2 Node with direct questions

[jfsiii]

I need to standup small 2node vsan/cluster HA environment in 2 separate locations that has no external network connectivity.  Will only be running about 3-5VM on them.

1.  Can the witness be deployed on a qnap server that would be in place for backups or do a need place on separate server not in the cluster?

2.  Should I go with vSphere Ent Plus or  vSphere Remote Office Branch Office Adv?

3.  Other then vSphere and vsan license any other licenses needed?

[jameseydoyle]

Hi,

Your witness appliance cannot be a VM in the same vSAN cluster, regardless of whether or not it is stored on the vSAN datastore or not. You could deploy a small form factor PC or similar in order to host the witness, such as an Intel NUC. Or install Workstation/Fusion on a PC locally and run the witness appliance on that.

Bear in mind that if you choose not to use the Witness appliance, you will need an additional ESXi license, so the Workstation route may the best.

Storage and Availability Technical Documents

[GreatWhiteTec]

Direct-connect implies one location with 2 hosts, and witness on 2nd location.

If you are planning on spreading your vSAN Data hosts across 2 sites, and have the witness on a third site, then that will be a stretched cluster.  For a stretched cluster you will need the vSAN Enterprise License. Note that there is now a vSAN ROBO Enterprise license, so that is another option given the number of VMs you plan to run.

Hope this helps.