VMware ESX Standard

[CTJohn26]

We recently purchased (before my time here) a VI ESX standard license for 4 processors. Two identical servers were purchased, 2TB of local storage each. I was under the impression you need a SAN for this setup.... does anyone know for sure?

[weinstein5]

You do not need a SAN/Shared Storage to install ESX but you lose some major functinality - if you are running Virtual Center (vmware's management piece) with out shared storage you will not be able to us vmotion, the ability to move running vms between your hosts, vmware DRS and vmware HA -

[CTJohn26]

So in other words, you need a SAN for HA? VMmotion is not supported on standard, correct?

[weinstein5 · Accepted solution]

That is correct - both ESX hosts need to see where the VM's files are stored for HA, VMotion and DRS Vmotion can be support - the Standard does include the host licenses for ESX but you will still need to buy a license for the VC server itself - for more licensing info check out -

Also you do not need a SAN you can use NAS/NFS to store your VMs and HA, DRS and VMotion will still work as long as the NAS/NFS device is seen by both hosts

[CTJohn26]

Using a NAS... what about the performance implications. If you buy a license for the VC server, will that enable VMmotion? The version comparison indicated that the standard edition does not support VMmotion.

[weinstein5]

The standard edition will support vmotion it just does not include the licenses for it - so for vmotion there are two components virtual cneter which manages it and then for each esx host -

[Cameron2007]

VMware VMotion is included in VMware Infrastructure 3 Enterprise.

VMotion can also be purchased as separately licensed product with VMware Infrastructure 3 Standard and VMware Infrastructure 3 Starter

[CTJohn26]

How does VMware HA and VM-Motion differ?

[weinstein5]

VMotion allows you to move a virtual machine between two running ESX hosts -

VMware HA - If you have a host that fails the vms that were running on that host can restart on the other hosts that are part of a HA cluster -

Both require virtual center and shared storage such as SAN or NAS/NFS -

[CTJohn26]

NFS - Network File System? What type of solutions are available?

SAN vs NAS - major differences?

[AndrewSt]

As weinstein5 has pointed out, Vmotion and HA require an external disk solution.

Options, you ask.

Cheap: Openfiler or Freenas - both free software for making your own homebrew nas solution.

Not as cheap: Dell AX150, Netapp StorVault, or similar product

Now, iSCSI vs NFS vs FC

FC - costs - you have to setup fiber channel switches, have FC HBAs in your ESX servers, etc. However, performs the best.

iSCSI vs NFS - lots of threads on this. Either works, and performs well.

I prefer NFS because of ease of setup and administration. Nice performance, and you have some nice scalability. YMMV

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-Andrew Stueve

[CTJohn26]

NFS is a network file system, correct? Therefore you would have to run more or less a lightweight server (*nix system) with the network file system. Just curious as to why this is a better choice than a SAN or NAS?

[weinstein5]

You are correct - but remeber NAS supports either NFS or SMB but ESX server only supports NFS on NAS and yes you can set up *nix server and share out an NFS folder - NAS/NFS is not better just a more economical solution -