Rockstor

Rockstor is an open source distribution of Linux based off of Fedora and designed from the ground up to provide users with a powerful, smart, stable, free and reliable Network-attached storage (NAS) solution. It features an easy-to-use and intuitive web-based interface, easy setup and management, enterprise features for cloud builders and SMBs (Small and medium businesses), as well as commercial support.

Features at a glance

Key features include support for LDAP, NIS and ActiveDirectory services, server-side NFS (Network File System) analytics, online snapshot and share management, online disk management, online pool management, a user-friendly web interface, as well as a user-friendly command-line interface (CLI).

Distributed as an installable-only ISO image

The Rockstor software appliance is actually distributed as a Linux kernel-based operating system, using an installable-only ISO image that fits perfectly on a CD disc or a USB thumb drive of 1GB or higher capacity. It is fully bootable on computers supporting either of the 64-bit and 32-bit instruction set architectures.

Boot menu à la Fedora Linux

Being derived from Fedora, the Rockstor Linux distribution features a Live CD boot menu that is very similar with the one of the upstream operating system, except for the fact that it allows the user to start the installation directly with or without testing the bootable medium for defects (only if using a CD disc). In the Troubleshooting section you will find options for rescuing a broken system, perform a system memory diagnostic test, as well as to boot from the local drive.

Recommended hardware requirements

The Rockstor developers recommend you to install their GNU/Linux operating system on a computer that comes with a 64-bit Intel or AMD processor, at least 2GB of RAM, at least 8GB free disk space, one or more additional disk drives, 1Gbps Ethernet interface with Internet access, as well as a CD/DVD-ROM drive or USB port for the installation.

Installing Rockstor Linux

The installation process is very similar with the one of the Fedora Linux distribution, as Rockstor uses the same graphical installer script, which requires them to only set the timezone, choose a target drive, enter a password for the root (system administrator) account, as well as to set up users and passwords.

What is new in this release:

• Support full disk LUKS #550 @phillxnet
• Schedule power down/up of the system #735 @MFlyer
• Graceful shutdown with cron job #1306 @MFlyer
• UI Shares view incorrect sort on size #1673 @MFlyer
• Rockstor Translations #1643 @MFlyer
• Systemd warns that "rockstor-hdparm.service is marked world-inaccessible" #1493 @schakrava
• Importing an unlabeled btrfs RAID5 pool fails #1342 @schakrava
• single pool metadata level is single not dup #1409 @phillxnet
• Samba Custom configuration UI glitch #1691 @MFlyer
• rockstor update doesn't fail if db migration fails #1332 @schakrava
• Add Yum capabilities to System updates #1619 @MFlyer
• Turn off debug logs in Rockstor built by rpm(prod/testing builds) #1478 @schakrava
• update nginx and /etc/issue if mgmt interface config changes #1701 @schakrava
• Muting gulp tasks over buildout process #1708 @MFlyer
• nbd devices do not support S.M.A.R.T. #1705 @KaiRo-at
• fix ‘for' attributes on user_create_template labels #1706 @KaiRo-at
• create SHA256 certs so browser devtools don't complain all the time #1707 @KaiRo-at
• overflow of disk.role db field #1709 @phillxnet
• Non integer threshold value in SMART data blocks reporting #1725 @phillxnet
• support ro rw degraded and skip_balance mount options #1728 @phillxnet
• Support Jumbo frames config in the UI #1044 @schakrava
• Extra button adding storage to a Rock-On #1341 @priyaganti
• #1286 #1286 @schakrava
• AFP export doesn't expand when underneath share (subvolume in btrfs) expands #614 @schakrava
• insufficient use of btrfs device scan #1547 @phillxnet
• Rock-on bad behaviour when starting with no configuration #1579 @priyaganti
• add cli initiated config backup #1382 @daniel-illi
• change Pool API to use ids instead of names #1741 @schakrava
• detached disks used in mount command #1422 @phillxnet
• Display client-side error differently #1743 @priyaganti
• change disk api to use ids instead of names #1746 @schakrava
• propagate user errors properly in user management #1748 @schakrava
• minor disk api regression follow up #1750 @phillxnet

What is new in version 3.9.0:

• Issue: Non-ASCII password on user creation leads to ‘User(...) already exists' #1555 @ansemjo
• [Enhancement] data_collector move from Django ORM to CRUD operations (on db writes) #1567 @MFlyer
• Dashboard widget resizing is glitchy in Chrome on Mac #1530 @MFlyer
• [Bug] Disks widget console errors #1596 @MFlyer
• cosmetic issue: create snapshot label appears twice in share details view #1564 @MFlyer
• SMART edit icon tooltip text in disks table view not fully visible #1565 @MFlyer
• More documentation on services page! #1168 @priyaganti
• cleanup dependencies and add build status badge to readme #1604 @schakrava
• root and home shares offer delete button #1583 @MFlyer
• fs unit tests settings issue #1609 @phillxnet
• work around failure of udev to observe btrfs device add #1606 @phillxnet
• Flake8 satisfying style improvements and cleanup #1615 @schakrava
• Sector Size empty for 512e drives #1590 @phillxnet
• Fixing Jenkins' Flake8 regressions #1626 @MFlyer
• enhance disk role/management subsystem #1494 @phillxnet
• balance cancel requested ‘unit test' false alarm #1627 @phillxnet
• Share usage not reported correctly while pool usage is #1412 @MFlyer
• improve state column clarity in network device tables #1633 @phillxnet
• keyerror in samba config restore #1585 @MFlyer
• "Comment" field not filled when editing Samba share #1647 @MFlyer
• inconsistent redirect role validator message and bug #1651 @phillxnet
• [Rockstor Devel Feature] Add Gulp file testing #1632 @MFlyer
• Rock-on share columns reversed #1581 @schakrava
• Remove python downgrade workaround #1587 @schakrava
• [Flake8] Unused import over initrock.py script #1663 @MFlyer
• Small UI bug while installing rock-ons #1660 @MFlyer
• fix replication regression from django 1.8 update #1667 @schakrava
• Make software update non-disruptive #1188 @schakrava
• Updating Font Awesome to latest 4.7 #1669 @MFlyer

What is new in version 3.8-9.02:

• Improved service orchestration by leveraging Systemd more.
• Fixed Web-UI to dynamically refresh management interface IP.
• Fixed a Web-UI issue with network interface management.
• Clarify password reset instructions.
• Refresh Pool state automatically after delete.
• Improved logic to update /etc/issue with Web-UI link.
• Improved certificate labeling on the Web-UI.
• Fixed and improved Active Directory integration support.
• Simplified Reboot/Shutdown functionality.
• Sort services alphabetically by default
• Improve test coverage for Snapshot functionality.
• Clean up Web-UI for OS Pool.
• Improve test coverage for Network interface management.
• Fixed broken S.M.A.R.T data collection for some HDDs.
• Fixed Web-UI bug that prevented Cloning writable Snapshots.
• Fixed a small regression in /etc/issue update.
• Fixed the submit button in Rock-ons install wizard.
• Improved e-mail notifications by properly setting send address.
• Improved overall functional test coverage.
• Removed qgroup rescan work around.

What is new in version 3.8-7:

• Added more functional tests.
• Improved styling of the login page.
• Made ssh access stricter and fixed a sftp related bug.
• Improved display of contributions during update.
• Improved top menu bar in the UI.
• Added support to use system timezone.
• Improved sidebar menu in the UI.
• Cleaned up Share detail page in the UI.
• Add quota support for imported pools and shares.

What is new in version 3.8-3:

• Optimize Rockstor for usb flash drive and ssd deployments.
• Improve Rock-on logging with syslog.
• Revive and enhance websocket framework and the WebUI
• Make service state changes persist across reboot.