iSCSI SAN solution for ESX

[vmtekken]

Hello.

We're looking into getting an iSCSI SAN for ESX.

About the drives, is there a big difference between sata and sas and sas 10K vs 15K?

How's the iSCSI performance compared to fiber SAN?

Can you guys recommend a good iSCSI solution?

Checked out Dell PS4000 and it seems to be a good product.

[theblackknight · Accepted solution]

(About the drives, is there a big difference between sata and sas and sas 10K vs 15K? )

Yes, 15k SAS are faster and a little bit more expensive, but worth it!

(How's the iSCSI performance compared to fiber SAN?)

iSCSI SAN is not as fast as fiber, but compared to local disk is a big improvement for your apps, users...etc

(Can you guys recommend a good iSCSI solution?)

I personally think Dell equallogic are great! PS600XV is what I have implemented.

[azn2kew]

What types of budget do you have and storage requirements but Dell Equallogic PS5000 , HP 2012i, IBM DS3300, EMC NS20, Falconstore, 3PAR, NetApp FAS2000 series are pretty good or use virtualize storage solution such as Datacore SANMelody or Lefthand's Network would be cool tool. I've personally working with Dell Equallogic, Compellent, Falconstor and NetApp gears and they work really well. I would check out each vendors and compare your budget and check out their performance guides to make sure you get the right one. SAS & SATA has big performance differences but you can place SATA for the OS and DB and Logs on SATA drives would be perfect. FC SAN always #1 in reliability and performance and it always suited for large enterprise environment, for mid tier/small environment NFS and iSCSI should be great too and performance comparing the 3 is not that bad if you have the right gear and storage designs in place such as NetApp NFS or Dell PS 5000 series...with extra switches/paths/ for failover!

If you found this information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful". Thanks!!!

Regards,

Stefan Nguyen

VMware vExpert 2009

iGeek Systems Inc.

VMware, Citrix, Microsoft Consultant

[wardgtr]

There are many good solutions out there I think it depends on Budget, Features, and what type of VM's you are going to run on it.

Drive wise depends on what you are doing Test Dev VM's SATA 7K Drives are fine. Production Exchange, File server, Web Servers SAS 10K or 15K.

Lowend bare bones no features HP MSA2012i.

Going up you have Equallogic and Lefthand. great ISCSI products with great features.

Then you have Compellent, Netapp very good priducts with a lot of great features.

VMware Technical Consultant

SHI

[vmtekken]

Dell Equallogic PS4000s are expensive right? How does HP 2012i compare to Dell Equallogic PS4000?

We're looking for an affordable solution and Equallogics seem too expensive.

[wardgtr]

The HP would be alot cheaper as it comes with no software for snapshots/replication like the Dell. Look at the HP 2012i I think for a DUal controller 2.7TB 300GB SAS drives about $15,000

.

VMware Technical Consultant

SHI

[vmtekken]

How's Dell MD3000i? Have you guys used it?

It's seem affordable compared to other solutions...