Best way to configure server with ESXi 5.5 update 2 to use iSCSI to connect to a Synology NAS
I'm setting up a remote site that is 8 hours away. The server will have ESXi 5.5 update 2 on it. I am also sending a Synology DS415+ NAS to the site as well. I will be using it to migrate the VMs onto when I do upgrades to ESXi, to make sure that they don't accidentally get overwritten during an upgrade.
My server has 8 LAN ports. 4 of them look like they're capable of hardware iSCSI and 4 of them look like I can attach them to the iSCSI Software Adapter. The NAS has 2 LAN ports.
On the server we use 2 ports for the management network, 2 ports for the VM network and we'd use 1 or 2 of the remaining ports for iSCSI.
What is the best way to configure iSCSI on the host to connect to the NAS with multiple paths?
Should I bond the ports on the NAS or leave them separate?
Do I need to configure multiple iSCSI targets on the NAS? Do I need a target for each LUN?
Sorry for all the questions, but I'm a bit of a noob at iSCSI. We use fiber channel and flex fabric in our datacenter, so any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
I've attached a file that kind of shows our NICs and my attempted setup. Ignore the bad IP addresses, those are left over from the previous person. I have vmnic 4 & 5 attached to the vmhba37i SCSI Software Adapter. Any of the adapters can be rearranged. I'm looking for a best practice type of setup.
Thanks in advance for any help!
EE.pdf
My server has 8 LAN ports. 4 of them look like they're capable of hardware iSCSI and 4 of them look like I can attach them to the iSCSI Software Adapter. The NAS has 2 LAN ports.
On the server we use 2 ports for the management network, 2 ports for the VM network and we'd use 1 or 2 of the remaining ports for iSCSI.
What is the best way to configure iSCSI on the host to connect to the NAS with multiple paths?
Should I bond the ports on the NAS or leave them separate?
Do I need to configure multiple iSCSI targets on the NAS? Do I need a target for each LUN?
Sorry for all the questions, but I'm a bit of a noob at iSCSI. We use fiber channel and flex fabric in our datacenter, so any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
I've attached a file that kind of shows our NICs and my attempted setup. Ignore the bad IP addresses, those are left over from the previous person. I have vmnic 4 & 5 attached to the vmhba37i SCSI Software Adapter. Any of the adapters can be rearranged. I'm looking for a best practice type of setup.
Thanks in advance for any help!
EE.pdf
ASKER
NFS is something I also don't have experience with. I'll have to look into that more. The last few nights I've been reading up on iSCSI and never got any "clear" answers, so hopefully NFS is more clear-cut.
I would still like to understand the proper way to set up iSCSI in this config as well. Especially, since I will want to share that LUN between 2 hosts at a few other locations in the future.
I would still like to understand the proper way to set up iSCSI in this config as well. Especially, since I will want to share that LUN between 2 hosts at a few other locations in the future.
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ASKER
Thanks for answering my question and giving me an additional option!
No need to create a LUN.
and you can use Jumbo Frames.