Unsolved
1 Rookie
•
1 Message
0
38
October 3rd, 2023 16:06
Compellent
Hi
We have a SC4020 storage compellent which is currently attached to VMWare.
On the datastore there are 2 share points
FileShare1 and FileShare2
A VM called "FileServer1" running windows server 2012 R2 is connected to the storage compellent through ISCSI.
In Server 2012 R2, File Explorer I can see FileShare1 and FIleShare2
I want to upgrade the VM server to 2022 but I have a few questions.
Can you have more than one server access the datastore share points FileShare1 and FileShare2 without altering or erasing the data?
If not? is it possible to detach the existing server and attach a new server to share points FileShare1 and FileShare2 without formatting those sharepoints?
Thanks
Origin3k
4 Operator
•
2.4K Posts
0
October 4th, 2023 06:25
I have problems with your wording and not sure what youre asking for. A Compellent have Volumes which are provide trough a LUN to the Hosts. In case of vSphere ESXi the Hosts use them to create a VMFS based Datastore.
There is no such thing "share point". What is FileShare? Does your VM use InGuest iSCSI? Do you named your Datastores "Fileshare1" and "Fileshare2"?
A Fileshare is a CIFS\SMB Share ... neither ESXi or Compellent can provide one. So i am sure you mean a typical share your Windows Server provides. How is this related to your question?
If your question is if both ESXi Hosts can have access to the same LUN/Volume than the answer is yes because the VMFS is a clustered Fileaccess.
If your question was if you can attached one vDisk of VM Fileserver1 to VM Fileserver2 without losing your Data than the answer is yes if you do it in a supported manner. Detach the vDisk first and add it to the other VM. You have to bring the device online in windows storage manager and toogle drive letter if needed. File permissions are stored on the disk... but information about the Fileshares not. You need to export them from the registry and import them on the other Windows System. Done that from time to time.... but there is DFS for ages an this is the way to go.
Using a vDisk from both VMs at same time will case data corruption if youre not dealing with a Multiwriter type if vDisk and MS Clustering.
Coming back to a VMFS Datastore.... yes within a Datastore more than one VM can store its data there. Each VM creates a Folder automaticly so you can easily store dozen of VMs within a Datastore. The VM data is stored in vDisks.
Regards,
Joerg
(edited)