Shared Data Store Options for ESXi

[Kasher_Khan]

Hey Guys,

I am new to vmware but not a total novice (maybe I am . Anyways here is the situation. We have been using VMware ESXi (Free) in our office sand box env for over 6 months now.

The server I am running this on has the following specs

Dell PoweEdge 2900III
Dual Core Xenon
32GB memory
750GB HDD (RAID 5) - 500GB Data Store for Vms, 250GB for ISOs

We are running some applications servers on instances of Windows 2003 Server R2, as well as a couple of linux OS. There are 6 or so Vms total.

The limiting factor right now is the HDD allocation. Since I have run out of room on the local server internal HDDs store.

What I want to do is this...

Add two additional physical hosts (power edge 29000III class with similar specs to above with two quad core cpus each). Then have some sort of SAN to use as a share data store for all three PH to access disk space from. I am planning on upgrading the ESXi free license to Essentials or Essentials PLus.

Since a full blown SAN solution is out of the question I need to consider either some sort of cheap iSCSI implementation OR

I was thinking if a Dell NF500 or NF600 storage server (expanded with a Power Vault MD1000 unit that I already have - I intend to use a Perc6e card I already have for this) can be used for this purpose.

The questions I have are

Is the above possible?
How will the performance be for data access?
Do I need Gigabit connections?
Is there a cheaper or better way to achieve this...

How are most people creating the shared data stores (other than expensive equal logic etc). Our primary vendor is dell so hardware should come from them. I have had good experience with Dell outlet in the past and don't mind buying used\refurb.

Note: I am taking my Vmware install and Config 3.5 class on Sept 8th and plan on taking my VCP exam soon after.

Thanks for all the help in advance!!!

 

[pacmantravis]

You will need gigabit connections for iscsi and you can use the NF600 storage server if you wish.

However, I would go with an MD3000i (single controller for cost savings) as you can get it with a few disks for around $5k (make sure to CALL and order for better pricing). The MD1000 you have can also be connected to the MD3000i.

Better yet, the MD3000i is supported by Dell and VMware so you can troubleshoot any issues that occur. Im not so sure about the NF600

 

[RiDDLeRThC]

We run an MD3000i with very few issues.

 

[Kasher_Khan]

You will need gigabit connections for iscsi and you can use the NF600 storage server if you wish.

However, I would go with an MD3000i (single controller for cost savings) as you can get it with a few disks for around $5k (make sure to CALL and order for better pricing). The MD1000 you have can also be connected to the MD3000i.

Better yet, the MD3000i is supported by Dell and VMware so you can troubleshoot any issues that occur. Im not so sure about the NF600

Thanks for the quick response.

I can consider the MD3000i since it appears to be a popular option.
Are you sure about connecting to the MD1000?

Secondly how does this work in practice? I mean I will have three physical hosts running on ESXi Essentials (hoping this license would be enough). Then do I just connect and configure 1 of these PHs with the MD3000i (which itself expands through an MD1000i?). What are the connections... Gigabit switch? I may choose to ignore the MD1000 for now.

How does the local storage come into play on the actual servers them selves. Can i choose space from both external or internal stores. I am sure that is possible.

I have not used an MD3000 solution before... Does that need a storage server besides itself to control it or are the neccessary HBA, or iSCSI controllers built into it to allow unit itself through a card... how does it connect to host?

Again thanks for the help so far.

 

[Kasher_Khan]

I was reading up on the MD3000i on the Dell website. And it seems the cost for the SAN version (which I asume is the one you need for ESXi) is $16000 ~. Also it says "attached servers will not be virtualized" in the desription. What does that mean?

That is way out of my range. I was planning on comming under $5k for the storage. I don't mind used\refurb but I will have to read further to know exactly what I need from this.

 

[Kasher_Khan]

So I got a quote from Dell. My Dell Storage Rep Confirmed the following.

Quote: New MD3000i (4 x 1TB) $5200

It will support ESXi out of the box

Connection through Gigabit switch to 4 servers is supported (16 max)

It will connect to MD1000i as DAS through built in SAS controller.

The dual controller solution is expensive and I don't need that kind of redundancy right now.

So from the looks of it I think The MD3000i is the perfect solution for me...

Note: Any word of advise against looking for a deal on this on Dell outlet?

Once again.. thanks for all the help guys.

 

[Thuleman]

Depending on where you work I would call back and say that $5200 doesn't work for you as you can only spend $4999 (including shipping and support) freely and after that it needs to go out for bid. I have received numerous deals that way, although in my case it's actually true too. It also helps when you are actually ready to make the $4999 purchase right there. Dell Outlet is fine, you get warranty and support just as if it's new, and you can get a pretty good deal.

 

[gimp0]

Secondly how does this work in practice? I mean I will have three physical hosts running on ESXi Essentials (hoping this license would be enough). Then do I just connect and configure 1 of these PHs with the MD3000i (which itself expands through an MD1000i?). What are the connections... Gigabit switch? I may choose to ignore the MD1000 for now.

How does the local storage come into play on the actual servers them selves. Can i choose space from both external or internal stores. I am sure that is possible.

I have not used an MD3000 solution before... Does that need a storage server besides itself to control it or are the neccessary HBA, or iSCSI controllers built into it to allow unit itself through a card... how does it connect to host?

Again thanks for the help so far.

A single controller MD3000i has 2 Gigabit ports which will connect to 1 or 2 Gigabit switches depending on the need for redundancy. If you choose to use 2 switches you will create a trunk between them so it is better to get some sort of managed switch to utilize flow control, jumbo frames, and trunking.

Your servers will need additional NIC ports as well as you will need dedicated ports for HA (High Availability), dedicated ports for management, ports for LAN traffic, and also ports for iSCSI traffic. This is where you are going to hear that 8 ports are ideal as you have redundant NICs for all services as well as teaming them for increased throughput.

You don't "need" 8 ports but PCIe NIC cards are cheap ($200 each for Dual Port HP NICs, since that is what our shop is)

If you are only using Essentials and not Essentials Plus then you can reduce that to 6 ports as Essentials doesn't have HA.

You can still use local storage if you want, they will show up as datastores just like the iSCSI targets you connect to each host.

The MD3000i is controlled by software installed on a server

 

[gimp0]

So I got a quote from Dell. My Dell Storage Rep Confirmed the following.

Quote: New MD3000i (4 x 1TB) $5200

It will connect to MD1000i as DAS through built in SAS controller.

You may have them play with the configuration and utilize smaller drives but more of them to up the spindle count which will increase performance.

Not saying this is the way to do it but it doesn't take but a minute to plug in 8 - 500 GB drives for a 7 drive raid 5 with hotspare.

I would avoid a 3 drive raid 5 with hotspare that your current quote is for.

I pulled these from the Dell site for cost reference, they should reduce in price equally once quoted by your rep. If they do you will end up with the same storage for the same price using more drives which will greatly increase performance.

1TB 7.2K RPM Near-Line SAS 3Gbps 3.5-in HotPlug Hard Drive [$599]
500GB 7.2K RPM Near-Line SAS 3Gbps 3.5-in HotPlug Hard Drive [$299]

 

[Kasher_Khan]

What you say makes a lot of sense. I will wait to take my class next week. Hopefully I will learn some stuff.

THANKS A LOT!

Appericiate all the useful insight.

 

[lopoetve]

Thanks for the quick response.

I can consider the MD3000i since it appears to be a popular option.
Are you sure about connecting to the MD1000?

Secondly how does this work in practice? I mean I will have three physical hosts running on ESXi Essentials (hoping this license would be enough). Then do I just connect and configure 1 of these PHs with the MD3000i (which itself expands through an MD1000i?). What are the connections... Gigabit switch? I may choose to ignore the MD1000 for now.

How does the local storage come into play on the actual servers them selves. Can i choose space from both external or internal stores. I am sure that is possible.

I have not used an MD3000 solution before... Does that need a storage server besides itself to control it or are the neccessary HBA, or iSCSI controllers built into it to allow unit itself through a card... how does it connect to host?

Again thanks for the help so far.

Absolutely on the 1000 - it's a common combination, and good for the price. The only other supported option is NFS on RHEL.

You access the MD3000 through the network, via the iSCSI initiator in ESX. They talk to the MD3000 directly. Dell will help explain this, or VMware support can as well (or I can, wehn I'm not recovering from 3000 miles straight of motorcycle riding.)

Local storage will just be another datastore. The MD3000 has built in targets and ports.