Vmware Cluster Setup/Configuration guidelines

[ICTSUoC]

I have to build up a VMware cluster and need some assistance with this. I have 3 servers, which will be the 3 esxi hosts. I am using 3 Proliant DL380 Gen9. The plan is to create a cluster using ESXi 6 with these servers that will use a shared storage which will be on 2 SAN enclosures that will sync with each other. The SAN to use is the MSA 2040. I will use HBA cards to connect the Servers to the switch fabric(FS-1). The SANs will connect to each other through a seperate switch(FS-2) and connect to the servers through FS-1. The intention is to use the SAN as the storage where the vms will run, and implement HA, vMotion.

All input is welcome.

[vHaridas]

Make sure your Host are in VMware's compatible list.

To Configure ESXi Cluster you need to have vCenter server in place.

Install ESXi on Host, setup networking and then deploy vCenter appliance server or Windows based vCenter on one of the ESXi Host.

Login to vCenter using Administrator privileges account Then add ESXi host to vCenter server.

Create data center, Create Cluster and add ESXi Host in Cluster.

See detailed process -

http://www.vladan.fr/how-to-configure-vmware-high-availability-ha-cluster/

Thanks,

Haridas

[ICTSUoC]

I was doing those steps, with the current setup I have now. However I have some question marks;

1. What is all that has to be configured for the cluster to share the same datastore ( SAN ) ?
That is one of the big questions I have.

[vHaridas]

It depend on what type of protocols your storage systems supports.

if your storage supports FC, then you need to connect Host with FC HBA to FC switch and FC SAN adapter to same FC switch/fabric.

Create FC zoning on Switch. Create LUNs on SAN and map it to ESXi Hosts.

Rescan ESXi Host for storage, create VMFS volumes.

If your Storage Support NFS then you can create different VLAN for NFS traffic, Create Shares on storage and mount NFS shares on ESXi Host.

for iSCSI storage also, you can create different VLAN for iSCSI traffic and create LUNs on storage and map it with ESXi Host.

Rescan ESXi Host for storage, create VMFS volumes.

You need to map storage with all Host from SAN, Once you create VMFS volume on One Host, other host can be rescanned for VMFS storage.

NFS shares need to be mounted on each Host separately.

Thanks,

Haridas