topic Windows File Server 30TB in Array Setup and Networking

Windows File Server 30TB

jamesrww70 — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 03:52:03 GMT

Hi,

I am setting up a Nimble storage array and connecting it to my ESX hosts. I have a requirement to build a Windows 2012 file server to hold about 30TB. I would be interested to know how I should store this on the Nimble ? (VMDK, RAW, or setup iSCSI with in the server ? will I have any issues snapshotting something this size ?

Re: Windows File Server 30TB

Tue, 29 Mar 2016 09:59:04 GMT

Hi,

Well in broad spectrum if I say you should mention the way how the Nimble storage is connected to the server either FC or iSCSI also it largely depends on "what the data actually gonna reside as 30TB",I mean to say is it a Database, or File server or mp3 and video?

After this you should really consider the way this 30TB will be accessed? either or LAN or WAN.

if LAN i think iSCSI setup is enough and for WAN you should consider FC. ( I am assuming that you have atleast 1Gbps speed as LAN)

Regards,

Akshay Nandanwar

Re: Windows File Server 30TB

jamesrww70 — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 22:13:59 GMT

Hi,

The file server will be used for storing normal file server data plus large graphic files. The nimble is connected to the ESX hosts via a 10gb iSCSI network and the data will be accessed via the local network.

Thanks

Re: Windows File Server 30TB

aprice119 — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 16:52:40 GMT

Hi James.

That size of share is probably best done directly via the Windows iSCSI initiator and Nimble Connection Manager for Windows. Since you're also using VMware you do have to make sure your iSCSI VLANs can be presented to guests and routed through your network. Once done you'll have a direct, managed, multipath connection to Nimble that's more aware of path changes (controllers failovers) and can hook into the Windows VSS provider. This is especially useful if you're using Nimble for snapshots for backups and/or replication. 30TB can be easily protected against accidental file loss with NCM and Nimble snapshots and protected against major damage with replication (if you have another Nimble target).

And speaking of snapshots: you shouldn't have issues unless the share is very busy. VSS will have to quiesce the whole volume and the time to do that, snapshot it, and report back is affected by how much is going on. If it's too busy the snapshot will time out or users will see odd, momentary disruptions will their requests are queued as others attempt to finish before the snapshot.

If you aren't able to present your iSCSI network to the guest then RDM is probably the next best, followed by VMDK. I tend to like putting that much data closer to the SAN to eliminate performance or corruption risks.

Hope this helps!

Alan

PS - If you go with Windows iSCSI make sure your MTU size is consistent throughout the whole network path from vmxnet3 to Nimble!

Re: Windows File Server 30TB

pbitpro96 — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 18:46:22 GMT

I think with 30TB you will run into some problems...

Server 2012 R2 has some restrictions for single volume capacities - https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn466522.aspx

Maximum size for VMDK in ESX 5.5 is 62TB.

Are you using one Windows disk volume or multiple?

How are you backing it up? In-guest agent or a hypervisor agent like Veeam?