{"id":36096,"date":"2018-12-12T09:00:34","date_gmt":"2018-12-12T08:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/?p=36096"},"modified":"2020-09-26T18:00:02","modified_gmt":"2020-09-26T16:00:02","slug":"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/starwind-linux-vsan-appliance\/","title":{"rendered":"StarWind Linux VSAN appliance setup"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-01\"<\/p>\n

StarWind Linux VSAN is a software solution that mirrors internal hard disks and flash between hypervisors eliminating the need of a shared storage.<\/p>\n

In previous versions VSAN solution required the installation on Windows-based virtual machine<\/a> increasing costs due to the Windows licenses you have to include based on configured nodes.\u00a0Recently StarWind released the VSAN\u00a0Linux-based <\/strong>that provides same storage capabilities cutting costs since you are no longer requested to purchase Windows licenses for used nodes.<\/p>\n

The new version is a prepackaged Linux virtual machine<\/strong> (appliance) to be installed as a VM on vSphere.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-02\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Deploy StarWind Linux VSAN appliance<\/h2>\n

Download the VSAN Linux appliance<\/a> from StarWind website then open the VMware vSphere Client<\/a> to perform the deployment.<\/p>\n

Right click the vSphere object on which you want to install the appliance and select Deploy OVF Template<\/strong> option.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-03\"<\/p>\n

Click Choose Files<\/strong> button and select the three files of the appliance. Click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-04\"<\/p>\n

Specify the Virtual machine name<\/strong> and the location then click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-05\"<\/p>\n

Select a compute resource then click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-06\"<\/p>\n

Click Next<\/strong> to continue.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-07\"<\/p>\n

Specify the virtual disk format<\/strong> and select the storage of the ESXi host used as a StarWind VSAN node. Click\u00a0Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-08\"<\/p>\n

Select the networks<\/strong> for the Management, iSCSI and Sync operations then click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-09\"<\/p>\n

Click Finish<\/strong> to begin the deployment.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-10\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Configure the appliance<\/h2>\n

When the deployment of the virtual appliance has been completed, power on the VM since you need to do some configuration<\/strong> to enable the VSAN datastore. Right click the VM and select Power > Power On<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-11\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Configure a static IP address<\/h4>\n

By default the appliance is configured to receive the IP address via DHCP<\/strong> but it is strongly recommended to assign a static IP address instead.<\/p>\n

To specify a static IP address<\/strong> for the Linux appliance, from vSphere Client select the StarWind appliance and click Launch web Console<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-12\"<\/p>\n

Login with default credentials:<\/p>\n

Username: root
\nPassword: root<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Identify the correct NIC name<\/strong> located in \/etc\/sysconfig\/network-scripts<\/em> by issuing the following command (by default it should be ens192<\/em>):<\/p>\n

# ll \/etc\/sysconfig\/network-scripts<\/span><\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-13\"<\/p>\n

Edit the NIC configuration file to configure the static IP address.<\/p>\n

# vi\u00a0\/etc\/sysconfig\/network-scripts\/ifcfg-ens192<\/span><\/p>\n

Modify the ifcfg-ens192<\/em> file as follows:<\/p>\n

BOOTPROTO=static<\/p>\n

IPADDR=192.168.10.130
\nNETMASK=255.255.255.0
\nGATEWAY=192.168.10.1
\nDNS1=192.168.10.120<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-14\"<\/p>\n

Restart the interface to apply new settings.<\/p>\n

# ifdown ens192 && ifup ens192<\/span><\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-15\"<\/p>\n

Open your preferred browser and enter the address https:\/\/IP_Address_appliance:9090<\/span> using the following default credentials:<\/p>\n

Username: root
\nPassword: root<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Click on Log In<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-16\"<\/p>\n

Go to Networking<\/strong> section to check the status and configure the available NICs (Management, iSCSI and Sync networks). If you need to enable and configure a NIC, just click on the NIC<\/strong> to access the configuration.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-17\"<\/p>\n

Specify the IP address<\/strong> and the Netmask<\/strong> for the NIC used for the iSCSI traffic<\/strong> then click Apply<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-18\"<\/p>\n

Enable the Connect automatically<\/strong> option.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-19\"<\/p>\n

Repeat same action for the NIC used for the Synchronization traffic<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-20\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Manage StarWind VSAN<\/h2>\n

To manage VSAN you need the management console. Install the StarWind Management Console<\/strong> in a Windows-based virtual machine by selecting the correct option during the Setup of StarWind Virtual SAN.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-21\"<\/p>\n

Apply the license<\/h4>\n

Open the StarWind Management Console and click on Add Server<\/strong> link. Enter the IP address of the VSAN appliance as Host<\/strong> and click OK<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-22\"<\/p>\n

Click Connect<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-23\"<\/p>\n

When the connection has been established with the appliance, you are requested to apply the license. Click on\u00a0Apply Key<\/strong> button to insert the license received from StarWind.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-24\"<\/p>\n

Click Load<\/strong> to select the license file to use then click OK<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-25\"<\/p>\n

The license is now applied to the selected appliance.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Configure the storage<\/h4>\n

From vSphere Client, right click the VSAN appliance and select Edit Settings<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-26\"<\/p>\n

Click Add New Device<\/strong> and select Hard Disk<\/strong>\u00a0item.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-27\"<\/p>\n

Specify desired\u00a0New Hard disk<\/strong> size and set Disk provisioning<\/strong> as Thick Eager Zeroed<\/strong>. Click OK<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-28\"<\/p>\n

When the new disk has been created, access the\u00a0Storage<\/strong>\u00a0section from the VSAN Web GUI. Under Drives<\/strong> area the new disk is displayed.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-29\"<\/p>\n

Since the new disk doesn't have any partitions and filesystem<\/strong>, click on the new disk to access the configuration window. Click Create partition table<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-30\"<\/p>\n

Select the appropriate options based on your requirements then click Format<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-31\"<\/p>\n

The disk is being formatted.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-32\"<\/p>\n

When the format process has completed successfully, click on Create Partition<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-33\"<\/p>\n

Create an XFS partition<\/strong> and enter a Name<\/strong> for the disk. Specify the Mount Point<\/strong> as \/mnt\/<disk_name><\/strong> (\/mnt\/disk1<\/em> for example) and click Create partition<\/strong> to proceed.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-34\"<\/p>\n

The new partition is created in the system. Click the new partition, select FileSystem<\/strong> tab and click Mount<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-35\"<\/p>\n

The new disk has been mounted in the specified Mount Point<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-36\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Create a Storage pool<\/h4>\n

Going back to the StarWind Management Console, after inserting the license you are requested to create a Storage pool<\/strong>. Click Yes<\/strong> to proceed with the configuration of the Storage pool.<\/p>\n

\"tarwind-linux-vsan-appliance-37\"<\/p>\n

Click the mnt<\/strong> folder under VSA Storage<\/strong>. The previously mounted disk is displayed. Click Open<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-38\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Create a datastore<\/h4>\n

From the StarWind Management Console select the added VSAN server and click Add Device (advanced)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-39\"<\/p>\n

Select Hard Disk Device<\/strong> and click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-40\"<\/p>\n

Select Virtual Disk<\/strong> as disk type and click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-41\"<\/p>\n

Select the Create a New Virtual Disk<\/strong> option and specify Name<\/strong>, Location<\/strong> and Size<\/strong>. Click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-42\"<\/p>\n

Select Thick provisioned<\/strong> as virtual disk option and specify Use 512 bytes sector size<\/strong> as block size (required if ESXi is used).<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-43\"<\/p>\n

Specify the caching policy and cache size (1 GB RAM for every 1 TB storage) then click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-44\"<\/p>\n

Specify the flash caching policy and cache size (10% of device size). Click\u00a0Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-45\"<\/p>\n

Specify Create new Target<\/strong> as attachment method and the Target Alias<\/strong>. Click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-46\"<\/p>\n

Click Create<\/strong> to proceed with device creation.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-47\"<\/p>\n

The device has been created successfully. Click Close<\/strong> to exit the wizard.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-48\"<\/p>\n

The created new device. Now the new device is ready to be mapped via iSCSI to the hypervisor.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-49\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Create the datastore in the ESXi host<\/h2>\n

In the vSphere Client, select the ESXi on which the VSAN appliance has been deployed and go to Configure<\/strong> tab. Access the Storage Adapters<\/strong> section under Storage<\/strong>\u00a0and click on the iSCSI Software Adapter<\/strong>. Select Dynamic Discovery<\/strong> tab and click Add<\/strong> to specify the IP address of the iSCSI Server<\/strong> (the IP address of the NIC configured in the StarWind VSAN appliance for the iSCSI network) to discover. Click Rescan Adapter<\/strong> to discover the added iSCSI server.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-50\"<\/p>\n

When the scan has been completed, go to the Devices<\/strong> tab. The new device has been detected successfully.<\/p>\n

\"starwind-linux-vsan-appliance-51\"<\/p>\n

Now you have to create the datastore in the ESXi host<\/strong> as you normally do with other iSCSI devices. A detailed procedure to configure the datastore in the ESXi host can be found in this post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

StarWind Linux VSAN can be downloaded from StarWind website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"signature\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

StarWind Linux VSAN is a software solution that mirrors internal hard disks and flash between hypervisors eliminating the need of a shared storage. In previous versions VSAN solution required the installation on Windows-based virtual machine increasing costs due to the Windows licenses you have to include based on configured nodes.\u00a0Recently StarWind released the VSAN\u00a0Linux-based that provides same storage capabilities cutting costs since you are no longer requested to purchase Windows licenses for used nodes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":36141,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"linkedin_93tdZWzMZc_93tdZWzMZc":"","facebook_2879994398731222_17841400390232720":"","twitter_113568041_113568041":"","mastodon_115463926174894442_115463926174894442":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[903,1787],"tags":[1668,1774,963,2039],"class_list":["post-36096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vmware-en","category-starwind-en","tag-hyperconverged","tag-starwind","tag-storage-en","tag-vsan-en","has_thumb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36096","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36096"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36096\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}