VMware Solution for an Enterprise SMB - Advice Requests
Hi,
I'm looking to design/build a small IT solution based around VMware Essential Plus kit for 2 offices; a main office and a branch office.
My idea is as follows:
MAIN OFFICE:
2x servers (HP DL360 Gen9)
1x SAN device (HP MSA 1020 - 1Gb iSCSI version)
My thinking is that with this solution, I have some redundancy/resiliency and can leverage the vMotion and vSphere HA features; if one server (host) goes down or needs to be taken down for maintenance etc there should be no or minimal downtime. Servers will host primarily Windows Servers (no exchange or large databases although there will be some DB's for Antivirus management and other monitoring software so based on SQL Express etc) in AD domain and will also host a Terminal Server (based again on Windows Server) and a couple fo virtual test clients (Win7 etc).
BRANCH OFFICE:
1x server (HP DL160 GEN9)
Storage will be on the server itself (no NAS or SAN).
Requirements here are smaller than at main office and will primarily host Windows server in an AD domain with storage really only for files and documents so expect minimal I/O.
Does any have any advice, comments, suggestions regarding the above solution? Budget is a factor but at the same time I need to guarantee uptime as much as possible (I know I probably won't get 99.999% uptime with the above but don't have the budget for such a solution).
Any comments, good or bad would be very welcome. If you need any additional info or have any questions regarding the above, please feel free to ask.
Thanks in advance.
Sergio
I'm looking to design/build a small IT solution based around VMware Essential Plus kit for 2 offices; a main office and a branch office.
My idea is as follows:
MAIN OFFICE:
2x servers (HP DL360 Gen9)
1x SAN device (HP MSA 1020 - 1Gb iSCSI version)
My thinking is that with this solution, I have some redundancy/resiliency and can leverage the vMotion and vSphere HA features; if one server (host) goes down or needs to be taken down for maintenance etc there should be no or minimal downtime. Servers will host primarily Windows Servers (no exchange or large databases although there will be some DB's for Antivirus management and other monitoring software so based on SQL Express etc) in AD domain and will also host a Terminal Server (based again on Windows Server) and a couple fo virtual test clients (Win7 etc).
BRANCH OFFICE:
1x server (HP DL160 GEN9)
Storage will be on the server itself (no NAS or SAN).
Requirements here are smaller than at main office and will primarily host Windows server in an AD domain with storage really only for files and documents so expect minimal I/O.
Does any have any advice, comments, suggestions regarding the above solution? Budget is a factor but at the same time I need to guarantee uptime as much as possible (I know I probably won't get 99.999% uptime with the above but don't have the budget for such a solution).
Any comments, good or bad would be very welcome. If you need any additional info or have any questions regarding the above, please feel free to ask.
Thanks in advance.
Sergio
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Think very carefully about VDP it's really is a can of worms!
VMware weakest link in the chain.
VMotion between sites not possible that's a slow link and you need common storage.
VSAN can be added there is what is called ROBO Edition. Eg 2 node
VMware weakest link in the chain.
VMotion between sites not possible that's a slow link and you need common storage.
VSAN can be added there is what is called ROBO Edition. Eg 2 node
ASKER
Andrew,
Thank you again and thanks for the warning regarding VDP.
Regarding vMotion however, I thought that you could do an "enhanced" vMotion that would also move the storage as well as the VM from one host to another? Whether it's realistically feasible across a 10Mb link I'm not sure but I was under the impression that, at least theoretically, it could be done?
Kind regards,
Sergio
Thank you again and thanks for the warning regarding VDP.
Regarding vMotion however, I thought that you could do an "enhanced" vMotion that would also move the storage as well as the VM from one host to another? Whether it's realistically feasible across a 10Mb link I'm not sure but I was under the impression that, at least theoretically, it could be done?
Kind regards,
Sergio
ASKER
Andy,
Thanks for your comment. It's appreciated and a very good point. I'll look into costs etc. A rack is already at the brach site so isn't an issue but good point all the same.
Kind regards,
Sergio
Thanks for your comment. It's appreciated and a very good point. I'll look into costs etc. A rack is already at the brach site so isn't an issue but good point all the same.
Kind regards,
Sergio
Enhanced vMotion or what is commonly referred to as Shared Nothing vMotion is possible across a LAN, normally 1GB or 10GBe.
Across a 10Mb link!
I wouldn't even want to try it across a 100MB LAN, or 10MB LAN! let alone a 10MB WAN Link,
I think you will find it quicker to Export the VMs, to External USB flash drive, and take to the site and Import!
see minimum requirements here
vMotion bandwidth requirements (2059921)
I'm also answered a question about Backups here... and my EE Article is here
https://www.experts-exchange.com/articles/18442/12-commercial-software-backup-products-for-VMware-vSphere-Hypervisor-ESXi-you-should-be-evaluating-today.html
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28944060/Backup-ideas-solution-for-VMWare-VMs.html
Across a 10Mb link!
I wouldn't even want to try it across a 100MB LAN, or 10MB LAN! let alone a 10MB WAN Link,
I think you will find it quicker to Export the VMs, to External USB flash drive, and take to the site and Import!
see minimum requirements here
vMotion bandwidth requirements (2059921)
I'm also answered a question about Backups here... and my EE Article is here
https://www.experts-exchange.com/articles/18442/12-commercial-software-backup-products-for-VMware-vSphere-Hypervisor-ESXi-you-should-be-evaluating-today.html
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28944060/Backup-ideas-solution-for-VMWare-VMs.html
ASKER
Many thanks Andrew. I fully agree that it's probably not realistic to vMotion across the WAN link we have. To be fair I don't intend to. I only envisage vMotion between the two servers at the main site.
Thanks for the links which no doubt will be a great help. I'll take a look at them this weekend when I have a moment of peace.
Best wishes.
Sergio
Thanks for the links which no doubt will be a great help. I'll take a look at them this weekend when I have a moment of peace.
Best wishes.
Sergio
Sergio, any more help, questions, please ask.
ASKER
Thanks Andrew. Much appreciated.
Best wishes.
Sergio
Best wishes.
Sergio
ASKER
Many thanks for the quick response. It's much appreciated. And your comment about looking into vSAN is a great point but I have a question regarding this that I hope you may be able to answer; vSAN isn't included with the Essentials Plus kit. Can you add vSAN on top as an option?
Connectivity between the two sites is via a 10MB link. Round Trip Delay between the sites is short (from memory less than 20ms so falls within the recommendations to do a vMotion between sites if necessary although I appreciate migrating TB's of data may not be ideal and far from quick).
Regarding backup, I was thinking to back up to a NAS we have with lots of storage as well as using the vSphere Data Protection feature that come bundled with Essential Plus and snapshots. I have no experience of vSphere Data Protection so please let me know of any "gotchas" or anything you thing may be relevant if you can.
As always, any comments, feedback etc is always appreciated.
Thank you again.
Sergio