[NTLUG:Discuss] VMWare server mirror strategy

[David Stanaway]

It sounds like you want to implement ESX+VMotion on the cheap.

For ESX, they use VMFS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMware_VMFS

For VMWare Server - You would need to use GFS or similar with shared 
storage.

Since you don't seem to have shared storage, you might need to use 
something like drbd. and then run GFS ontop of the drbd device.

If you get that to work, let me know :) I might just do the same..



Daniel Hauck wrote:
> I'm seeking strategy advice.  Here's what I want to do:
>
> I have two identical machines, each with 1TB (4 x 250MB) with SATA RAID 
> controller.  Each RAID is configured the same with 4 volumes defined 
> (all as RAID5) where 200MB is designated /boot, 2GB is designated 
> {swap}, 10GB is designated / and 700+GB is designated "Tank."  I think 
> the volumes are self explanatory.
>
> The OS installed is CentOS 5.1 64 bit.  VMWare server 1.05 is installed 
> as well.  A non-gui installation and running mode are active.
>
> What I'd like to do is keep the "Tank" drives on each machine 
> synchronized.  Ideally, this should be happening at all times.  The two 
> machines will be running VMs and neither will be running both.  What I 
> expect to see is a "cold failover" scenario where, if one machine is 
> having problems or has failed, I can go to the working machine and turn 
> up the remaining machines until I can get his twin brother back online.
>
> The strategy that sounds most interesting to me is GFS + GNBD.  In this 
> strategy, I would set up some sort of mirrored cluster between the two 
> machines and then share them between each other.  But I have problems 
> with this approach largely because I don't really seem to understand 
> what I'm reading.  I get the general idea but the setup and 
> configuration seems to be so difficult, I get dizzy just trying to read 
> it.  Parts of what I read sounds like it could work and other parts seem 
> to suggest that what I want to do with this will not.
>
> It has been suggested that "rsync" should be used, but somehow I'm 
> doubting rsync can be used against live, currently in use, files as 
> would be the case with vmware server.  (If it can be done that way, I'd 
> be really glad to learn this since it would seem to be the most simple 
> solution.)  But my guess is that I'd have to set up a job to stop the 
> VMs, then do the rsync, then start them up again.  Not the most ideal 
> solution but certainly easier to wrap my head around.
>
> Does anyone have anything to offer in this situation?  If GFS is a 
> viable option, might someone offer some steps, tips or even assistance 
> in getting it running?  I'm willing to pay some to make it happen if 
> that's what it takes.  I worry that even if GFS is viable, it might suck 
> too much processing power away from the VMs being hosted though.
>
> I know I can't be the first person ever to want to do this.  I just 
> can't seem to find much on the web about it.
>
>
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