CentOS - Jan 2011 - OT: Recommendations for a virtual storage server

Hi all,

  I need to install a virtual machine acting as a virtual storage server under 
CentOS 5.x (using kvm, xen, virtualbox or vmware). This virtual storage machine 
needs to server storage to another ESXi server and at the same time to the host 
where is installed.

  This is due to the limitations of hardware I have available. Both hosts needs
to
server several machines.

  It is very important that the virtual machine consumes the least resources 
possible (host has 5GB RAM and i need to run three virtual machines minimum, 
including this storage server as a virtual machine).

  What can be better solution: CentOS, NexentaStor, openfiler ...??

  Many thaks.
-- 
CL Martinez
carlopmart {at} gmail {d0t} com

On Jan 28, 2011, at 4:55 AM, carlopmart <carlopmart at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
>  I need to install a virtual machine acting as a virtual storage server
under
> CentOS 5.x (using kvm, xen, virtualbox or vmware). This virtual storage
machine
> needs to server storage to another ESXi server and at the same time to the
host
> where is installed.
> 
>  This is due to the limitations of hardware I have available. Both hosts
needs to
> server several machines.
> 
>  It is very important that the virtual machine consumes the least resources
> possible (host has 5GB RAM and i need to run three virtual machines
minimum,
> including this storage server as a virtual machine).
> 
>  What can be better solution: CentOS, NexentaStor, openfiler ...??
For such a small setup, I recommend installing ESXi on both machines and setting
up a storage server on the ESXi box with all the storage.

Use NFS for your storage server. Disable ESXi memory ballooning/over commit for
your storage VM otherwise you'll have memory contention between storage
producer and storage consumers.

Your choice of OS depends on your experience level and needs. If your
comfortable with Redhat Linux use CentOS minimal install, otherwise use
OpenFiler. If data integrity is more important then performance use Nexentastor
(if performance is more important then consistency disable ZIL, ZFS guarantees
file system integrity, ZIL guarantees data consistency).

-Ross

On 1/28/2011 3:55 AM, carlopmart wrote:
> Hi all,
>
>    I need to install a virtual machine acting as a virtual storage server
under
> CentOS 5.x (using kvm, xen, virtualbox or vmware). This virtual storage
machine
> needs to server storage to another ESXi server and at the same time to the
host
> where is installed.
>
>    This is due to the limitations of hardware I have available. Both hosts
needs to
> server several machines.
>
>    It is very important that the virtual machine consumes the least
resources
> possible (host has 5GB RAM and i need to run three virtual machines
minimum,
> including this storage server as a virtual machine).
What's the point of adding an extra virtual layer compared to an nfs or 
iscsi share from the host (nfs if it is shared, iscsi if it is the VM 
image store)?  This seems like it would be more efficient if you run 
exsi on the hardware with centos and the others as guests anyway.

-- 
   Les Mikesell
    lesmikesell at gmail.com

On 01/28/11 1:55 AM, carlopmart wrote:
> Hi all,
>
>    I need to install a virtual machine acting as a virtual storage server
under
> CentOS 5.x (using kvm, xen, virtualbox or vmware). This virtual storage
machine
> needs to server storage to another ESXi server and at the same time to the
host
> where is installed.
>
>    This is due to the limitations of hardware I have available. Both hosts
needs to
> server several machines.
>
>    It is very important that the virtual machine consumes the least
resources
> possible (host has 5GB RAM and i need to run three virtual machines
minimum,
> including this storage server as a virtual machine).
>
>    What can be better solution: CentOS, NexentaStor, openfiler ...??
>
>    Many thaks.

no way in H*** I'd run a storage server as a VM, especially if its 
serving the same host as its hosted on.

storage should be rock solid infrastructure as any hiccups crash your 
whole environment.    get a IBM DS3524 or Dell MD3200i or something for 
use as storage.