svillardi
asked on
Centralized storage for small VMware setup
Hi Experts,
It is time to refresh our MD3000i Dell SAN iSCSI. We had both 7.2K NLSAS and 15K SAS drives in it. This is the back end for 2 R710 Dell servers in a VMware 5.0 environment, running about 8 VMs including Small Business Server 2003 (to be upgraded to Win2012, Exchange 2010).
I have a quote for a Dell MD3820i iSCSI which is about twice as much as the MD3000i. I started thinking, do I really need a SAN? Can I use a fast NAS instead? Do NAS devices support VMFS?
I'm looking to upgrade to about 6-8 TB, from about 3 TB now.
I need some recommendations, both for the type of storage (NAS, SAN) and suggested vendors/models I may want to look at.
I don't want to spend money on something I don't really need. But I don't want performance issues either.
Thank you for your help and opinions.
It is time to refresh our MD3000i Dell SAN iSCSI. We had both 7.2K NLSAS and 15K SAS drives in it. This is the back end for 2 R710 Dell servers in a VMware 5.0 environment, running about 8 VMs including Small Business Server 2003 (to be upgraded to Win2012, Exchange 2010).
I have a quote for a Dell MD3820i iSCSI which is about twice as much as the MD3000i. I started thinking, do I really need a SAN? Can I use a fast NAS instead? Do NAS devices support VMFS?
I'm looking to upgrade to about 6-8 TB, from about 3 TB now.
I need some recommendations, both for the type of storage (NAS, SAN) and suggested vendors/models I may want to look at.
I don't want to spend money on something I don't really need. But I don't want performance issues either.
Thank you for your help and opinions.
SOLUTION
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Have you checked out Dell's Compellent????
Reasonablity priced, very scalable and easy to manage. At my last job we replaced and EMC SAN with a Compellent and saved $80K by going with the Compellent..
Reasonablity priced, very scalable and easy to manage. At my last job we replaced and EMC SAN with a Compellent and saved $80K by going with the Compellent..
I'd say go for HP 3PAR.
The advantages
Node architecture
Can get it for less cost
Administration is super easy. The CLI is very simpler
Good snapshot feature and it can be integrated with Vcenter (3par recovery manager)
The advantages
Node architecture
Can get it for less cost
Administration is super easy. The CLI is very simpler
Good snapshot feature and it can be integrated with Vcenter (3par recovery manager)
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ASKER
Well, we were going to go with the Dell 3820's, but 10Ge means new iscsi switches. Priced them out at 7K apiece! That's crazy....
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ASKER
How about something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-ProSAFE-12-Port-10-Gigabit-10G-baseT/dp/B00BWBLL6S/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1427460641&sr=1-4&keywords=10gb+switch
It's about 1500 and has great reviews. This is an isolated SAN iscsi network. Nothing else going over.
Thanks.
http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-ProSAFE-12-Port-10-Gigabit-10G-baseT/dp/B00BWBLL6S/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1427460641&sr=1-4&keywords=10gb+switch
It's about 1500 and has great reviews. This is an isolated SAN iscsi network. Nothing else going over.
Thanks.
I wouldn't go for a NAS. Stick with a SAN.
If you're only ever going to have 2 nodes, you could look at SAS attaching the servers but it is rip and replace if you want more in the future, so not advised.
HP 3PAR and Compellent will be far too much, so the HP MSA or Dell MD series are your best bet.
Can you not re-use some of the enclosures from the MD3000 on the MD38000 even as a stop gap to spread the cost?
If you're only ever going to have 2 nodes, you could look at SAS attaching the servers but it is rip and replace if you want more in the future, so not advised.
HP 3PAR and Compellent will be far too much, so the HP MSA or Dell MD series are your best bet.
Can you not re-use some of the enclosures from the MD3000 on the MD38000 even as a stop gap to spread the cost?
ASKER
I will have to get back to this.
ASKER
Thanks for all the options. We decided to go with the 3820i and keep the 1 gb iscsi switches we already have.
ASKER