You really don't want to be taking snapshots of that kind of data volume at VMDK level. The IO when you delete the snapshots and it does the merge will be simple horrific.
RDM or MS iSCSI from within the guest would get my vote (I'll be making the same decision in a couple of months just with a P4000 rather than Equallogic). From: Mayo, Bill [mailto:bem...@pittcountync.gov] Sent: 28 October 2010 16:46 To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: Virtualization of file server - storage recommendations. The main benefit from using a VMDK would be snapshots, I imagine. We did a similar thing and I ultimately decided to mount the storage as a raw LUN. I chose that direction because I felt it was the most flexible thing to do, and I was concerned about the extra overhead the VMDK added in dealing with millions of files. ________________________________ From: Jonathan Link [mailto:jonathan.l...@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 11:39 AM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: Re: Virtualization of file server - storage recommendations. So, does your current backup plan handle 2TB files well, or however large you plan to create the vmdk files? I'll admit, I'm unfamiliar with this notion of using a VMDK/vmfs on a SAN for what is ultimately file storage. My gut is telling me that it is just adding needless complexity for little (if any?) benefit. I actually never considered doing something like this. On Thu, Oct 28, 2010 at 11:15 AM, Ian Roche <iro...@curamsoftware.com> wrote: "I've seen comments and have been advised by a couple of vendors that vmware don't support MPIO from within the guest, so if you want to do MPIO to the LUNs you might be faced with using VMDK or RDM. " I havent heard this one before we are using the "Dell Equallogic MPIO" connecting to PS6000 arrays via the guest not sure why we would really need suppor from vmware on this side of things. Regarding the files living in a vmdk the system will be fully protected and backed up using veeam if we do go down this route. ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to listmana...@lyris.sunbeltsoftware.com with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to listmana...@lyris.sunbeltsoftware.com with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to listmana...@lyris.sunbeltsoftware.com with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin -- MIRA Ltd Watling Street, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV10 0TU, England Registered in England and Wales No. 402570 VAT Registration GB 114 5409 96 The contents of this e-mail are confidential and are solely for the use of the intended recipient. If you receive this e-mail in error, please delete it and notify us either by e-mail, telephone or fax. You should not copy, forward or otherwise disclose the content of the e-mail as this is prohibited. ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to listmana...@lyris.sunbeltsoftware.com with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin
