ISCSI offload (Broadcom) or VMware Software Initiator ?

[Yps]

Hi, got 3 new R710 (2x x5690 with 192gb), and running Equallogic Storage (3 members on 1gbit).

should I use EQLMEM plugin with Iscsi offload on Broadcom or Vmware Software Initiator?

Any advice?

thanks Magnus

[vmroyale]

Hello.

Which version of ESXi are you using and which Broadcom cards? Are you using, or planning on using, jumbo frames?

My advice would be to try both and test each to see if one outperforms the other.

Good Luck!

[DougBaer]

If you are concerned about the CPU footprint of storage on your ESXi hosts, I'd go with the offload.  Since most hosts I've encountered have plenty of CPU to spare, and the swiscsi configuration is simpler, I tend to go with that.  That said, I have no experience with the EQLMEM plugin, so I don't know if there are other benefits beyond the offload.

I'd check to see how a configuration with the offload handles an iSCSI multipathing configuration.  That's where things tend to get a little strange.

[Yps]

Thanks for input, I will keep using the EQLMEM plugin and using swiscsi.

I found this blog that compare both options:

http://www.vmadmin.co.uk/vmware/35-esxserver/252-esxihwswiscsijumbo