How to configure virtual shared storage for virtual ESX on Wrkstn6 ?

[John_Balsillie]

Hi,

I have been successfully following the xtravirt white paper on installing ESX on Workstation6.

Now I want to configure VMotion and DRS between 2 ESX hosts but cannot work out how to configure virtual shared storage to enable this. Under Wrkstn6, a vmdk that is already presented to one virtual ESX host can be presented to a second host, however that second host can then not be powered on due to a lock on the vmdk by the first host.

Any suggestions or experiences on how to work around this would be greatly appreciated.

John Balsillie

Brisbane

[nick_couchman]

You have to set up a few things in the VMX files to allow sharing on the SCSI bus, disable drive locking, etc., in order for this to work. You can search the Server forum for "clustering" or check out sanbarrow.com to find some resources that tell you exactly what needs to be done in each VMX file.

[continuum]

You know that clustering disks isn't stable on Workstation - don't you ?

ANyway - post your two vmx-files - lets see what we can do

[nick_couchman · Accepted solution]

Yes, but running ESX inside a VM also isn't recommended, so what does he have to lose?

[oreeh]

You have two options:

Install a third VM who acts as the storage server (NFS or iSCSI).

Or install a NFS server / iSCSI server on the WS6 host.

The second IMHO is the better option since you impose less load on the host.

If you have a Windows host the easiest way is to install Windows Services for Unix (works with XP too).

You can find some hints using NFS on Windows here http://www.vmware.com/community/thread.jspa?messageID=581722

[nick_couchman]

And why isn't sharing VMDK files a third option? I know it isn't "supported" or "stable," but neither is ESX in WS6...

[oreeh]

Because shared disk in WS are not stable (my opinion) and using these as a shared storage for ESX makes things even worse.

Message was edited by:

oreeh

But you can of course try it - if you have it running post the details on how you got it working.

[continuum]

Can you use Windows as an iSCSI-server - sorry I am not up to date

[oreeh]

Yes - according to another thread (don't have it at hand) you can get Starwinds iSCSI solution for this.

Another thing that should work is SanMelody.

But why use iSCSI for this?

To simply test vMotion and DRS NFS is sufficient and a lot easier to setup.

Message was edited by:

oreeh

Here's the link to the other thread:

http://www.vmware.com/community/message.jspa?messageID=634673#634673

[continuum]

I am just looking for the leaner way - maybe I could even add one of nfs or iSCSI to MOA ...

[oreeh]

With MOA I'd personally would use NFS.

[continuum]

The install takes only 12 MB - that would be ok

[Matts_N_]

Link to a description to add shared disks for a Microsoft cluster here:

http://www.vmware.com/community/thread.jspa?messageID=742789&#742789

HTH!

// Matts