How does ESX work with a SAN?

[pofahl]

I currently have a standalone ESX server with a terabyte of storage, but want to buy a second ESX server next year for fault tolerance plus a SAN. If I move my existing Virtual HD's to the SAN, does my secondary server need to have the same amount of disk space? or do the virtual servers run from the SAN?

[waynegrow]

Your ESX servers would both need to see the LUNs on the array. You would not need 2x the amount of disk space. The VMs disks would run off the SAN, with memory and CPU running off the ESX server.

[esiebert7625 · Accepted solution]

Each ESX Server should see the same SAN storage and LUN's. The ESX Servers uses shared storage between ESX servers so features like vMotion, HA & DRS can work. So the SAN LUN's should be presented identically to each ESX server. Read the below guides and they should give you a better understanding of how it all works.

SAN Configuration Guide - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_esx_san_cfg.pdf

SAN Conceptual and Design Basics - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/esx_san_cfg_technote.pdf

SAN System Design and Deployment Guide - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_san_design_deploy.pdf

Choosing and Architecting Storage for your Environment - http://download3.vmware.com/vmworld/2006/adc0135.pdf

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Thanks, Eric

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