So, I am running ESXi 5.0u1 on my server.
I installed an instance of w2k8 for the vsphere server, and now I am installing two instances of ESXi 5.0u1 as guests.
My goal is to be able to test various vMotion scenarios.
To do this, I need shared storage between the two ESXi guests (ESXi-5-A and ESXi-5-B).
However, I'm not sure how to accomplish this.
I had hoped to create a partition in the parent ESXi's datastore, and present it as shared storage to both of the ESXi guests, but that doesn't seem to work.
Do I need to use an actual physical storage unit for this purpose?
There are several options to provide shared storage. A simple one - the one I use in my lab - is to install the MS iSCSI Software Target (http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=19867) on e.g. the vCenter Server and add an additional virtual disk used for the iSCSI datastore.
André
Hi,
Nested ESXi for testing? I've written a guide to setting up OpenFiler as a VM that can provide either iSCSI or NFS shared storage on http://www.labguides.com/storage/openfiler/
OR, you could use the AutoLab on labguides.com also. This is a pre-configured / automated nested ESXi environment that you can build / rebuild with ease, it includes shared storage (NFS and iSCSI) via FreeNAS on a VM:
"This lab builder kit is designed to produce a nested vSphere 5.0 or 4.1 lab environment with the minimum effort. Prebuilt Open Source VMs and the shell of other VMs are provided along with automation for the installation of operating systems and applications into these VMs. The lab build was originally created to aid study towards VCP5 certification however it has many other possible uses."
I hope you find it useful.
Cheers,
I'm using iSCSI for keeping my VMs as well while using NFS for saving ISO files and updates.
You can install Microsoft iSCSI target (or other iSCSI targets like Starwind, DataCore or ...) or you can install/configure NFS service on Microsoft server and present it to your virtual hosts; for using NFS you can check this link or search on community.
NFS can be used for keeping VMs and VMs which placed on it can be migrated using vMotion as well.