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04.14.2008 at 07:20AM PDT, ID: 23320403
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7.2

Connecting "Dell Poweredge 2650" to "NFS/iSCSI server" (using openfiler) with 2 x Qlogic SANblade QLA2342 adapters

Asked by mywebsites in VMware, Computer Servers, File Servers

Tags: , ,

I currently have the following:
Dell poweredge 2650 running ESX server
750Gb (RAID 5) NFS/iSCSI server using "openfiler/similar"
            - Asus M/b - E4300 1.8ghz
            - 2gb Ram
            - gigabit nic
Gigabit switch
Cat 5e/6 network infrastructure
Desktop machine (gigabit nic) on the network (running 2x ESX servers within Vmware Workstation)

I would like to use the NFS/iSCSI server as a datastore for the PE2650 rather than storing them locally on the server.  Then hopefully allow the desktop machine running 2x ESX Servers to access the same datastore as well when I use them for testing/disaster recovery purposes.  

My plan is to make the performance between ESX Servers/Datastore as efficient/seamless as possible.

I have looked into using gigabit nics/switches with iSCSI, but I cannot use NICs with TOE (TCP/IP offload engine) as they are too expensive for me.  Therefore I am worried that the NFS/iSCSI server will just get overworked with 10+ VMs on it.  I have read this on a few different blogs.

I have the opportunity to purchase some 2nd hand Qlogic SANblade FC 2GB Network Adapters.  I was hoping to put 1 adapter into the PE2650 and the other into the NFS/iSCSI server and connect them up directly using FC cable.  This will at least give the main ESX Server (PE2650) a direct 2-GB connection to the datastore.

My dilemma is that if I use "openfiler or similar" for the NFS/iSCSI server and connect the server to the PE2650 via Fiber channel, can I still use the gigabit nic on the NFS/iSCSI server to connect it up to the switch giving access to the 2x ESX servers running inside Workstation on the desktop as they will only have access via the network.

I will probably setup the FC connection anyway to give me a dedicated link from PE2650-Datastore.

If you could let me know your opinions/advice, that would be greatly appreciated.  Bearing in mind my budget will stretch so far, just not as far as enterprise equipment.

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[+][-]04.14.2008 at 06:11PM PDT, ID: 21355257

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[+][-]04.14.2008 at 06:52PM PDT, ID: 21355379

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[+][-]04.15.2008 at 03:22PM PDT, ID: 21363341

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About this solution

Zones: VMware, Computer Servers, File Servers
Tags: DELL, Poweredge 2650, + Custom build NFS/iSCSI server using openfiler/similar
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Solution Provided By: meyersd
Participating Experts: 3
Solution Grade: A
 
 
[+][-]04.16.2008 at 07:04AM PDT, ID: 21367842

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[+][-]04.16.2008 at 06:41PM PDT, ID: 21373479

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