Just to clarify!

[viktor]

I've downloaded trial from your site, created new host, added diskbridge as device (bridge to raid-5 scsi array). On client I've installed MS iSCSI, configured it. Drive is displayed in disk manager, but when I want to partition it, error is displayed. I this because I am using a trial? With images everything is working ok.

[aaron (staff)]

No it's b/c he's using multiple network connections and did not have bind MSiSCSI to the one he's using for iSCSI path.

I've downloaded trial from your site, created new host, added diskbridge as device (bridge to raid-5 scsi array). On client I've installed MS iSCSI, configured it. Drive is displayed in disk manager, but when I want to partition it, error is displayed. I this because I am using a trial? With images everything is working ok.

[viktor]

You are saying that by changing "iscsi path" my client should "recognize" this as new drive and configure it properly? What I'm trying to achieve is the same (like in your cluster sample) but for data disk I want to configure data bridge instead of image.

[Bohdan (staff)]

Hello.
Please manually edit strawind.cfg file and change loglevel value to 2.
Then restar StarWind service (net stop starwindservice, net start starwind service). Perform the steps to produce the error.
Then please contact our support team (zip and send logs form StarWind installation directory via email or they'll provide you with upload ftp account).
Thank you!

[viktor]

Hi,
my mistake with cluster configuration (shutdown ), now everything is working. Second question, before I was testing the same configuration with wintarget and I'm a little bit concerned about performanse. Wintarget is about 2.2 times faster with read operations then StarWind? Are there some settings for .cfg to fix that...

[anton (staff)]

Can you share exact numbers you get and hardware configuration you use. Also what did you use to run the tests? StarWind is pretty close to the wire speed so I don't know how WinTarget (where did you manage to find it BTW? They are out of business for around 2 years...) could be 2.2 faster then GbE itself.

Hi,
my mistake with cluster configuration (shutdown ), now everything is working. Second question, before I was testing the same configuration with wintarget and I'm a little bit concerned about performanse. Wintarget is about 2.2 times faster with read operations then StarWind? Are there some settings for .cfg to fix that...

[viktor]

Thanx Bohdan that improved performance!

Anton: I've downloaded trial version of WinTarget from Internet I believe it was 2.0.95, also I've tried with MS iSCSI target which ships with Windows Unified Storage Server 2003

My current storage configuration is HP server ML350 with 2GB ram, two disk arrays, mirror and raid-5 with 5 sas disks. Two "client" servers in cluster (SQL cluster) HP ML350 with 4GB ram. 1GB network.

[anton (staff)]

Interesting. SBS home site does not have anything except software updates... We need WinTarget to run performance cross-tests. Thanks for Storage Server link, it really helped

So what software do you use to run the tests and what numbers do you have for both of the iSCSI targets?

[viktor]

Interesting. SBS home site does not have anything except software updates... We need WinTarget to run performance cross-tests.

Ok, I've put it on our server http:\\www.irata.hr\WinTarget_2_0_95_x86_Demo14.exe

Thanks for Storage Server link, it really helped

No problem, I hope that "simple registration" didn't scare you off...

So what software do you use to run the tests and what numbers do you have for both of the iSCSI targets?

Here is a live example what goes on in our environment: Restore database 14MB which usually takes few seconds in StarWind configuration takes....

10 percent processed.
20 percent processed.
30 percent processed.
40 percent processed.
50 percent processed.
60 percent processed.
70 percent processed.
80 percent processed.
90 percent processed.
100 percent processed.
Processed 1736 pages for database 'POK_0102', file 'POK_0102' on file 2.
Processed 1 pages for database 'POK_0102', file 'POK_0102_log' on file 2.
RESTORE DATABASE successfully processed 1737 pages in 140.546 seconds (0.101 MB/sec).

Ok, that wouldn't be a problem with just one db, but we have 130 db each about 15GB, restore takes forever... Did anyone reported similar problem?

[anton (staff)]

Did you use the same configuration? I mean you have separate partition (no other files), you've placed StarWind image file there (say 20GB) and run the tests, you did place WT image file there and run your tests. Or what? What I need to know - are you comparing the same (equal) conditions or not. Did you use unallocated (sparse) image file for the StarWind?

[viktor]

This is my configuration

SPTI Device

Device: \\.\PhysicalDrive1
ID: HP LOGICAL VOLUME 1.66
Read-only: No
Clustered: Yes
Persistent reservation: Yes

Device: ImageFile0
Image file name: My Computer\D\HOK Sql Disks\Quorum\quorum.img
Total size: 1000 MB
Asynchronous: No
Read-only: No
Clustered: Yes
Persistent reservation: Yes

This is from log file

1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 Srv: StarWind iSCSI Target v3.5.1 (Build 20071204, Win32)
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 Srv: Built Dec 4 2007 23:40:56
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 Srv: System CPU count: 4
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 Srv: License data not found.
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 Srv: *** TRIAL VERSION *** [ expires in 23 day(s) ]
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 Srv: Please contact Rocket Division Software at <support@starwind.com> for more details.
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 Srv: Unlimited number of client hosts allowed.
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 Srv: Config file: 'StarWind.cfg'
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: 'LogLevel' = '1'
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: 'LogMask' = '0x8fffffff'
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: 'Port' = '3260'
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: 'Interface' = '0.0.0.0'
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: 'Login' = 'test'
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: 'Password' = '##CY9rzUYh03PK3k6DJie09g=='
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: 'MinBufferSize' = '65536'
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: 'AlignmentMask' = '0x0000'
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: 'MaxPendingRequests' = '64'
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: read command: addplugin -module:"RamDisk.dll" -symlink:"RamDrive" -type:"RAM disk"
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: read command: addplugin -module:"ImageFile.dll" -symlink:"ImageFile" -type:"Image file" -imagedir:"*|cmdfv|My Computer|img" -volumes:"no"
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: read command: addplugin -module:"VirtualDvd.dll" -symlink:"VirtualDvd" -type:"Virtual DVD" -imagedir:"*|mv|My Computer|mds,iso"
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: read command: addplugin -module:"IBVolume.dll" -symlink:"IBV" -type:"IBV" -imagedir:"*|cdmfv|My Computer|ibv" -imagedir:"*|dmfv|Snapshots|ibvss" -imagedir:"*|v|Image Files|img,dat"
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: read command: addplugin -module:"Mirror.dll" -symlink:"Mirror" -type:"Mirror" -imagedir:"*|cdmfv|Mirror Volumes|mir" -imagedir:"*|v|Image Files|img,dat"
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: read command: addplugin -module:"DiskBridge.dll" -symlink:"DiskBridge" -type:"DiskBridge"
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: read command: add "\\.\PhysicalDrive1" "podaci" -readonly:"no" -clustered:"yes"
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: read command: add "ImageFile0" "quorum" -file:"My Computer\D\HOK Sql Disks\Quorum\quorum.img" -asyncmode:"no" -clustered:"yes" -readonly:"no"
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: Variable 'LogLevel' is set to '1'.
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: Variable 'LogMask' is set to '0x8fffffff'.
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: Variable 'Port' is set to '3260'.
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: Variable 'Interface' is set to '0.0.0.0'.
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: Variable 'Login' is set to 'test'.
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: Variable 'Password' is set to '##CY9rzUYh03PK3k6DJie09g=='.
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: Variable 'MinBufferSize' is set to '65536'.
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: Variable 'AlignmentMask' is set to '0x0000'.
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: Variable 'MaxPendingRequests' is set to '64'.
1/23 8:57:52.000 b68 conf: 'RamDisk.dll' loaded successfully.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 IMG: SscPort_Init: Parse ImageDir: '*|cmdfv|My Computer|img'
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 IMG: *SscPort_Init:
Dirname: '*'
Rights: 0x1f
Alias: 'My Computer'
Extensions: 'img'
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 IMG: SscPort_Init: Comment : ''
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 IMG: SscPort_Init: (build 20071204, built Dec 4 2007 23:40:57)
VendorId = ' '
ProductId = ' '
Revision = '0001'
DefImageDir = '*\'
Volumes = 0
ExeDir = 'C:\Program Files\Rocket Division Software\StarWind\'
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 conf: 'ImageFile.dll' loaded successfully.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 VDVD: *SscPort_Init:
Dirname: '*'
Rights: 0x18
Alias: 'My Computer'
Extensions: 'mds,iso'
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 conf: 'VirtualDvd.dll' loaded successfully.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 IBV: *SscPort_Init:
Dirname: '*'
Rights: 0x1f
Alias: 'My Computer'
Extensions: 'ibv'
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 IBV: *SscPort_Init:
Dirname: '*'
Rights: 0x1e
Alias: 'Snapshots'
Extensions: 'ibvss'
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 IBV: *SscPort_Init:
Dirname: '*'
Rights: 0x8
Alias: 'Image Files'
Extensions: 'img,dat'
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 conf: 'IBVolume.dll' loaded successfully.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 MIR: SscPort_Init: Parse ImageDir: '*|cdmfv|Mirror Volumes|mir'
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 MIR: *SscPort_Init:
Dirname: '*'
Rights: 0x1f
Alias: 'Mirror Volumes'
Extensions: 'mir'
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 MIR: SscPort_Init: Comment : ''
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 MIR: SscPort_Init: Parse ImageDir: '*|v|Image Files|img,dat'
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 Sw: Browser_DirCreate: Mask mismatch (8 / 1)
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 Sw: Browser_DirDelete: Mask mismatch (8 / 2)
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 Sw: Browser_DirCreateFolder: Mask mismatch (8 / 4)
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 MIR: *SscPort_Init:
Dirname: '*'
Rights: 0x8
Alias: 'Image Files'
Extensions: 'img,dat'
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 MIR: SscPort_Init: Comment : ''
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 conf: 'Mirror.dll' loaded successfully.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 DSKBR: SscPort_Init: (built Dec 4 2007 23:41:07)
VendorId = ' '
ProductId = ' '
Revision = '0001'
ExeDir = 'C:\Program Files\Rocket Division Software\StarWind\'
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 conf: 'DiskBridge.dll' loaded successfully.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 SPTI: '\\.\PhysicalDrive1': Unsupported parameter ignored: 'clustered' = 'yes'.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 S: Assigned target name: 'podaci', SymId: 'PhysicalDrive1'.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 Tgt: : parameter 'readonly', value 'no'.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 S: podaci: 65536 session(s) allowed.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 conf: Target [0x000C3180] has been created. Device '\\.\PhysicalDrive1' is accesible as target 'podaci'.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 IMG: SscPort_Create: Opening device 'ImageFile0', image file 'My Computer\D\HOK Sql Disks\Quorum\quorum.img', buffering=0, async=0, readonly=0.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 IMG: ImageFile_Create: 'D:\HOK Sql Disks\Quorum\quorum.img': type 0, geometry: sct 16, trks 32, cyl 4000, TotalSectors: 2048000
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 IMG: ImageFile_Create: VendorId 'ROCKET ', ProductId 'IMAGEFILE ', Revision '0001', Serial 'D32FAC7E823AB748'
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 S: Assigned target name: 'quorum', SymId: 'ImageFile0'.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 Tgt: : parameter 'header', value '0'.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 Tgt: : parameter 'file', value 'My Computer\D\HOK Sql Disks\Quorum\quorum.img'.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 Tgt: : parameter 'buffering', value 'no'.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 Tgt: : parameter 'asyncmode', value 'no'.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 Tgt: : parameter 'ImageSizeLow', value '1048576000'.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 Tgt: : parameter 'ImageSizeHigh', value '0'.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 Tgt: : parameter 'readonly', value 'no'.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 S: quorum: 65536 session(s) allowed.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 conf: Target [0x000C43A8] has been created. Device 'ImageFile0' is accesible as target 'quorum'.
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 Srv: Refreshing device list (plugins)...
1/23 8:57:52.015 b68 Srv: Waiting for iSCSI connections at 0.0.0.0:3260 ...
1/23 8:57:52.015 bd8 conf: Waiting for Control connections at 0.0.0.0:3261 ...

After examining log file (witch is 1.6GB large) this is the common error reported in it....

1/23 10:07:01.484 e7c SPTI: '\\.\PhysicalDrive1': scsiPassThrough failed: The parameter is incorrect. (code: 87).

1/23 10:07:01.484 e7c SPTI: '\\.\PhysicalDrive1': IOCTL_SCSI_PASS_THROUGH_DIRECT (before):

0000 2c 00 00 00 00 00 0a 40 00 00 00 00 00 a0 03 00 ,......@..... ..

0010 e0 a5 01 00 a0 31 10 00 2c 00 00 00 2a 00 00 03 ŕĄ.. 1..,...*...

0020 77 57 00 01 d0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 wW..Ä

[anton (staff)]

Mapping whole drive in SPTI mode is a very bad idea. This mode was designed to share tape drives and burners, not high-performance hard disks (as SPTI is one-request-per-time designed by MS). If you need to share whole drive - use DiskBridge instead of raw SPTI mapping as DiskBridge has long I/O queue and allows overlapped I/O commands being processed.

[viktor]

Mapping whole drive in SPTI mode is a very bad idea. This mode was designed to share tape drives and burners, not high-performance hard disks (as SPTI is one-request-per-time designed by MS). If you need to share whole drive - use DiskBridge instead of raw SPTI mapping.

Ok, is there "easy" way to convert my current configuration into diskbridge? What do you recommend I should use in my scenario, beside diskbridge?

[Bohdan (staff)]

Hello,

- Disconnect SPTI the target from all of the clients.
- Remove it at StarWind management console.
- Create DiskBridge target (point the wizard to \\.\PhysicalDrive1 drive).
- Connect clients to the target.

[viktor]

Hello,

- Disconnect SPTI the target from all of the clients.
- Remove it at StarWind management console.
- Create DiskBridge target (point the wizard to \\.\PhysicalDrive1 drive).
- Connect clients to the target.

Uauu, rocket speed. Thanx guys!

RESTORE DATABASE successfully processed 1737 pages in 1.01 seconds (14.200 MB/sec).