Test ESX Cluster without a SAN

[ttanAgency]

Greetings,

I am wondering if it is possible to setup a test ESX cluster environment without a SAN. In my future test environment, I will have three servers. Will it be possible to have one server to act as the file server, while the other two servers access the shared volume? Almost like an NFS environment.

Thank you in advance,

-Tim

[Dave_Mishchenko]

Hi Tim, you could setup a 3rd server to run NFS or iSCSI. Below are a couple of options for using Windows in that role. You can do the same with Linux if that's what you prefer.

Windows 2003 NFS setup - http://www.rtfm-ed.co.uk/?p=225

StarWind iSCSI offer - http://www.vmware.com/community/thread.jspa?messageID=652568&#652568

[Jae_Ellers]

Not like an nfs server, but an nfs or iscsi server. That's what is required to test shared storage/vmotion without a FC san.

You can use all 3 servers for ESX and then host the virtualcenter and storage server as vms.

You can do this with either NFS or iSCSI protocols, depending on which you want to test and are more comfortable setting up. There are a variety of open source iSCSI targets mentioned in the forums. Almost any OS these days is capable of hosting NFS service. Read the configuration guides and go for it.