Advertisement

04.28.2007 at 04:48AM PDT, ID: 22540076
[x]
Attachment Details
[x]
The Solution Rating System

With so many solutions, how can you tell which solutions are most likely to help you and which ones are not? To provide you with a tool to use, we rate our solutions based on various elements that most accurately determine if a solution is a quality solution. To explain what factors affect the solution rating, here are the elements we take into consideration when formulating our solution rating.

  • The Grade of the Solution
  • The Zone Rank of the Expert Providing the Solution
  • The Number of Author and Expert Comments
  • The Number of Experts Contributing
  • The Feedback of the Community

Your Input Matters
Because of the way the system is set up, the most important variable in this equation is you. As a member of Experts Exchange, you are able to cast your vote on the quality of the solutions in regard to how complete, accurate, helpful and easy to understand each solution is. When you provide your feedback, each rating is adjusted accordingly. So, if you see a solution that has a poor rating that you think is a good solution, let us know by rating it. As you do, the rating will be adjusted and will become more accurate for other members of our site.

If you have any suggestions that you would like to make for our rating system, please ask a question in the Suggestions Zone of Community Support.

Thank you!

iSCSI or NFS for cheap IDE NAS w/ Vmware

Tags: vmware, nfs, nas, iscsi
I've been approached to create a low income training facility for a local group [Read - We need to make do with what we have]

I'm donating my time and expertise to create a renewable environment, thus the eclectic mix of hardware i had laying around mixed with donations.

I'd like to install VMware ESX 3.0.1 as my environment for the snapshot and versatility as I have a retired license available.
I already administer 3 ESX installations, but they are all corporate sites using HP SAN's and 4gb FC, etc.

My hardware I have gathered and I know works with ESX  (NFS):
Debian Linux Server - P4@2.8mgz -1.5GB Ram - dual e1000 - Software Raid 5 (raidtools 4x300gb 7200rpm IDE via a RocketRaid card)
ESX 3.0.1 Server - P4@2.8mgz - 4GB Ram - dual e1000 - 80GB Sata in compat mode so that ESX will install on it
QLogic iSCSI ToE PCI-X133
Gigabit switch

My question is : NFS or iSCSI for the vmfs (Limited choices as my storage is IDE and the project can't afford SCSI raid replacement)
* Keep in mind that I have a iSCSI ToE for the ESX Server but the iSCSI target will be software

Any takers ? I'm looking for opinions backed with real world experiences

For extra credit, I'll create another 500point question and award it if someone can post benchmarks for NFS vs. iSCSI from a Vmware guest.

Start your free trial to view this solution
Question Stats
Zone: Software
Question Asked By: frashii
Solution Provided By: scrathcyboy
Participating Experts: 2
Solution Grade: B
Views: 122
Translate:
Loading Advertisement...
04.29.2007 at 09:32PM PDT, ID: 18999525

Rank: Master

All comments and solutions are available to Premium Service Members only.

Start your 7 day free trial and see for yourself why Experts Exchange is the easiest and most proven technology resource in the world. Get Started

Already a member? Login to view this solution.

 
04.30.2007 at 11:51PM PDT, ID: 19006426

All comments and solutions are available to Premium Service Members only.

Start your 7 day free trial and see for yourself why Experts Exchange is the easiest and most proven technology resource in the world. Get Started

Already a member? Login to view this solution.

 
05.01.2007 at 09:35AM PDT, ID: 19009689

Rank: Master

All comments and solutions are available to Premium Service Members only.

Start your 7 day free trial and see for yourself why Experts Exchange is the easiest and most proven technology resource in the world. Get Started

Already a member? Login to view this solution.

 
05.04.2007 at 03:34PM PDT, ID: 19034439

All comments and solutions are available to Premium Service Members only.

Start your 7 day free trial and see for yourself why Experts Exchange is the easiest and most proven technology resource in the world. Get Started

Already a member? Login to view this solution.

 
05.05.2007 at 01:59AM PDT, ID: 19035754

All comments and solutions are available to Premium Service Members only.

Start your 7 day free trial and see for yourself why Experts Exchange is the easiest and most proven technology resource in the world. Get Started

Already a member? Login to view this solution.

 
05.07.2007 at 10:09PM PDT, ID: 19047745

Rank: Master

All comments and solutions are available to Premium Service Members only.

Start your 7 day free trial and see for yourself why Experts Exchange is the easiest and most proven technology resource in the world. Get Started

Already a member? Login to view this solution.

 
 
Loading Advertisement...
Microsoft
  • Internet Protocols
  • Applications
  • Development
  • OS
  • Hardware
  • Windows Security
Apple
  • Operating Systems
  • Hardware
  • Programming
  • Networking
  • Software
Internet
  • Search Engines
  • File Sharing
  • WebTrends / Stats
  • Spy / Ad Blockers
  • Web Browsers
  • New Net Users
  • Web Development
  • Chat / IM
  • Anti Spam
  • Web Servers
  • Anti-Virus
  • Email Clients
Gamers
  • Tips
  • Online / MMORPG
  • Puzzle
  • Emulators
  • Action / Adventure
  • Role Playing
  • Consoles
  • Game Programming
  • Strategy
  • Sports
  • Misc
  • Computer Games
Digital Living
  • Hardware
  • New Net Users
  • New Users
  • Software
  • Digital Music
  • Gaming World
  • Home Security
  • Apple
  • Networking Hardware
Virus & Spyware
  • Vulnerabilities
  • IDS
  • Encryption
  • Anti-Virus
  • Operating Systems Security
  • Software Firewalls
  • WebApplications
  • Cell Phones
  • Operating Systems
  • Internet
  • Hardware Firewalls
Hardware
  • Handhelds / PDAs
  • Displays / Monitors
  • Components
  • Networking Hardware
  • Peripherals
  • Laptops/Notebooks
  • Storage
  • Servers
  • Desktops
  • New Users
  • Misc
  • Apple
Software
  • System Utilities
  • Industry Specific
  • Network Management
  • Photos / Graphics
  • Page Layout
  • VMWare
  • Misc
  • Web Development
  • OS
  • CYGWIN
  • Voice Recognition
  • Message Queue
  • Quality Assurance
  • Security
  • Firewalls
  • MultiMedia Applications
  • Development
  • Database
  • Office / Productivity
  • Business Management
  • OS/2 Apps
  • Server Software
  • Internet / Email
ITPro
  • OS
  • Storage
  • Encryption
  • Operating Systems Security
  • Apple Hardware
  • Laptops & Notebooks
  • Servers
  • Networking Hardware
  • Peripherals
  • Devices
  • Displays / Monitors
  • WebTrends / Stats
  • Search Engines
  • Firewalls
  • WebApplications
  • IDS
  • Vulnerabilities
  • Email Clients
  • File Sharing
  • Spy / Ad Blockers
  • Web Browsers
  • Web Servers
  • Networking
  • Anti-Virus
  • Chat / IM
  • Anti Spam
Developer
  • Web Servers
  • Web Browsers
  • Game Programming
  • Dev Tools
  • Industry Specific
  • Office / Productivity
  • Database
  • CYGWIN
  • Web Development
  • Search Engines
  • File Sharing
  • WebTrends / Stats
  • Programming
  • Content Management
  • Application Servers
  • Protocols
Storage
  • Removable Backup Media
  • Storage Technology
  • Servers
  • Grid
  • Remote Access
  • Backup / Restore
  • Misc
  • Hard Drives
OS
  • Miscellaneous
  • Security
  • Development
  • Linux
  • VMWare
  • MainFrame OS
  • Unix
  • Apple
  • OS / 2
  • AS / 400
  • BeOS
  • Microsoft
  • VMS / OpenVMS
Database
  • Oracle
  • Miscellaneous
  • MySQL
  • Software
  • Sybase
  • Contact Management
  • PostgreSQL
  • Data Manipulation
  • Clarion
  • InterSystems Cache
  • Siebel
  • MUMPS
  • OLAP
  • SQLBase
  • SAS
  • GIS & GPS
  • 4GL
  • Berkeley DB
  • DB2
  • Informix
  • Interbase / Firebird
  • FoxPro
  • Reporting
  • LDAP
  • Filemaker Pro
  • MS SQL Server
  • dBase
  • MS Access
Security
  • Misc
  • Web Browsers
  • Software Firewalls
  • Operating Systems Security
  • File Sharing
  • Spy / Ad Blockers
  • Vulnerabilities
  • WebApplications
  • IDS
  • Anti-Virus
  • Encryption
  • Anti Spam
  • Email Clients
  • VPN
  • Chat / IM
Programming
  • Editors IDEs
  • Installation
  • Handhelds / PDAs
  • Multimedia Programming
  • System / Kernel
  • Algorithms
  • Game
  • Signal Processing
  • Project Management
  • Open Source
  • Database
  • Misc
  • Languages
  • Processor Platforms
  • Theory
Web Development
  • Scripting
  • Blogs
  • Web Servers
  • Software
  • Search Engines
  • Web Graphics
  • Images
  • Internet Marketing
  • Images and Photos
  • Components
  • Document Imaging
  • Web Languages/Standards
  • Illustration
  • WebApplications
  • Fonts
  • WebTrends / Stats
  • Authoring
  • Digital Camera Software
  • Miscellaneous
Networking
  • Protocols
  • Apple Networking
  • Network Management
  • Message Queue
  • Application Servers
  • Content Management
  • File Servers
  • Email Servers
  • Misc
  • Java Editors & IDEs
  • Wireless
  • Networking Hardware
  • Backup / Restore
  • System Utilities
  • ISPs & Hosting
  • Web Servers
  • Storage Technology
  • Removable Backup Media
  • Servers
  • Broadband
  • Grid
  • OS / 2
  • Novell Netware
  • Unix Networking
  • Windows Networking
  • Security
  • Telecommunications
  • Operating Systems
  • Linux Networking
Other
  • Community Advisor
  • Lounge
  • Community Support
  • New Net Users
  • Philosophy / Religion
  • Math / Science
  • Miscellaneous
  • URLs
  • Expert Lounge
  • Politics
  • Puzzles / Riddles
Community Support
  • Suggestions
  • New to EE
  • New Topics
  • Community Advisor
  • CleanUp
  • Announcements
  • General
  • Feedback
  • Input
  • EE Bugs
 
04.29.2007 at 09:32PM PDT, ID: 18999525

Rank: Master

For starters, VMWare does NOT belong in "a low income training facility for a local group".  Just because you have a license is NO reason to give neophytes an environment they will never be able to understand, let alone handle.  
 
04.30.2007 at 11:51PM PDT, ID: 19006426
I am the manager of the environment and the ESX server is where the machines that host the classroom environment will be hosted. eg. Windows 2003 AD, Windows 2003 w/ Exchange,  Kiosk'ed RDP, hosts for Thin Client envrionments for classrooms ,etc.

I need something that supports snapshots, has resource allocation, supports multiple administrative logins with granular priviledges, and is easy remotely administered. I'm not doing VMotion or using the consolidated backup, it's just what I had, what I know and I've already created a roadmap and machine base.

Based on that, do you have something easier that I might already know ?
 
05.01.2007 at 09:35AM PDT, ID: 19009689

Rank: Master

Here are some articles you might be interested in --
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi_performance_tuning.pdf
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/techinfo/whitepapers/fcp-versus-iscsi-performance-comparison.mspx
http://gks05.fzk.de/upload/lectures/Hardt_Virtually-inXane.pdf

I understand the need to easily recover the environment, as in snapshots, and detailed privileges as linux provides,  but it sounds like you'll be doing a full time job for free, maintaining this system for them.  Setting it up is one thing, being on call for every little problem is another.

I was thinking down the road when someone else has to maintain this other than you -- but beyond that I cant help you much more, except maybe to suggest that if you get no other help, as the moderators (top right of page, support link, as a question in support) to move this question to the VMWare or Linux topic areas on this site.
Accepted Solution
 
05.04.2007 at 03:34PM PDT, ID: 19034439
I have created a test environment at home using ESX and iSCSI.  I find the iSCSI performance to do very well - not only do I have the VMFS volume on my SAN, but I also have the VM's accessing it and storing data on it.

Take a look at Sanmelody lite from Datacore.  http://www.datacore.com.  Its a low cost solution that allows you to turn any windows box into an iSCSI SAN.
Assisted Solution
 
05.05.2007 at 01:59AM PDT, ID: 19035754
Scrathcyboy,

Actually, I value your input. You are entirely correct in that yes, I am getting into something that will be difficult to extradite myself from later. You've alerted me to an issue that I myself have to deal with on a daily basis (I'm in Government IT for a living) and that is the sole source solution that no one knows how to deal with once they are gone.

We've even  gone so far as to not support multi-user Access databases because of the tendency for critical business processes end up using them and when the 'master level access-for-dummy's' reader leaves the organization and no one knows how to fix problems, let alone change the application for current business needs.

In answer to this, I'm going to scale back my original design goal to just critical infrastructure and then be sure to not only document, but teach the other volunteers the concepts of virtualization, snapshots and such. I think it will be a positive process and will be a lead in to teaching them VMware player for doing their initial builds and such. Its not perfect, but having a resettable environment w/ infrastructure not consuming all available money and hardware make the risk/reward worth it to me.

It is also incentive to make sure I instill the knowledge and not silo it.

Thanks for your insight!

Marc

 
05.07.2007 at 10:09PM PDT, ID: 19047745

Rank: Master

Windows already has built in a feature to "reset the environment to original on login"  -- That single feature solves the environment change issue and gives them a working setup they can handle down the road.
 
 
20080236-EE-VQP-29