August 26, 2011 at 4:59 pm
This post is a follow on to http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1164736-1549-1.aspx?Update=1
I am using VMware Server 2.0 and FreeNAS 8.0 to create a "lab rat" SQL Server cluster for home use.
Perry graciously sent me a great link (http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/virtual/72682/), but it uses FreeNAS 7.2. If possible, I would like to be running the latest version of all the software required.
I have FreeNAS installed, and it appears to boot okay. As recommended in Perry's link, I created a 20.0 MB ZFS disk. These are the steps I followed:
Log onto FreeNAS with the "admin" account
Click on the plus sign (+) to the left of "Storage" in the left pane to expand the node
Click on the plus sign (+) to the left of "Volumes" in the left pane to expand the node
Click on "Create Volume" in the left pane
"Create Volume"
Volume name: da1
Member disks: [X] da1 (20.0 GiB)
Filesystem type: (O) ZFS
Click on the "Add Volume Existing data will be cleared" button
"View All Volumes"
(I can see the newly created volume)
I can see the new disk on the FreeNAS console, using "df -k", but I am stuck at that point. I'm not sure how to finish configuring the device so that it can be used as a cluster disk.
All help is appreciated.
August 27, 2011 at 3:06 am
Not an answer, but what's wrong with Microsoft Storage Server (for iSCSI targets)? It's free and it's easy to configure.
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability
August 27, 2011 at 3:10 am
Hi Shew
so far you are good, you must create the volume and then select the option to create a ZFS dataset. See the attached short doc for more info and shout back if you're still stuck.
V8 is still in its infancy stages and is the first release, that's why i didnt update the tutorial for this version. The attached doc should help
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"Ya can't make an omelette without breaking just a few eggs" 😉
August 27, 2011 at 5:12 am
GilaMonster (8/27/2011)
Not an answer, but what's wrong with Microsoft Storage Server (for iSCSI targets)? It's free and it's easy to configure.
I'm out of my element here. Usually, when I get a failover cluster at work prior to installing a SQL Server cluster, all of the operating system and disk work has already been completed before I get the hardware. In the past, I have installed various versions of Windows Server on just plain IDE disks at home, but I don't have any significant experience in building a cluster at the operating system level, which is one of the reasons that I am going through this VM exercise.
I'm not opposed to using something different. I just figured I would be better off following the documentation that Perry sent since it appears to be going down the same path that I am wanting to take. If I get really stuck, it good to know that an alternative like Microsoft Storage Server exists. This is the first time I have heard of it. Thanks for the info.
August 27, 2011 at 5:21 am
Jonathan's blog post (which I referred you to in the previous thread) described Storage Server. That's what he uses on all his virtual SANs
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability
August 27, 2011 at 5:54 am
Perry Whittle (8/27/2011)
The attached doc should help
I am a little farther along. I created 4 VM disks to match the sizes in your attachment, and I am attempting to assign them to the NAS VM. However, I don't see a way to "nest" (for lack of a better term) the second vol1 as "/mnt/vol1/SQL" under the first vol1 "/mnt/vo1".
August 27, 2011 at 5:56 am
GilaMonster (8/27/2011)
Jonathan's blog post (which I referred you to in the previous thread) described Storage Server. That's what he uses on all his virtual SANs
Gail,
I was really excited about your link when I first saw it. But, if I read it correctly, it is only part 1 of a 3 part series. I couldn't find the other 2 parts. So that is why I took a different path.
August 27, 2011 at 6:04 am
:blush: I didn't read the entire part 1 of the article you identified because Perry identifed a different link at roughly the same time, and I was able to find all three parts of it. And, Perry's article uses VMware (which we use at work), instead of VirtualBox. I don't have anything against VirtualBox, but I only had time to try one or the other. At that moment, Perry's solution seemed to be more complete without me having to bug anybody. Guess that didn't work out, huh? :hehe:
By the way, I just searched part 1 of the article that I could find http://www.sqlskills.com/blogs/jonathan/post/Building-a-Completely-Free-Playground-for-SQL-Server-e28093-(1-of-3)-Downloading-the-Software-and-Setting-up-a-Windows-Server-2008R2-VM-Template.aspx, and it does not seem to mention storage at all. Not sure what I'm missing.
August 27, 2011 at 6:12 am
It's part 1, Jonathan hasn't written the rest yet.
It mentioned the storage in the list of things needed only (so far)
While we are covering downloads, the following additional items will be needed to setup the environment:
Windows Server 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1 Evaluation Edition
SQL Server 2008 R2 Evaluation Edition
SQL Server Denali CTP3
Microsoft iSCSI Software Target 3.3 for Windows Server 2008 R2
VMware ESXi VSphere 4.1 Evaluation
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability
August 27, 2011 at 6:18 am
shew (8/27/2011)
Perry Whittle (8/27/2011)
The attached doc should helpI am a little farther along. I created 4 VM disks to match the sizes in your attachment, and I am attempting to assign them to the NAS VM. However, I don't see a way to "nest" (for lack of a better term) the second vol1 as "/mnt/vol1/SQL" under the first vol1 "/mnt/vo1".
Perry,
Hmmm. Looks like I need to create two ZSF datasets instead of 4 virtual disks. Still working on it.
August 27, 2011 at 6:47 am
shew (8/27/2011)
Usually, when I get a failover cluster at work prior to installing a SQL Server cluster, all of the operating system and disk work has already been completed before I get the hardware.
that's exactly what my article is designed to address 😉
shew (8/27/2011)
I'm not opposed to using something different. I just figured I would be better off following the documentation that Perry sent since it appears to be going down the same path that I am wanting to take. If I get really stuck, it good to know that an alternative like Microsoft Storage Server exists. This is the first time I have heard of it. Thanks for the info.
the point of using Freenas or even openfiler is the concepts are more inline with real world storage. A lot of the concepts of freenas you'll see in NetApp for example. After all NetApp is basically a unix box with a bunch of disks attached.
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"Ya can't make an omelette without breaking just a few eggs" 😉
August 27, 2011 at 6:51 am
shew (8/27/2011)
the second vol1 as "/mnt/vol1/SQL" under the first vol1 "/mnt/vo1".
That's the ZFS dataset. Where you create the volume there is another option to create a dataset. SQL is the dataset, under this dataset you create extents and map them to iSCSI disk targets. When I get back on later I'll send an updated doc to elaborate more ok.
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"Ya can't make an omelette without breaking just a few eggs" 😉
August 27, 2011 at 6:59 am
GilaMonster (8/27/2011)
It's part 1, Jonathan hasn't written the rest yet.It mentioned the storage in the list of things needed only (so far)
While we are covering downloads, the following additional items will be needed to setup the environment:
Windows Server 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1 Evaluation Edition
SQL Server 2008 R2 Evaluation Edition
SQL Server Denali CTP3
Microsoft iSCSI Software Target 3.3 for Windows Server 2008 R2
VMware ESXi VSphere 4.1 Evaluation
Again, I am out of my element here. I would never have recognized "Storage Server" based on a citing of "Microsoft iSCSI Software Target 3.3 for Windows Server 2008 R2."
August 27, 2011 at 7:03 am
Perry,
I got the ZFS datasets created, I think. My disks now look like this:
Volume Path Used Available Size Status
------ ------------- ------------ --------- ------- ------
vol1 /mnt/vol1 22.5 KB (0%) 39.9 GB 39.9 GB ONLINE
vol1 /mnt/vol1/SQL 21.5 KB (0%) 39.9 GB 39.9 GB ONLINE
vol2 /mnt/vol2 21.5 KB (0%) 39.9 GB 39.9 GB ONLINE
vol2 /mnt/vol2/SQL 21.5 KB (0%) 18.9 GB 39.9 GB ONLINE
When setting up the initiators, I took the defaults, and the display with "ALL" in the Initiators column, instead of the long ...co.uk entries in your attachment. Is that okay? Will it make any difference? Still working on it...
August 27, 2011 at 7:40 am
Dude you're almost there. Remember the volume is the parent the dataset nests under the volume. It is daunting at first but once you grasped it you'll be golden.
Create extents under the dataset
Create iSCSI disk targets
Map extents to targets
Setting initiator to ALL just means all servers may connect.
The other reason for using VmWare server is if you want to port the VMs into ESX at some point you have less work 😉
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"Ya can't make an omelette without breaking just a few eggs" 😉
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