How create shared disk for Linux servers vm servers?
Hi,
I have 2 Linux vm servers in my vCenter.
Now users from both Linux servers need a common share where both servers can drop backup file, stock files, etc.
I'm not familiar with Linux but for VmWare part what should I do for that? What kind of disk should I create to have that share?
Thanks.
I have 2 Linux vm servers in my vCenter.
Now users from both Linux servers need a common share where both servers can drop backup file, stock files, etc.
I'm not familiar with Linux but for VmWare part what should I do for that? What kind of disk should I create to have that share?
Thanks.
It's not a VMware function, you need to use a File Share on a Server or Computer.
e.g. NFS or CIFS
Just like Windows uses File Shares
e.g. NFS or CIFS
Just like Windows uses File Shares
ASKER
So if I understand well, I can't just create a disk and make both Linux servers share the same disk, right?
What I will need to do is to mount a server (Windows or Linux) and created a NFS shared folder. Like that both servers will able to use the same shared. Am I right?
What I will need to do is to mount a server (Windows or Linux) and created a NFS shared folder. Like that both servers will able to use the same shared. Am I right?
no. even clustered disks do not work like that, one has access the other does not until failed over.
correct
What I will need to do is to mount a server (Windows or Linux) and created a NFS shared folder. Like that both servers will able to use the same shared. Am I right?
correct
If only Linux/Unix systems are involved then NFS is the first choice.
(NFS has beeen created to share files between unix systems) so that has the least amount of translations, mixed platform assuptions etc.
On a server you create an /etc/exports file and enable the NFS server part. On client you mount the remote NFS drives from teh /etc/fstab.
(after starting the nfs services).
Try to avoid hard mounts if possible.
(NFS has beeen created to share files between unix systems) so that has the least amount of translations, mixed platform assuptions etc.
On a server you create an /etc/exports file and enable the NFS server part. On client you mount the remote NFS drives from teh /etc/fstab.
(after starting the nfs services).
Try to avoid hard mounts if possible.
If you really want to share disks you need to look at GFS filesystem, where each system has a it's own journal and can pre allocate some storage.
Be sure you enables the dlm distributed lock manager to effectively handle this. And you should think about having an odd number >=3 for the regular number of nodes.
You need to have the majority of systems working to be able to use them.
Al system CAN access the disk at the same time. (You will need to enable the disks in the SAN for multiple connects though).
Alternatively you can setup some disk server using f.e. beeGFS (Not exactly GFS...) beeGFS is not a disk but a server that provides simultanous access to several systems at the ame time.
(There can be multiple servers, disks etc. in a beeGFS cluster).
Be sure you enables the dlm distributed lock manager to effectively handle this. And you should think about having an odd number >=3 for the regular number of nodes.
You need to have the majority of systems working to be able to use them.
Al system CAN access the disk at the same time. (You will need to enable the disks in the SAN for multiple connects though).
Alternatively you can setup some disk server using f.e. beeGFS (Not exactly GFS...) beeGFS is not a disk but a server that provides simultanous access to several systems at the ame time.
(There can be multiple servers, disks etc. in a beeGFS cluster).
ASKER
I'm more familiar with Windows server. I imagine that I can mount a Window server and create an NFS shared folder or drive then both Linux servers should see it no?
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But are Linux servers will be able to see the Windows shared?
yes, if you configure them!
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Just to give an idea:
There was 2 physical Linux servers which have been virtualized in VMWare.
Those 2 servers were attached to a NetApp disks.
Now, the goal is to remove the old NetApp (End of support) and create a new share for the Linux servers which are in a SAN storage now.
The Linux servers are in clusters (active/passive) and need to share common disk to put backup and files.
That's is why I cannot just create 2 vmdk disks and add them to each servers.
There was 2 physical Linux servers which have been virtualized in VMWare.
Those 2 servers were attached to a NetApp disks.
Now, the goal is to remove the old NetApp (End of support) and create a new share for the Linux servers which are in a SAN storage now.
The Linux servers are in clusters (active/passive) and need to share common disk to put backup and files.
That's is why I cannot just create 2 vmdk disks and add them to each servers.
this rules out the existing filestore, but does not bring any hint regarding what data you store : volume of writes, lots of small files, mostly logs or whatever is append-only, or are these servers used for something else such as a database ?...
it would also help to know whether those 2 servers run on the same physical host or not.
that said a most basic glusterfs setup or simply incremental and mutual filesystem backups seems like an idea.
why would the disk need to be "common" ? are you expecting some kind of ha ? di you have some existing sync tool you want to preserve ?
it would also help to know whether those 2 servers run on the same physical host or not.
that said a most basic glusterfs setup or simply incremental and mutual filesystem backups seems like an idea.
why would the disk need to be "common" ? are you expecting some kind of ha ? di you have some existing sync tool you want to preserve ?
How are they currently in a Linux Cluster if they do not share common storage?
or do you mean they were clustered?
how were they connected to NetApp RDM LUN iSCSI
you could look at shared virtual disks but it’s not production and is lab or proof of concept
but only one server the active server has access to the shared disk unless failed over and the passive has access
or do you mean they were clustered?
how were they connected to NetApp RDM LUN iSCSI
you could look at shared virtual disks but it’s not production and is lab or proof of concept
but only one server the active server has access to the shared disk unless failed over and the passive has access
ASKER
So in short the easiest way is to create a Windows server with shared drive or folder, right?
maybe..., you may need to also use AD integration for that. So YMMV.
Do it with what you are most familiar with!
ASKER
All rights thanks guys for your comments!
it will likely proove simpler to setup an nfs fileserver and configure the builtin nfs clients rather than setup a windows filestore, install samba, and configure cifs clients on the linux servers. there is little point in mixing both worlds if you do not need to. ... but either way should work
shared drives in which multiple oses use the same physical device concurrently do not fit your bill.