How to define datastore cluster boundaries in SDRS implemenations

[TheVMinator]

In SDRS, a datastore cluster can encompass more than one HA cluster.  Is it best to have only one datastore cluster per HA cluster?  If there were reasons for having a datastore cluster encompass more than a single HA cluster, what they would be?

Obviously, you want to keep consistency within a datastore cluster in that the LUNs all have the same characteristics.   If you have 2 HA clusters that have identical storage characterisitcs and needs, should you create one giant datastore cluster for both HA clusters, or have two separate datastore clusters, one for each HA cluster?

Thanks

[frankdenneman]

Hi,

You can connect multiple compute clusters (HA&DRS) to a single datastore cluster.

Please try to connect all the datastores to all the host in a single cluster, otherwise the cluster will be considered partially connected:

http://frankdenneman.nl/2012/10/15/partially-connected-datastore-clusters-where-can-i-find-the-warni...

But I think this article will help you the most: http://frankdenneman.nl/2012/04/19/connecting-multiple-drs-clusters-to-a-single-storage-drs-datastor...

The limit is not the datastore cluster itself but the connection limit of the datastores.

For VMFS 64 hosts could be connected to a single VMFS Datastore, I'm not aware of any host limitations on a NFS datastore, I think thats provided by the NFS array manufacturer Please check the configuration guide for the maximums for NFS and VMFS just to be sure.

I created a series of articles on the design of a datastore cluster, you might want to check this series out:

http://frankdenneman.nl/2011/09/16/architecture-and-design-of-datastore-clusters/

http://frankdenneman.nl/2011/10/07/partially-connected-datastore-clusters/

http://frankdenneman.nl/2012/04/19/connecting-multiple-drs-clusters-to-a-single-storage-drs-datastor...

http://frankdenneman.nl/2012/01/impact-of-load-balancing-on-datastore-cluster-configuration/