This post is more than 5 years old
5 Posts
0
8290
September 6th, 2013 07:00
Are LUNS and Datastore same
Hi All,
I have couple of queries related to DataStore. Kindly have a look at it and let me know your thoughts.
1. Are LUNs and Datastore same. If we create two Datastore in VNXE3150, can we say that two LUNs are created.
2. When creating Datastore(VMware) using Unisphere, is there any option to select RAID level.
3. What is the difference between WMware Datastore and Generic iSCSI Datastore. I want to create Datastore for VMware VMs but i am using iSCSI for I/O.
Here which Datastore is needed. VMware Datastore or Generic iSCSI Datastore.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Bineesh
No Events found!
Swapnil_Chikhal
83 Posts
1
September 6th, 2013 08:00
Hi Bineesh,
Thank you for posting your question in EMC community. Please find below answers:
1. Are LUNs and Datastore same. If we create two Datastore in VNXE3150, can we say that two LUNs are created.
Datastore is nomenclature when it comes to Unisphere web interface. LUN is nomenclature when it comes to backend configuration. So datastore and LUN is same but just calls differently when it comes to web interface and command line configuration.
2. When creating Datastore(VMware) using Unisphere, is there any option to select RAID level.
When we talk about RAID level, you need to configure storage pool on VNXe. Storage pool can be configured on VNXe which is underneath a RAID group.
Navigate to system-->storage pools will show you storage pool configuration.
3. What is the difference between WMware Datastore and Generic iSCSI Datastore. I want to create Datastore for VMware VMs but i am using iSCSI for I/O.
The only difference between VMWare datastore and Generic iSCSI datastore is automatic API call. When you create datastore with VMWare option, VNXe triggers automatic API call which will format the datastore on ESX and present it has VMFS-3 with same name.
With Generic iSCSI storage, you need to manually discover iSCSI server IP (target IP) on ESX and format the datastore.
If you have VMWare environment in place, we always recommend to use VMWare storage option so that you can utilize virtualization features of VNXe
Regards,
Swapnil
DynaDin
138 Posts
2
September 6th, 2013 07:00
1. Yes, LUNs and Datastores refer to same thing. LUN is more of a SAN terminology refers to block whereas term datastore is used in NAS (file access). In other words we use LUNs for iSCSI storage and datastore for CIFS/NAS storage. At least in VNXe underlying storage is same (file level) for both iSCSI and CIFS/NAS.
2. Option to select RAID level is only available for Storage Pools, not datastores. When creating the Storage pool you have option to create the pool automatically or manually.
3. When you create VMFS datastore through VMware it internally creates iSCSI LUN. However the difference is in the VMware integration. When you create a datastore through Storage > VMware and create VMFS/NFS datastore it uses built-in plug-ins to connect to your ESX hosts and configures storage there automatically. You don't have to manually go to vSphere client to add storage. You may have to add ESX hosts first with their vCenter details before creating the storage. Storage > VMware option also incorporates industry best practices for VMware integrated storage. Generic iSCSi option does not have any of this integration and can be used for any type of hosts. However, VMFS storage is also an iSCSI storage like the one you create through Generic iSCSI.
Leo Li
4 Apprentice
•
9K Posts
0
September 10th, 2013 20:00
Hey,
1. LUN and Datastore are same.
2. When creating Datastore(VMware) using Unisphere, you cannot select RAID level. When you create storage pool, you can select RAID level.
3. Generic iSCSI Datastore also can use for VMware. Just WMware Datastore have better compatibility with VMware and provided some features for specific VMware client.