StarWind Software

I have a server built that I intend to use as VM and general SMB storage. In addition to this storage server, I have Hosts one ESXi, one HyperV. (started with ESXi, but trying hyperV to see if iit helps with some issues)


Storage server
Win 2012R2 patched to date
Boot Volume 120GB Samsung 840 SSD
Data Volume 6 of WD RED 3TB in a MS Storage spaces Mirror giving me about 8TB of usable space.
MB ASUS P7F-E, X3440 CPU with 12GB ECC RAM
2 integrated Intel NIC 82574, 2 Broadcom BCM57710 NetXtreme II 10GBE


Host Servers
Host1
TS140 lenovo (Xeon L1225-v3, 32GB ECC, i217 Intel NIC, with 2 added BCM57710 10GBE NICS)
Running HyperV Server 2012R2 from Intel X25E SLC-SSD, added OCZ-Agility 4 256GB SSD for ISO and VM's
Host2
TS140 lenovo (Xeon L1225-v3, 24GB ECC, i217 Intel NIC, with 2 added BCM57710 10GBE NICS)
Running ESXi5.5 from Intel X25E SLC-SSD, added OCZ-Agility 4 256GB SSD and 3 Seagate baracuda green 2TB HDD for ISO and VM's

All three servers are connected to my core (Mikrotik) switch (on a 192.168.110.x) with a single 1GB each for now. I have a link straight from the hyperV host to the storage server between the 10G cards, and these cards are addressed to a completely separate subnet (10.0.0.x)

I installed the free version of starwinds SAN ver 8 (downloaded the hyperV version) on the storage server, and created a flat 100GB device and target.

Connecting from the HyperV hosts has been a challenge.
I found this link
http://blogs.technet.com/b/keithmayer/a ... per-v.aspx

I can startup the iSCSI initiator
PS C:\> Get-Service –Name MSiSCSI
Status Name DisplayName
Running MSiSCSI Microsoft iSCSI Initiator Service


I THINK I can verify the iSCSI connection (but the initiator address of 0.0.0.0 has me worried)
PS C:\> Get-IscsiConnection
ConnectionIdentifier : ffffe000513d3020-b
InitiatorAddress : 0.0.0.0
InitiatorPortNumber : 15553
TargetAddress : 10.0.0.2
TargetPortNumber : 3260
PSComputerName :

I THINK the host sees the Disk, (but the Failed status has me worried)
PS C:\> Get-Disk | Where-Object BusType –eq “iSCSI”
Number Friendly Name OperationalStatus Total Size Partition Style
3 STARWIND STARWIND SCSI Disk Device Failed 0 B RAW

However, the format of the disk fails
PS C:\> Initialize-Disk –Number 3 –PartitionStyle GPT –PassThru | New-Partition –AssignDriveLetter –UseMaximumSize | For
mat-Volume
Initialize-Disk : The disk is not large enough to support a GPT partition style.
At line:1 char:1
+ Initialize-Disk –Number 3 –PartitionStyle GPT –PassThru | New-Partition –AssignD ...
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (StorageWMI:ROOT/Microsoft/Windows/Storage/MSFT_Disk) [Initialize-Disk], C
imException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : StorageWMI 41014,Initialize-Disk



Not sure what to do here next.

Start with telling what are you planning to do: would it be a production or pure single-node setup once and forever. Here's why: we don't recommend using iSCSI with Windows Server 2012 R2 / Hyper-V 2012 R2 anymore and tell customers to stick with SMB 3.0 and Scale-Out File Servers if they separate compute and storage layers. So if you want to have production and 2+ nodes then you're not the completely wrong way. If it's a pure academic / lab setup then it has SOME sense but I'd like to hear more about your plans before we'll jump in

Lab only, but up time is important as we depend on it around my house
I didn't think SMB3 was really an option since, well I don't have VMM.

In my ideal situation I would have the following in place.
-2 servers (max) in use all the time, leaving one for playing around and trying out new stuff.
-those 2 full time servers to be the lenovo TS140's as they are newer, faster and burn less energy.
-both those servers be connected to the two 10G links on my core switch (Mikotik CRS226-24g-2s+in)
-one at least will be a VM host (ESXi or HyperV server)
-2-4 VM's on host, one is a 2012 DC, 1-2 will be be File servers.
-multiple 1GIG NICS on a few admin systems that could use multichannel SMB3 to push / pull OVER 150MB/S



Is this generic enough info?

Hi!

There is too much not StarWind related info here But still, thanks for sharing that.

Maybe it would be better to discuss your questions and concerns on the phone call. Can you drop me the quick email (av@starwind.com) with reference to this thread and we`ll schedule a short meeting?

sounds great, I will send you an email asap

Update for the community: me and Mervin were on the call and currently he is considering Virtual SAN Converged scenario.