It’s been a while since I’ve posted an update to this blog. I’ve been rather busy with both work and personal matters, and haven’t had a chance to maintain this blog properly. I hope to rectify this and post at least once a week for the next few months.
I posted an update1 regarding my home server on ESXi a few months ago, and that I was re-evaluating how my data storage implementation was going to change. I’m happy to report that I’ve finally found an appropriate solution, utilizing the NexentaStor OpenSolaris-based OS2. While not without its problems (notably a buggy web-management interface, I suspect due to Python issues), it has proved itself to be quite stable as far as data access and integrity.
In my last post about my home server I mentioned a few issues I would have migrating data, including the scaling down an LVM-based Linux VM to enable RDM (Raw Disk Mapping) to the NexentaStor VM. I mitigated this issue by adding 3 new drives, one ATA based 500GB drive to host the actual virtual machine installations, and two new 1.5TB SATA drives for storage. I mapped these two new drives to the NexentaStor VM using RDM and set them up as a ZFS array. I then migrated data over the network from the old Ubuntu VM to the new storage VM. After a large portion of data was migrated, I diminished the size of the LVM to free up the 1.5TB drive, and disconnected from the old storage VM. I then mapped it to the new storage VM and added it to the ZFS array. I then migrated the rest of the data and deleted the old storage VM.
So, my data storage needs are met for now. Unfortunately, the original 1TB drive has the ESXi installation on it, meaning I can’t format and add to the new ZFS array. I am considering the best approach to this, but it seems I’ll likely move the VM’s from the 500GB drive to the 1TB, disconnect all drives except the 500, and install ESXi to the drive. After this I would import the machines from the 1TB back to the 500GB drive. My concern with this approach is how to ensure that the physical ZFS disks import appropriately to the storage VM.
As always, post any questions in the comment section, or send me an email, and I’ll do my best to respond.
One Response
Stay in touch with the conversation, subscribe to the RSS feed for comments on this post.
Continuing the Discussion