Experience: Junior vMware user. Normal level linux and microsoft system administrator.
I want to do: for High Availabiltiy build 1 NFS SERVER for 2 esxi servers
Budget: as possible using available hardware and using the opensource.
Why NFS: I think SAN is very expensive.
Required Virtual Machines:
- 6 x Microsoft Server 2008
- 5 x Windows 7 Pro
- 5 x Elastix Voip
- 2 x Web hosting
Available hardware:
2 x 1U Poweredge R610 for ESXI 5.1 server ( 8 x Gbit Nic)
Details:
- 2 x Xeon E5640 CPU
- 96 GB DDR3 Memory
- Onboard 4 x 1 Gbit Nic
- 1 Pci-E Intel 4 x 1 Gbit Nic
- 16 GB SD mermoy card for ESXI boot
1 x 2U Supermicro X7DB8 server for NFS server ( 8 x Gbit Nic)
Details:
- 2 x Xeon E5420
- 48 GB memory
- 1 x Hardware raid SATA/SAS controller (LSI 3ware 9750)
- 8 x 3.5” 2 TB SATA disks
- 4 X 2.5” 256 gb SSD direct attached on mainbord (no raid)
- Onboard 2 x 1 Gbit Nic
- 1 Pci-e Intel 2 x 1 Gbit Nic
- 1 Pci-e Intel 4 x 1 Gbit Nic
- 16 GB SD mermoy card for OS boot
Questions
- How need I connect NIC’s for NFS connection?
- I have not so much experience with NFS. Can you explain to me, for a stable and good connection which network hardware I need?
- What should minimum network connection between esxi and nfs server for 20 virtual machines?
- Can i use Network Teaming? to get 2 or more Gbit connection?
- My idea is on each ESXI servers create a new vSwitch and add minimal 2x Nic tot his vSwitch and this 2 Nic’s connect with Cross-over netwrok cables directly to the NFS server. I don’t know how, but i need advice like Network Teaming option etc. Can you please give me more advice about this.
- Which software can I better use on the NFS server? Openfiler or FreeNAS or something else please your advises.
- What you think about hardware of NFS server? Supermicro X7DB8 enough?
Thanks in advance