Here are use cases:

• Some changes can support downgrade even though they was a change in layout since there is not real data loss but only loss of new functionality. E.g. when we added ACLs one could have downgraded - there is no data loss but you will lose the newly created ACLs. That is acceptable for a user since one does not expect to retain the newly added ACLs in an old version.
• Some changes may lead to data-loss if the functionality was used. For example, the recent truncate will cause data loss if the functionality was actually used. Now one can tell admins NOT use such new such new features till the upgrade is finalized in which case one could potentially support downgrade.
• A fairly fundamental change to layout where a downgrade is not possible but a rollback is. Say we change the layout completely from protobuf to something else. Another example is when HDFS moves to support partial namespace in memory - they is likely to be a fairly fundamental change in layout.

Issue Links

• is duplicated by: HDFS-8075 Revist layout version
• is related to: HDFS-3225 Revist upgrade snapshots, roll back, finalize to enable rolling upgrades
• is related to: HDFS-5138 Support HDFS upgrade in HA
• is related to: HDFS-5698 Use protobuf to serialize / deserialize FSImage
• relates to: HDFS-8432 Introduce a minimum compatible layout version to allow downgrade in more rolling upgrade use cases.

Sub-Tasks

• reserve space in edit log header and fsimage header for feature flag section: Closed