topic Re: Installing FOM on VMware Server in StoreVirtual Storage

Installing FOM on VMware Server

Rhidian — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 16:13:25 GMT

Hi,

I'm attempting to install the FOM on a Windows 2003 Enterprise VM hosted by VMware Server 2.0 but get the error "No VMware platforms found" am I missing something or does the FOM require a virtual instance of ESX to run?

Regards,

Re: Installing FOM on VMware Server

Zinky — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:22:40 GMT

what is FOM?

Re: Installing FOM on VMware Server

Rhidian — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 08:45:57 GMT

Fail Over Manager (FOM).

Re: Installing FOM on VMware Server

Uwe Zessin — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 08:58:24 GMT

FOM is the FailOver Manager for the HP P4000 iSCSI product line. It is a special, stripped-down storage node that can run a manager service and acts as a 'tie-breaker' to prevent split-brain situations.

Re: Installing FOM on VMware Server

Zinky — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:46:21 GMT

Does FOM require FC connection/presentation on the node it is to be installed on? Or is it purely IP/LAN?

Also, On what platform/OS do you host vMware Server 2.0 which hosts that Win2k3 Enterprise Virtual Machine that you wish to install FOM on?

"does the FOM require a virtual instance of ESX to run?"

Must just be my understanding - but a virtual instance of ESX? Last I know, one can't virtualize a HyperVisor (nesting -- 'cept perhaps on KVM)...

I suggest you pore over the manual and see if FOM on a virtual WIn2k3 on vMware Server 2.0 hosted hypervisor is supported. If not and only Win2k3 on ESX is supported, why not just switch to ESXi...

Re: Installing FOM on VMware Server

Rhidian — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:02:22 GMT

It seems the FOM software does not support VM's hosted on VMware Server only VMware player.

Thanks for your help.

Re: Installing FOM on VMware Server

Zinky — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:06:16 GMT

What about ESXi (it is "free") as well.. and you should still be able to use that vMawre COnsole lougin used in vMware Server 2.0.

OR perhaps even Linux KVM? It is quite easy nowadays to convert VMDKs to any other Virtual Machine Format. WHat I like about KVM is it is fully HW virtualized and do not require any mods to the OS (no vMware Toolz)

Re: Installing FOM on VMware Server

Uwe Zessin — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:14:17 GMT

No, the P4000 has nothing to do with Fibre Channel (SCSI commands over a FC infrastructure), it is iSCSI (SCSI commands over a IP infrastructure). All communication between the P4000 storage nodes and the FOM is IP.

The current FOM version can also be installed on VMware ESX and Microsoft Hyper-V, but it MUST NOT be put on a P4000 volume.

I've re-read the question and I missed the point that Rhidian starts the FOM installer *inside* a VM - that won't work. You must run the FOM installer on the Windows host where VMware Server is installed and running. Then it should do the necessary steps to create a new VM that includes the FOM image.

Re: Installing FOM on VMware Server

Rhidian — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:19:14 GMT

With my configuration I only have two ESXi 4.0 nodes available and a managment laptop and the FOM is required to keep quorum.

Re: Installing FOM on VMware Server

Rhidian — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:23:45 GMT

Uwe Zessin I will give it a go Monday it was suggested to me that only VMware player is supported, is that the case?

Re: Installing FOM on VMware Server

BennyO — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 15:35:08 GMT

Run the FOM on one of ESXi hosts and store everything locally on the ESXi host datastore, not on the P4000 volume. FOM is it's own SANiQ software running on the Linux kernel and cannot be run inside windows.

Re: Installing FOM on VMware Server

Rhidian — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:54:59 GMT

I have got it working now the issue was that I was trying to install it on a VM rather than on the host machine. As I understand it if you install the FOM on a VM you are not fully redundant.

Re: Installing FOM on VMware Server

Uwe Zessin — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 09:23:20 GMT

The FOM V9.0 *is* a 64-bit VM. You cannot 'stack' them.

This has nothing to do with redundancy. There must only be one FOM present. Even when it fails, the management group can run as long as enough managers are active.

Re: Installing FOM on VMware Server

Rhidian — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 09:37:26 GMT

Sorry I meant putting the FOM VM on one of the ESXi machines rather than in a third location would affect redundancy.

Re: Installing FOM on VMware Server

Rhidian — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:55:11 GMT

Instalation of the FOM should be on the host machine not a VM