How to manage file storage connected via iSCSI?

[mishki]

Proxmox 6.2 works with FJ Eternus DX200 S4 via iSCSI
I created ISCSI, after I created LVM Volume from iSCSI LUN.

I can create virtual machines and work in them. And that’s it.

How can I replace/manages vm's on iSCSI volume?
(I am migrating from VMware to Proxmox)
How can I manage files on iSCSI?

Thanx.

 

[danielb]

One way to have a managed storage is to stack LVM on top of your iSCSI device. Note that such a setup would provide a block based storage, so not usable for files (no template/ISO/snippets, nor backup dumps). Also, while the storage can be shared accross all your nodes, it doesn't support thin provisionning (so, no snapshots either)

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[mishki]

One way to have a managed storage is to stack LVM on top of your iSCSI device.....

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Ok, how to replace virtual when using LVM? Or is it also impossible?

What is the most flexible way to use to keep, store and use the SAN FJ Ethernus DX200 file space with Proxmoxom?

 

[danielb]

Ok, how to replace virtual when using LVM? Or is it also impossible?

I don't understand your question

What is the most flexible way to use to keep, store and use the SAN FJ Ethernus DX200 file space with Proxmoxom?

With a san, I'd use lvm over iscsi.

 

[mir]

With a san, I'd use lvm over iscsi.

With a SAN there is no need for snapshot and thin provision since this can be done on the SAN side. And as a side note: When using a SAN you should do your storage administration on the SAN side using whatever tools/gui the SAN provides since the SAN knows way more about the storage than Proxmox.

 

[mishki]

I don't understand your question

I have VMware virtual machines (vmdk). I want to convert them to raw, create new VM in Proxmox on storage LVM over iSCSI, delete empty disk, and replace converted disk.

Or should I use clonzilla / acronis for such a transfer?

Or what migration method is suitable in my case?
(https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Migration_of_servers_to_Proxmox_VE)

 

[LnxBil]

Or what migration method is suitable in my case?
(https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Migration_of_servers_to_Proxmox_VE)

The one that works :-D
Not every method yield to the desired result, so you may have to try more than one.

 

[danielb]

There's no one true and best way to do this. Depends on a lot of factors. Including if you have another temp storage available, how much downtime you can afford, the size of the disks etc. You can for example do offline migrations with qm importdisk. It'll convert from vmdk to raw while copying data to your LVM storage. Or you could make the vmdk available on a temp NFS server, boot your VM from the vmdk, then move disks live from NFS to your LVM storage.

 

[mishki]

Thanks, Great tips. Both methods are suitable. Especially for this, I prepared an internal large storage on server with Proxmox, in the future for backups, and now for moving. Get rid of VMware and rearrange Proxmox on them and you can live happily ever after. Although, when I worked and configured Ethernus DX200, I realized how limited and inconvenient everything is if you do not use Windows, VMware, etc.

 

[mir]

Although, when I worked and configured Ethernus DX200, I realized how limited and inconvenient everything is if you do not use Windows, VMware, etc.

It seems to lack snapshot feature? If this is the case then it is a very limited virtualization storage solution.

 

[LnxBil]

It seems to lack snapshot feature? If this is the case then it is a very limited virtualization storage solution.

Not in its base variant, but you have to buy it extra. The DX is very good and in its cheapest variant the dumbest storage you can get, but that is also its greatest feature. In situations where you have the logic outside of your storage, it is the fastest one you can get. We sell it regularly and it performs great over FC (haven't tried iSCSI and probably will never). We also have a couple of them for our own stuff and I also thought about writing a PVE snapshot plugin, then I saw what the damn thing costs ... so no snapshot feature for us.

 

[mir]

Not in its base variant, but you have to buy it extra. The DX is very good and in its cheapest variant the dumbest storage you can get, but that is also its greatest feature. In situations where you have the logic outside of your storage, it is the fastest one you can get. We sell it regularly and it performs great over FC (haven't tried iSCSI and probably will never). We also have a couple of them for our own stuff and I also thought about writing a PVE snapshot plugin, then I saw what the damn thing costs ... so no snapshot feature for us.

Well, in my opinion virtualization requires thin provision and snapshots either from the image format or from the storage solution and abstraction from the hardware. You can live with one of the features missing if your not using it in an enterprise environment but missing two features is more or less useless. In that case I would go for a non virtualized server since the balance between benefits and disadvantages fall out in favor of disadvantages.