iSCSI SAN and ESX3 Clustering

[pearlyshells]

Have read documentation that indicates that if we deploy an iSCSI SAN with software initiators that the system will not support clustering. Is that the correct reading? No clustering capability??? if so, Why?

[AntonVZhbankov]

I suppose Microsoft clusters are not supported with ESX software iSCSI, but VMware clusters are fully supported, HA and DRS.

---

VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[JeffDrury]

What documentation are you referring to? I have deployed many Microsoft clusters running as VM's and utilizing RDM's for the cluster volumes or by using an iSCSI initiator within the guest.

[pearlyshells]

There are a couple of documents I've read

Configuring iSCSI in a VMWARE ESX Server 3 Environment

and, I believe it even states the same in the VMWARE ESX3 Resource Guide

-

---

I have also been successful doing MSCS but it was with Fibre Channel SAN not iSCSI

[AntonVZhbankov · Accepted solution]

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_mscs.pdf

page 11

>The following environments and functionality are not supported for MSCS setups with this release of vSphere:

>- Clustering on iSCSI or NFS disks.

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_35/esx_3/vi3_35_25_u1_mscs.pdf

page 16

Clustering is not supported on iSCSI or NFS disks

---

VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[AntonVZhbankov]

>I have also been successful doing MSCS but it was with Fibre Channel SAN not iSCSI

I'm 100% sure it will work on NFS or iSCSI, but VMware just does not support such configuration.

---

VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[AndreTheGiant]

I'm 100% sure it will work on NFS or iSCSI, but VMware just does not support such configuration.

In iSCSI case a good solution is use iSCSI initiator inside the two MSCS nodes.

So from VMware point of view you have two "simple" VM (and iSCSI inside the guest is supported).

Then you have to configure MSCS as two real node with a iSCSI storage.

Andre