TrueCommand, Open Source?

ornias

Wizard
Joined
Mar 6, 2020
Messages
1,458
I've a few simply questions in regards to TrueCommand...

Are there any future plans of having TrueCommand open source?
Are there any plans to put certain features in TrueCommand behind a paywall? (such as clustering)

*edit*
I dumped the container to be sure the middleware wasn't just python (like TrueNAS), which would at least make the source accessable, but it indeed does not seem to be python based...
 
Last edited:

kenmoore

TrueCommand Project Lead
iXsystems
Joined
May 1, 2019
Messages
51
No, the TrueCommand middleware is pre-compiled C++ right now (we are moving to pre-compiled Go with version 2 of the middleware here soon).
We do not plan on ever open-sourcing TrueCommand, but we do always plan on making it available for free.

Will specific features ever be behind a paywall? Maybe. We don't have plans on anything like that right now, but it is a good practice to keep our options open for future developments. The clustering functionality will definitely NOT be behind a paywall though.
 

ornias

Wizard
Joined
Mar 6, 2020
Messages
1,458
No, the TrueCommand middleware is pre-compiled C++ right now (we are moving to pre-compiled Go with version 2 of the middleware here soon).
We do not plan on ever open-sourcing TrueCommand, but we do always plan on making it available for free.
Thank you for your honest and thorough reply! :)

It's amazing how compact TrueCommand is actually...
But I understand the idea behind it: you guys already offer everything for setting up a significant environment for free, so I think it's fair to say "This extra software piece, needs to be payed for if you have a motherload of disks" :)

50 disks is a really fair limit, you can do a lot with such a limit! :)
Are system disks included in that count btw?

Will specific features ever be behind a paywall? Maybe. We don't have plans on anything like that right now, but it is a good practice to keep our options open for future developments. The clustering functionality will definitely NOT be behind a paywall though.
Good to know that in any case we don't have to "hold our horses" for a nasty surprise when SCALE hits then :)
 

kenmoore

TrueCommand Project Lead
iXsystems
Joined
May 1, 2019
Messages
51
The disk count which we use for licensing only includes the disks attached to your storage pools, and should not include your system disks (with a minimum disk count of 1 per system).

The way that TrueCommand licensing works is this:
1. The disk limit from the license is only checked/applied when adding a new system, or right before the middleware starts connecting to a system.
2. It only looks for when your disk count matches/exceeds the license limit, and then prevents the action (registering a new system, or starting up the connection to the system).
3. NAS connection order is random (such as on bootup and it needs to initialize all the connections)

What this means in practicality:
1. Individual NAS's are never throttled/limited once you pass the limit. If you are connected to the NAS, then you get full TC interaction with the NAS.
2. If you are using TC to just manage one NAS - that NAS can have as many disks as you want (limit does not apply until you try to add a second NAS)

A couple examples:

Example A) NAS's: #1 - 20disks, #2 - 20 disks, #3 - 20disks
All three of these systems can be used by TC without any issues. You will simply be prevented from adding a 4th system since you are now over the default limit of 50 disks.

Example B) NAS's: #1 - 5 disks, #2 - 5 disks, #3 - 50disks
This arrangement is the most complicated - because the randomized connection order will come into play.
If NAS's 1 & 2 connect first, then NAS 3 will also be able to connect and used normally. If NAS 3 is connected earlier, then the middleware will prevent the connections to any other NAS's since #3 by itself puts you at the limit. In this case, you would want to get an expanded license in order to prevent interruption of your TC service.

You can get a free 60-day trial license (unlimited disks) or purchase a license for your TrueCommand system via the iX account portal: https://portal.ixsystems.com

If you have any further questions, please let us know!
 

ornias

Wizard
Joined
Mar 6, 2020
Messages
1,458
The disk count which we use for licensing only includes the disks attached to your storage pools, and should not include your system disks (with a minimum disk count of 1 per system).
...
If you have any further questions, please let us know!
Thats a lot of info, thank you! :)
Luckily I am not planning to exceed 50 disks any time soon :)
 
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