New Server! New 10x1TB NAS! How do I setup ISPConfig to work with this!!!

[sierradump]

So I just got some new servers and a new Sata Raid Enclosure (Promise VTRAK 12110 -- 12 drive Sata RAID enclosure).

I want to use the new server to setup virtual machines, one of which will be my new ISPConfig server. I was wondering if I would be able to somehow use a portion of the 10TB raid array (the Promise VTRAK) as storage for the ISPConfig setup? I.e. all the users folders (i.e. web1, web2, etc...) would be stored on the raid enclosure!!! Most of my websites have large files available for download and it would be nice to keep those files on the raid array. I would also consider the possibility of having a combination of storage areas? I.e. the web1, web2, etc... folder could live locally on the ISPConfig Virtual Server , but then maybe put a directory inside one of these websites like "web1/downloads" where the /downloads folder would live on the raid array??? That way the website would run faster since all files are on the local machine, and the large files could be stored on the raid array?

Currently I have a windows 2003 server that I use as a file server and is directly connected to the VTRAK via SCSI 320 cable. The windows 2003 server has a few shared folders that I can access/mount from my other windows servers.


Is this possible? Would there be any performance issues with this?

Again I am pretty new to Linux but know my way around. I just don't know the BEST way to approach this? Maybe I could also get some advice on the following:

* What is the best platform to run my virtual machines? I usually install win server 2003 on the physical server, and then install VMWare Server and create/run all my virtual servers with that? Is there a more powerful alternative?

[falko]

Originally Posted by sierradump

So I just got some new servers and a new Sata Raid Enclosure (Promise VTRAK 12110 -- 12 drive Sata RAID enclosure).

I want to use the new server to setup virtual machines, one of which will be my new ISPConfig server. I was wondering if I would be able to somehow use a portion of the 10TB raid array (the Promise VTRAK) as storage for the ISPConfig setup? I.e. all the users folders (i.e. web1, web2, etc...) would be stored on the raid enclosure!!! Most of my websites have large files available for download and it would be nice to keep those files on the raid array. I would also consider the possibility of having a combination of storage areas? I.e. the web1, web2, etc... folder could live locally on the ISPConfig Virtual Server , but then maybe put a directory inside one of these websites like "web1/downloads" where the /downloads folder would live on the raid array??? That way the website would run faster since all files are on the local machine, and the large files could be stored on the raid array?

You can create an extra partition (e.g. /var/www) on the RAID array.

Originally Posted by sierradump

* What is the best platform to run my virtual machines? I usually install win server 2003 on the physical server, and then install VMWare Server and create/run all my virtual servers with that? Is there a more powerful alternative?

I'd try OpenVZ or Xen (with LVM-based virtual machines - don't use disk images as they are really slow!).

[radim_h]

If you have some brand neew machine, i will suggest to try http://www.vmware.com/products/esxi/ which runs on "bare metal" and is free version of Vmware Infrastructure server..

Othervise, i'm using vmware-server 2.0 in Debian or Centos

I don't see any reason why run Windows2003 as hosts OS..

[madmucho]

I recomend Wmware ESXi is very fast hypervisor virtualisation, ispconfig working there with no problem, ESXi itself can be booted from flash drive, have support for Fiber Channel and SAS, ISCSi storage technologies, but from my experience not all hw is supported, but runs from flash or CD, you can try ant then instal or trow away.

Virtual Maschines dont need to be from image, you can use physical file system or if you want you can use internal Vmware Filesystem in which is virtual drives stored, benefit is if you chose administer many nodes (ESXi) with Vmw virtual center (hard Payed product), you can use on time moving to nodes, backup and blba bla.. many others modern methods.

If you have strong "metal" try to get max from it, use virtualisation.

[dtrotter]

I am also running vmware esxi. One thing I really like about it as opposed to XenServer is that it does NOT require hyper-v technology to function. So, because of that I have a Dell 2850 running all of my virtual machines that used to be physical machines (You can also find a boot cd that will allow you to convert a physical windows/unix, etc machine to vmware). One of the virtual machines is running on my RAID and is my ISPConfig server. Other VMs include my ISPConfid 3.0.0.X test servers and other test boxes.

Anyway, long story short, you would have no problems doing what you intend, and I would consider ensuring that you have a larger than normal /var partition to allow for site growth within ISPConfig. Remember, distros partition the drives differently and some leave you with a small /var partition (unless you manually partition).

Feel free to hit me up if you need. Good luck, and have fun.

dtrotter

[sierradump]

I like the way VMWare ESXi looks - but is there a simple control panel I could use with it to easily deploy VPS (virtual machines) and manage everything remotely?

I will be putting all my new equipment in a DC.

I am looking for the best solution for a "VPS Hosting type company"...

I saw they have VMWare infrastructure 3 but that costs close to $2,000 PER CPU from what I could see...

Funny how ESXi is FREE, but teh management console could easily cost someone upwards of $10,000 !!!!

[dtrotter]

I manage everything on my esx virtual server using the VMware Infrastructure Client. This allows me to access my virtual server and gives me complete management over it. To simplify things all of my installs can be done remotely as well. Here is my setup without all the technical details:

ESX server with 2 datastores

The first Datastore has the ESX OS running on it and a folder called ISOs
- The ISOs folder contains ISO Images for several flavors of UNIX and
Solaris as well as Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP Pro, Windows Server
2003 (I have a seperate server for my Windows 2008).

The second datastore only houses my VMs and there virtual disks.

Any OS that I may need, or do need I convert to ISO and upload it to the ISOs dir on Datastore 1 through the VMware Infrastructure Client.

Then, when I need to make a new VM I log in via the client and configure the VM to boot off of the ISO, install the OS, patch, secure, and I am all set.

If you want more details, just let me know.

Cheers!

[sierradump]

Dtrotter,

I really like the way ESXi looks, but I don't have a ton of money to dump into it right now. I already have all the hardware. Is there a free version of VMWare Infrastructure that I don't know about?

ESXi looks great to me if VMWare Infrastructure wasn't so expensive!!!

ALSO --- I AM VERY INTERESTED IN THAT BOOT CD THAT CONVERTS PHYSICAL MACHINES TO VIRTUALMACHINES! Can you point me in the direction, much appreciated!


If I am unable to get some sort of management console for ESXi for free, then I am thinking about going with OpenVZ and using the VTonf console to manage everything... That looks like a pretty good solution as well.

Can anyone explain the PRO/CONS of using ESXi over OpenVZ or vice versa???

[dtrotter]

Ok, there are different parts of ESX, and some are free, and some are not. My solution is completely free (except for the MS licenses I need when installing one of those OSes).

Here is what you do. Go to:

https://www.vmware.com/tryvmware/?p=esxi

Here is where you register for your ESXi and free ESXi license.

After you install ESXi and configure the LAN, you connect to you ESXi server via a web browser. Make sore you connect to it from the machine that you want to use to manage your VMs. When you go to the site, it will automatically download the ESX Infrastructure Client. The Infrastructure Client is what is used to manage ESXi VMs AND the Infrastructure 3 solution (that costs money). After you download it, install it and you are on your way!

Cheers!

Just let me know if you need more info.

[sierradump]

Dtrotter,

I've been geeking out on all the ESX videos they have on their website and it looks REALLLLLLLY cool...

Couple of questions though... I have a blade enclosure with 6 2.4Ghz processors... (36GB Scsi drives)...

Can I use the ESXi edition FREE and get all of the cool load/resource balancing features across all 6 of my blades? Or does that require the purchase of the Infrastructure 3 product?

I tried to install it today at home on an Dell optiplex 740 but it didn't like the SATA drive.... So I don't have any other machines here at the house to play with and don't want to drive out to the office to grab the enclosure...