Configuring DtCore SAN with Windows Clustered H/A VM s on 2 Physicl Servers Technicl Bulletin #18b My, 2015 This Technicl Bulletin describes how to configure highly vilble VM s on clustered pir of servers running Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 or 2012 while simultneously, on the sme servers, providing highly vilble, block-level disk storge services to SAN hosts using Fibre Chnnel nd/or iscsi chnnels. Fundmentl Windows Administrtion skills re ssumed, tht Fibre Chnnel HBA or iscsi drivers re lredy instlled nd tht the user is fmilir with the process of connecting to Trget Fibre Chnnel nd/or iscsi connections. Cumultive Chnge Summry Dte Verified informtion for ll versions of SANsymphony-V 9.x nd10.x s well s DtCore s Windows Integrtion Kit. No new informtion dded My, 2015 Added support for Windows Server 2012. April, 2013 Initil Publiction October, 2012
Tble of Contents CHAPTER 1 GENERAL OUTLINE/SCOPE 3 Compct 2 Server Highly Avilble Solution 3 Redundncy nd Filover 4 Performnce Accelertion 5 CHAPTER 2 PREREQUISITES AND SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 6 DtCore Softwre minimum requirements 6 Host server minimum Operting system requirements 6 Prtition 0 Physicl Cluster Solution Requirements Figure 1: 6 CHAPTER 3 PARTITION 0 (PHYSICAL CLUSTER) - HIGHLY AVAILABLE VMS AND DATACORE SSV BLOCK STORAGE SERVICES 7 Instll Windows Server Logon 7 Setup of NICs in Windows Server Operting System 7 Instll Fetures nd Roles in Windows Operting System 9 Instlling nd Configuring SANsymphony-V Softwre 10 Setup nd Configure Locl iscsi Trget Ports 11 Chnge the Size of SANsymphony-V Cche 12 Crete, Configure nd Serve Continuously Avilble Virtul Disks 12 Discover nd Configure SSV H/A Virtul Disks 15 Vlidte nd Crete Filover Cluster 16 Crete HA Virtul Mchines 19 Technicl Bulletin 18: Configuring DtCore NAS/SAN Unified Storge Solution 2
Chpter 1 Generl Outline/Scope This solution provides H/A clustered VM s utilizing DtCore s redundnt block disk storge services. ISCSI nd/or Fibre Chnnel protocols my be used to ccess the SAN storge, lthough only iscsi will be illustrted in this bulletin. (Figure 1) covered in Chpter 3, depicts 2 physicl Windows servers utilizing Windows Cluster nd Hyper-V fetures with continuously vilble storge services provided by SSV tht is instlled nd running on the sme 2 servers. Compct 2 Server Highly Avilble Solution Figure 1- Compct, continuously vilble SAN with H/A clustered Vms on 2 physicl Servers. Technicl Bulletin 18: Configuring DtCore NAS/SAN Unified Storge Solution 3
Redundncy nd Filover This solution relies on Windows Filover Clustering to trnsfer control or live migrte VM s from one physicl mchine to the other should one of the servers fil or be intentionlly tken out of service (Figure 2). Figure 2- H/A VMFilover using Filover Clustering between the two servers. In ddition, the SANsymphony-V softwre ensures tht the cluster hs uninterrupted ccess to its disks by synchronously mirroring the disk contents cross the two servers. Using this technique lso ensures externl hosts utilizing the Windows Integrtion Kit MPIO hve continuous ccess to the SAN disks (Figure 3). Technicl Bulletin 18: Configuring DtCore NAS/SAN Unified Storge Solution 4
. Figure 3- SAN Filover using Synchronous Mirroring on the SAN nd Multi-Pth I/O driver on host Note: DtCore s Windows Integrtion Kit (MPIO) is not used in the Prtition 0 Bse O.S. Cluster solution. Note: Microsoft s MPIO cn be used in with this solution which provides high vilbility for iscsi Trget when 2 iscsi Trget chnnels re vilble on ech server. Performnce Accelertion While not pprent from the digrms, the shred cluster disks nd the cluster VM disks benefit from performnce boost thnks to disk cching in the SANsymphony-V softwre. Technicl Bulletin 18: Configuring DtCore NAS/SAN Unified Storge Solution 5
Chpter 2 Prerequisites nd System Requirements DtCore Softwre minimum requirements - SANsymphony-V 9.x or 10.x - Not supported with SANsymphony-V 8.x Note: These DtCore softwre versions re minimum requirements; users should lwys refer to the ltest relese notes for ny new fixes or enhncements. Do not ssume tht ll fetures cn be used with these minimum requirements nd tht you my need to upgrde your existing environment to use them. Host server minimum Operting system requirements Windows Server 2008 R2 (x64) Enterprise Edition Windows Server 2012 (x64) Prtition 0 Physicl Cluster Solution Requirements Figure 1: - Two physicl servers in Domin - Windows 2008 R2 (Enterprise Edition) or 2012 on ech physicl server - DAS or Externl storge - Cluster Service Feture instlled on ech physicl server - Hyper-V Role instlled on ech physicl server - SANsymphony-V services instlled on ech physicl server in Hyper-V prent prtition 0 - At lest one mirror pth (iscsi or Fibre Chnnel) between the physicl servers two or more preferred for Best Prctices - Server memory requirements: o Bse O.S. minimum memory - 4GB + o Per plnned SANsymphony-V vdisk in the configurtion - 200MB + o Per plnned VM in the configurtion - X mount of GB (The mount depends on the requirements of ech individul VM) = o Totl Memory required on ech server. o Exmple clcultion: o Bse O.S. = 4GB o SANsymphony-v Cche = 6GB (30 vdisks x 200MB) o 1 VM Domin Controller & DHCP = 4GB o 1 VM FileServer = 16GB o 1 VM Exchnge = 32GB -------------------------------------------------------- Totl Memory = 62 GB (Round up to 64GB for ech server) Note: The SANsymphony-V Null Port loopbck chnnel cnnot be used to serve the Virtul Disks for Witness/Quorum nd Virtul Mchine Volumes to the host physicl server. Dtcore iscsi trget loopbck connections must be used. This is required for disks to pss Cluster Vlidtion tests Technicl Bulletin 18: Configuring DtCore NAS/SAN Unified Storge Solution 6
Chpter 3 Prtition 0 (Physicl Cluster) - Highly Avilble VMs nd DtCore SSV block storge services Instll Windows Server Logon 1. On ech server instll Windows Server operting system b Use stndrd methods to instll the operting system. Instll ltest updtes. 2. Setup unique computer nme nd join domin. b Restrt the server when prompted. Logon using domin dministrtive credentils. Setup of NICs in Windows Server Operting System 3. Setup public LAN NIC with n unused sttic IP ddress In the Networking nd Shring Center, open the properties of the public LAN NIC. b Select Internet Protocol Version 4. c Enter IP ddress (sttic), subnet msk, defult gtewy nd preferred DNS server. Consult your network dministrtor for this informtion. Note: At lest three unused sttic IP ddresses re required for this procedure: One for ech server node Technicl Bulletin 18: Configuring DtCore NAS/SAN Unified Storge Solution 7
One for the cluster configurtion 4. Instll nd setup one or more dditionl NICs to use in the cluster configurtion. NICs should be setup with privte network ddresses using sttic IP ddresses. In the Networking nd Shring Center, open the properties of the dditionl NIC. b Select Internet Protocol Version 4. c Enter the IP ddress (sttic) nd subnet msk. Enter Consult your network dministrtor for this informtion. 5. Click the Advnced button. Select the DNS tb nd cler the Register this connections ddress in DNS check box. b Select the WINS tb nd select Disble NETBIOS over TCP/IP. 6. Repet the bove steps for ech dditionl privte Nic dded. Nic s used for cluster communictions nd live migrtions cnnot be used s iscsi trget i The cluster requires (1 public nd 1 privte Nic in ech server). b If highly vilble iscsi trget is required then 2 dditionl Nic s re required. Technicl Bulletin 18: Configuring DtCore NAS/SAN Unified Storge Solution 8
Instll Fetures nd Roles in Windows Operting System 7. In the Fetures wizrd, select Filover Clustering. 8. In the Roles wizrd, under the File Server role, select Hyper-V. 9. Restrt the server nd log bck in when prompted. Technicl Bulletin 18: Configuring DtCore NAS/SAN Unified Storge Solution 9
Instlling nd Configuring SANsymphony-V Softwre 10. On ech server, instll SANsymphony-V softwre using stndrd instll procedures outlined in the SANsymphony-V instlltion guide. b c Choose Custom Mode to instll Instll SANsymphony-V Core Services nd PowerShell on ech server Instll the SANsymphony-V Mngement Console on nother computer tht hs network ccess to the SANsymphony-V servers. 11. To log into the SANsymphony-V Mngement Console, use the locl dministrtor ccount with fully qulified credentils: Setting up the configurtion will now be performed using the SANsymphony-V Mngement Console. 12. In the console, dd both DtCore Servers to the sme Server Group. (See Estblishing Server Groups in the Help) 13. Crete disk pools on both DtCore Servers (See Creting Disk Pools nd Adding Physicl Disks in the Help for detiled instructions.) 14. Run the MPIO tool from the Control Pnel on ech server. 15. Select MPIO Devices tb nd configure (Click Add) ) then dd DtCore Virtul Disk type. See the exmple below. Note: Do not remove the DtCore Mirror Disk device. Technicl Bulletin 18: Configuring DtCore NAS/SAN Unified Storge Solution 10
Setup nd Configure Locl iscsi Trget Ports 16. For ech DtCore Server, use the Microsoft iscsi Inititor component in the DtCore Servers Pnel to dd trget port. (See Discovering iscsi Trgets in the Help for detiled instructions.) b Add n iscsi trget to the sme DtCore Server tht is being configured. In other words, DtCore Server iscsi trget to itself. This is referred to s n iscsi loopbck connection. Add nother iscsi trget chnnel if you wnt iscsi chnel filover cpbility. c Configure iscsi Trget loopbck chnnels on both DtCore Servers. d Configure 2 iscsi Trget loopbck chnnels on both DtCore servers if iscsi trget chnnel filover is required Technicl Bulletin 18: Configuring DtCore NAS/SAN Unified Storge Solution 11
Note: iscsi Trget chnnel filover prevents cluster node filover from occurring when n iscsi trget chnnel fils on the server. Chnge the Size of SANsymphony-V Cche 17. Use the formul in the pre-requisites section to determine how much memory to use for SANsymphony-V cche. Allocte 200MB of memory for ech Virtul Disk Configured b e.g., For 30 Virtul Disks set cche size to 6GB Crete, Configure nd Serve Continuously Avilble Virtul Disks 18. Crete mirrored virtul disks for the filover cluster configurtion: b One cluster witness volume One or more volumes to contin VM configurtions nd VHD s Note: We recommend using meningful nming convention when creting mirrored virtul disks. (See Creting Virtul Disks in the Help for detiled informtion.) 19. I/O pths between the two DtCore Servers will be creted for the mirrored virtul disks. (Pths will be iscsi or Fibre Chnnel, if vilble.) Technicl Bulletin 18: Configuring DtCore NAS/SAN Unified Storge Solution 12
20. Serve the virtul disks to ech of the DtCore Servers s follows: (See Serving Virtul Disks in the Help for detiled instructions.) Use the Serve to Hosts option, by right-clicking on the virtul disk. b In the Select Hosts dilog box, select the Show DtCore Servers check box. The servers will pper in the list. Choose the first DtCore Server listed. c In the Select Pths dilog box, configure both pths to use the Microsoft iscsi Inititor s the inititor port nd the previously configured trget ports to ech selected DtCore Server s shown in the pths SSV-1 to SSV-1 nd SSV-1 to SSV-2 in the exmple below. Technicl Bulletin 18: Configuring DtCore NAS/SAN Unified Storge Solution 13
21. IF 2 iscsi trget ports hve been configured then select the first trget port from the first DtCore Server nd then mp to the sme server gin using the second trget port. For the second nd subsequent mppings of the sme Virtul Volume you will receive wrning messge tht the virtul disk is lredy served to host. This is expected, click Yes. Note: Microsoft MPIO will detect the sme disk on both iscsi chnnels but will present just 1 disk object to device mnger nd Logicl Disk Mnger (LDM). 22. Now mp the sme virtul disk to the second DtCore Servers iscsi trget port(s). You will receive wrning messge the virtul disk is lredy served to host. This is expected, click Yes. 23. IF 2 iscsi trget ports hve been configured then select the first trget port from the 2 nd server nd then mp to the sme server gin using the second trget port. You will receive wrning messge the virtul disk is lredy served to host. This is expected, click Yes. Note: Microsoft MPIO will detect the sme disk on both chnnels but will present just 1 disk object to device mnger nd Logicl Disk Mnger (LDM). Technicl Bulletin 18: Configuring DtCore NAS/SAN Unified Storge Solution 14
Exmple: A Virtul Disk being mpped using 2 iscsi trget Loopbck ports on 2 SSV Servers Discover nd Configure SSV H/A Virtul Disks NTFS formt Volumes for Microsoft Cluster Configurtion 24. Open Server Mnger on ech cluster server. 25. In Device Mnger nd scn for new disk drives. 26. In Disk Mngement, perform the following: Technicl Bulletin 18: Configuring DtCore NAS/SAN Unified Storge Solution 15
b c Locte the new volumes. Set the volumes online nd initilize them. On one of the servers, crete NTFS file systems on ll new volumes. i Cluster witness (Quorum) disk ii VM disks (one or more) Note: We recommend using the sme nming convention tht ws used when creting the virtul disks in the SANsymphony-V Mngement Console. Vlidte nd Crete Filover Cluster 27. Strt Cluster Mnger on one of the servers. In the Vlidte Configurtion wizrd, enter the network nme of ech server. b Run ll cluster tests. Technicl Bulletin 18: Configuring DtCore NAS/SAN Unified Storge Solution 16
c d View the cluster report nd fix ny criticl issues highlighted: i ii iii Importnt Note: Under specil circumstnces the cluster vlidtion cn fil with the following messge: Filed to prepre Storge on Node XYZ Sttus 87. The error results from bit lock creting prtition in the first 100 MB of your primry drive nd then not setting drive letter. Assign drive letter to the 100MB prtition nd re-run the vlidtion. Note: An unsigned driver wrning will pper. It is ok to proceed t this time. Run the Crete Cluster Wizrd. i Enter server nmes. Technicl Bulletin 18: Configuring DtCore NAS/SAN Unified Storge Solution 17
ii Enter Cluster Nme nd sttic IP ddress. iii Once the cluster is creted, the servers nd useble storge will pper in the Filover Cluster Mnger, s shown in the exmple below. Technicl Bulletin 18: Configuring DtCore NAS/SAN Unified Storge Solution 18
Crete HA Virtul Mchines 28. Use the cluster mnger to crete H/A virtul mchines tht reside on cluster shred volumes b c d e Add vilble disk from the summry of storge pne to be converted to cluster shred volumes (CSV,s). Multiple VM s cn be creted on CSV s. This is function of the size of the VM boot disk you use when you crete the VM. From services nd pplictions use the VM wizrd to crete n H/A VM nd store the VM configurtion nd VHD on the CSV. Repet this step for dditionl VM s Crete dditionl CSV s for more VM s Host Server CPU resource definition nd usge: In VM settings/processors you cn specify how much of the totl CPU shres VM cn hve. There is gryed out vlue tht shows how much CPU shres n individul VM will hve, bsed on number of vcpus ssigned nd percentge given. The sum of ll greyed out vlues of ll VMs deployed should leve enough shres for the prent prtition to run SANsymphony-V nd the prent services. Exmple1: When the hosting server hs 4 cores, then the totl of the VM CPU shres (sum of ll greyed out vlues) should not exceed 50. This will dedicte 50% of the CPU shres (2 cores) for the prent services nd SANsymphony-V, while hving 50% (lso 2 cores) for ll VMs. Exmple2: When the hosting server hs 8 cores, then the totl of the VM CPU shres (sum of ll greyed out vlues) should not exceed 75. This will dedicte 25% of the CPU shres (2 cores) for the prent services nd SANsymphony-V, while hving 75% (6 cores) for ll VMs. Note: Plese reference Microsoft s sizing guide for dditionl guidnce. One dditionl core should be vilble for SANsymphony-V services. Technicl Bulletin 18: Configuring DtCore NAS/SAN Unified Storge Solution 19
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