Storage
--
Questions
--
Followers
Top Experts
VMware Workstation shared storage : Clustering not supported for VMware workstation
Hi fellow experts, this is for the real VMware gurus.
I use both VMware workstation and VMware server. I prefer workstation on my PCs because of the well-known performance advantages with graphics, etc.
However, I've recently found that workstation, though it is a commercial product, is crippled in some ways. I'm doing a cluster setup (shared storage). So on my PC I recently tried to setup a demo infrastructure that needs a shared SCSI storage device, it will host an Oracle RAC cluster demo. I found out that the settings that work on VMware server apparently do not work with Workstation. Apparently workstation does not allow the shared storage / clustering? If I am wrong, please correct me.
The ironic thing is I pay for these licenses! Whereas VMware server is free. I did Google and did email VMware support (no luck), but now my support has lapsed so I am unable to call in on my license keys. The heck if I am going to renew my 3 WS licenses now since I cannot use this feature.
Mere is my vmx below just for a shot in the dark. Note, I am using [scsi1.sharedBus = "virtual"] and have setup 4 scsi devices, however, this does not work. The VM does not boot. I do see the drive icons for SCSI1:0-5 Independant Persistent on the VMware console, but it never boots.
The message is: "Clustering not supported for VMware workstation"
Before you tell me to read the manual, understand, I'm not a VMware newbie, and I see it clearly "says" is not supported, but am curious if there is a workaround or other option and/or if this restriction was relaxed in versions later than 6.5? If the only option is simply to install Vmware server, that's what I'll do.
Using VMware Workstation 6.5.1 build-126130
I use both VMware workstation and VMware server. I prefer workstation on my PCs because of the well-known performance advantages with graphics, etc.
However, I've recently found that workstation, though it is a commercial product, is crippled in some ways. I'm doing a cluster setup (shared storage). So on my PC I recently tried to setup a demo infrastructure that needs a shared SCSI storage device, it will host an Oracle RAC cluster demo. I found out that the settings that work on VMware server apparently do not work with Workstation. Apparently workstation does not allow the shared storage / clustering? If I am wrong, please correct me.
The ironic thing is I pay for these licenses! Whereas VMware server is free. I did Google and did email VMware support (no luck), but now my support has lapsed so I am unable to call in on my license keys. The heck if I am going to renew my 3 WS licenses now since I cannot use this feature.
Mere is my vmx below just for a shot in the dark. Note, I am using [scsi1.sharedBus = "virtual"] and have setup 4 scsi devices, however, this does not work. The VM does not boot. I do see the drive icons for SCSI1:0-5 Independant Persistent on the VMware console, but it never boots.
The message is: "Clustering not supported for VMware workstation"
Before you tell me to read the manual, understand, I'm not a VMware newbie, and I see it clearly "says" is not supported, but am curious if there is a workaround or other option and/or if this restriction was relaxed in versions later than 6.5? If the only option is simply to install Vmware server, that's what I'll do.
Using VMware Workstation 6.5.1 build-126130
.encoding = "windows-1252"
config.version = "8"
virtualHW.version = "7"
vcpu.hotadd = "TRUE"
maxvcpus = "4"
scsi0.present = "TRUE"
scsi0.virtualDev = "lsilogic"
memsize = "1024"
mem.hotadd = "TRUE"
scsi0:0.present = "TRUE"
scsi0:0.fileName = "raclinux1.vmdk"
ide1:0.present = "TRUE"
ide1:0.fileName = "C:\Enterprise-R5-U3-Server-i386-dvd.iso"
ide1:0.deviceType = "cdrom-image"
floppy0.startConnected = "FALSE"
floppy0.autodetect = "TRUE"
ethernet0.present = "TRUE"
ethernet0.virtualDev = "e1000"
ethernet0.wakeOnPcktRcv = "FALSE"
usb.present = "TRUE"
ehci.present = "TRUE"
sound.present = "TRUE"
sound.fileName = "-1"
sound.autodetect = "TRUE"
mks.enable3d = "TRUE"
pciBridge0.present = "TRUE"
pciBridge4.present = "TRUE"
pciBridge4.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"
pciBridge4.functions = "8"
pciBridge5.present = "TRUE"
pciBridge5.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"
pciBridge5.functions = "8"
pciBridge6.present = "TRUE"
pciBridge6.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"
pciBridge6.functions = "8"
pciBridge7.present = "TRUE"
pciBridge7.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"
pciBridge7.functions = "8"
vmci0.present = "TRUE"
roamingVM.exitBehavior = "go"
displayName = "raclinux1"
guestOS = "rhel5"
nvram = "raclinux1.nvram"
virtualHW.productCompatibility = "hosted"
ft.secondary0.enabled = "TRUE"
tools.upgrade.policy = "useGlobal"
extendedConfigFile = "raclinux1.vmxf"
floppy0.fileName = "A:"
ethernet0.addressType = "generated"
uuid.location = "56 4d 2e 59 a2 83 bd 9d-29 46 fb 65 36 5f 43 bb"
uuid.bios = "56 4d 2e 59 a2 83 bd 9d-29 46 fb 65 36 5f 43 bb"
scsi0:0.redo = ""
vmotion.checkpointFBSize = "134217728"
pciBridge0.pciSlotNumber = "17"
pciBridge4.pciSlotNumber = "21"
pciBridge5.pciSlotNumber = "22"
pciBridge6.pciSlotNumber = "23"
pciBridge7.pciSlotNumber = "24"
scsi0.pciSlotNumber = "16"
usb.pciSlotNumber = "32"
ethernet0.pciSlotNumber = "33"
sound.pciSlotNumber = "34"
ehci.pciSlotNumber = "35"
vmci0.pciSlotNumber = "36"
ethernet0.generatedAddress = "00:0c:29:5f:43:bb"
ethernet0.generatedAddressOffset = "0"
vmci0.id = "912212923"
tools.remindInstall = "TRUE"
ethernet1.present = "TRUE"
ethernet1.connectionType = "hostonly"
ethernet1.wakeOnPcktRcv = "FALSE"
ethernet1.addressType = "generated"
ethernet1.pciSlotNumber = "37"
ethernet1.generatedAddress = "00:0c:29:5f:43:c5"
ethernet1.generatedAddressOffset = "10"
diskLib.dataCacheMaxSize = "0"
diskLib.dataCacheMaxReadAheadSize = "0"
diskLib.dataCacheMinReadAheadSize = "0"
diskLib.dataCachePageSize = "0"
diskLib.maxUnsyncedWrites = "0"
disk.locking = "FALSE"
scsi1.sharedBus = "virtual"
scsi1.present = "TRUE"
scsi1.virtualDev = "lsilogic"
scsi1:0.present = "TRUE"
scsi1:0.fileName = "rac-shared\datadisk1.vmdk"
scsi1:0.mode = "independent-persistent"
scsi1:0.deviceType = "disk"
scsi1:1.present = "TRUE"
scsi1:1.fileName = "rac-shared\datadisk2.vmdk"
scsi1:1.mode = "independent-persistent"
scsi1:1.deviceType = "disk"
scsi1:2.present = "TRUE"
scsi1:2.fileName = "rac-shared\datadisk3.vmdk"
scsi1:2.mode = "independent-persistent"
scsi1:2.deviceType = "disk"
scsi1:3.present = "TRUE"
scsi1:3.fileName = "rac-shared\ocrdisk1.vmdk"
scsi1:3.mode = "independent-persistent"
scsi1:3.deviceType = "disk"
scsi1:4.present = "TRUE"
scsi1:4.fileName = "rac-shared\votingdisk1.vmdk"
scsi1:4.mode = "independent-persistent"
scsi1:4.deviceType = "disk"
scsi1.pciSlotNumber = "38"
scsi1:0.redo = ""
scsi1:1.redo = ""
scsi1:2.redo = ""
scsi1:3.redo = ""
scsi1:4.redo = ""
Zero AI Policy
We believe in human intelligence. Our moderation policy strictly prohibits the use of LLM content in our Q&A threads.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
Log in or create a free account to see answer.
Signing up is free and takes 30 seconds. No credit card required.
Yes it says: This warning can be safely ignored. Acknowledge the dialog by clicking [OK].
But my VM does not boot.
So potentially the issue with my VM not booting is the root cause, and the clustering warning is unrelated. On 6.5 I get no popup, just a warning message on the bottom.
But my VM does not boot.
So potentially the issue with my VM not booting is the root cause, and the clustering warning is unrelated. On 6.5 I get no popup, just a warning message on the bottom.
I am starting over and installing from the ISO again. When I booted from the CD it did recognize the other SCSI devices (sdb-sdf). I cannot say what happened to the original setup. I had installed Linux on the primary disk prior to setting up the vmx file for clustering. Perhaps it was as simple as getting the boot device corrected.
I can report the install is proceeding now and all scsi targets were recognized. By pointing out the part of that article where it says I could ignore the warning, you answered my question of "is it supported" and by simple revisiting my config I found that the boot device was not set for booting to CDROM first, so that was the reason my reinstall attempt was not booting, it was trying the old partition that was in flux. The install looks like its going well now.
Thanks for the help.
Thanks for the help.
EARN REWARDS FOR ASKING, ANSWERING, AND MORE.
Earn free swag for participating on the platform.
Storage
--
Questions
--
Followers
Top Experts
Computer data storage, often called storage or memory, is a technology consisting of computer components and recording media used to retain digital data. In addition to local storage devices like CD and DVD readers, hard drives and flash drives, solid state drives can hold enormous amounts of data in a very small device. Cloud services and other new forms of remote storage also add to the capacity of devices and their ability to access more data without building additional data storage into a device.