Question

iSCSI or NFS for cheap IDE NAS w/ Vmware

Asked by: frashii

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.

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Asked On
2007-04-28 at 04:48:41ID22540076
Tags

vmware

,

nfs

,

nas

,

iscsi

Topics

NFS File Server

,

Computer Hard Drives

,

Storage Technology

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
6

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Answers

 

by: scrathcyboyPosted on 2007-04-29 at 21:32:02ID: 18999525

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.  

 

by: frashiiPosted on 2007-04-30 at 23:51:00ID: 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 ?

 

by: scrathcyboyPosted on 2007-05-01 at 09:35:51ID: 19009689

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.

 

by: icorpsPosted on 2007-05-04 at 15:34:33ID: 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.

 

by: frashiiPosted on 2007-05-05 at 01:59:56ID: 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

 

by: scrathcyboyPosted on 2007-05-07 at 22:09:26ID: 19047745

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.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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