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    Kooler on DFS-R Issues

    IT Discussion
    dfs dfs-r windows server storage file server nas smb
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    • scottalanmillerS
      scottalanmiller @bigbear
      last edited by

      @bigbear said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

      Does this solution not work on any other hypervisors?

      It does, but requires a Windows VM.

      bigbearB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • KOOLERK
        KOOLER Vendor @Obsolesce
        last edited by

        @Tim_G said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

        So... Keeping in mind you can use free Hyper-V server and free StarWind virtual SAN to build a two-node shared nothing SMB3 clustered file server free of charge... I think it's time to retire DFS-R See Step-by-Step guide:

        Hyper-V: Free “Shared Nothing” SMB3 Failover File Server

        https://www.starwindsoftware.com/blog/part-2-smb-3-0-file-server-on-free-microsoft-hyper-v-server-20...

        Except this violates the Hyper-V Server 20xx license and is illegal. Do it on Windows Server and all is well. You'll need two Windows Server licenses, but StarWind vSAN is free. Or use Linux with StarWind vSAN.

        I'm not too sure about SMB 3.x on Linux, but there may be ways.

        1. Yup. That's why there's a disclaimer on the page I reference 🙂

        Disclaimer: Please, do not violate license agreements for financial benefit. If you can do something, it doesn’t mean you should. This post is dedicated for one-time sole use of the mentioned setup – non-commercial, home lab or experiment. If you plan to earn money, please refrain from proceeding repeating the test described in this post.

        1. There are third-party stacks like Visuality Systems NQ or MoSMB. I don't think Samba is going anywhere 😞
        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • bigbearB
          bigbear @scottalanmiller
          last edited by

          @scottalanmiller Ahh

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • KOOLERK
            KOOLER Vendor @scottalanmiller
            last edited by

            @scottalanmiller said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

            @Tim_G said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

            The physical server running Hyper-V Server (the hypervisor) cannot act as a file server, serving files to users or clients. It can only be used for supporting Hyper-V... including clustering, monitoring, etc.

            The problem is, those are conflicting statements. Supporting Hyper-V Clustering is specifically what it is used for. Otherwise, you consume a license using Starwind always or even not using Starwind, just using local disks. But we know that local disks are okay. So using Starwind for Hyper-V clustering is logically okay as well. It just makes sense. It follows by the wording and the intent of the license.

            Now maybe there is an argument that Hyper-V cannot provide its own storage via SMB3 and only iSCSI, in which case, I could see that being convoluted and weird, but could make sense.

            You can do that but you need to buy CALs for that purpose.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • KOOLERK
              KOOLER Vendor
              last edited by

              Scott, thank you for bring in this thread! I've actually forgot about performance. Both source and destination updated 🙂

              1. Performance issues

              DFS isn't in-line, it writes file first to read it and replicate later. This means there's 100% IOPS (read) overhead on everything you write to DFS-R enabled share.

              DFS-R is reading from one replica always so there's no performance "boost" on reading data from the second copy as well (this is something what active-active clustered guys will do).

              ObsolesceO 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
              • ObsolesceO
                Obsolesce @KOOLER
                last edited by

                @KOOLER said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                Scott, thank you for bring in this thread! I've actually forgot about performance. Both source and destination updated 🙂

                1. Performance issues

                DFS isn't in-line, it writes file first to read it and replicate later. This means there's 100% IOPS (read) overhead on everything you write to DFS-R enabled share.

                DFS-R is reading from one replica always so there's no performance "boost" on reading data from the second copy as well (this is something what active-active clustered guys will do).

                Yeah, this is the biggest thing I dislike about DFS-R. I get the logic behind why they did it that way... but there are much better ways to do it. There was then, and there is now.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • KOOLERK
                  KOOLER Vendor @JaredBusch
                  last edited by KOOLER

                  @JaredBusch said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                  @Tim_G said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                  So... Keeping in mind you can use free Hyper-V server and free StarWind virtual SAN to build a two-node shared nothing SMB3 clustered file server free of charge... I think it's time to retire DFS-R See Step-by-Step guide:

                  Hyper-V: Free “Shared Nothing” SMB3 Failover File Server

                  https://www.starwindsoftware.com/blog/part-2-smb-3-0-file-server-on-free-microsoft-hyper-v-server-20...

                  Except this violates the Hyper-V Server 20xx license and is illegal. Do it on Windows Server and all is well. You'll need two Windows Server licenses, but StarWind vSAN is free. Or use Linux with StarWind vSAN.

                  I'm not too sure about SMB 3.x on Linux, but there may be ways.

                  I only skimmed things, was this enabling a role on the hyper-v server itself? If so, this is completely against the license agreement and not something anyone related to this forum should be supporting or posting.

                  1. Sourced page has a disclaimer right on top about people violating licensing agreement by just doing things AS IS.

                  2. You absolutely can do what article is suggesting as long as you buy CALs. This is a blessed and hugged way. By Microsoft.

                  JaredBuschJ 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • JaredBuschJ
                    JaredBusch @KOOLER
                    last edited by

                    @KOOLER said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                    @JaredBusch said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                    @Tim_G said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                    So... Keeping in mind you can use free Hyper-V server and free StarWind virtual SAN to build a two-node shared nothing SMB3 clustered file server free of charge... I think it's time to retire DFS-R See Step-by-Step guide:

                    Hyper-V: Free “Shared Nothing” SMB3 Failover File Server

                    https://www.starwindsoftware.com/blog/part-2-smb-3-0-file-server-on-free-microsoft-hyper-v-server-20...

                    Except this violates the Hyper-V Server 20xx license and is illegal. Do it on Windows Server and all is well. You'll need two Windows Server licenses, but StarWind vSAN is free. Or use Linux with StarWind vSAN.

                    I'm not too sure about SMB 3.x on Linux, but there may be ways.

                    I only skimmed things, was this enabling a role on the hyper-v server itself? If so, this is completely against the license agreement and not something anyone related to this forum should be supporting or posting.

                    That's the point - you clearly have no idea what you're talking about 😞

                    1. Sourced page has a disclaimer right on top about people violating licensing agreement by just doing things AS IS.

                    2. You absolutely can do what article is suggesting as long as you buy CALs. This is a blessed and hugged way. By Microsoft.

                    No, I am not clear. Is this on Hyper-V Server 20XX or on Server 20XX + Hyper-V. because the only thing I have saw named was Hyper-V. When I read that name, it strictly implies Hyper-V Server 20XX and not Server 20XX + Hyper-V

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • JaredBuschJ
                      JaredBusch @KOOLER
                      last edited by

                      @KOOLER Alright, I read it all again, and I see it is on Hyper-V Server 2012 R2.

                      So what licensing would be involved. Server 2012 User CALS only?
                      That is cheap and simple.

                      KOOLERK 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • KOOLERK
                        KOOLER Vendor @Obsolesce
                        last edited by

                        @Tim_G said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                        You can't install a 3rd party software to do storage or file server roles in place of the built in, thinking that is a way around it. It's not.

                        You absolutely can. You just have to license this usage in the proper way. Let's get to Hyper-V Server EULA here:

                        https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/UseTerms/Retail/HyperVServer2016/All/UseTerms_Retail_HyperVServer2016_All_English.htm

                        Running Instances of the Server Software. For each software license you assign, you may run one instance of the server software in the physical operating system environment on the licensed server. The instance of the server software running in the physical operating system environment may be used only to:
                        

                        · provide hardware virtualization services, and/or

                        · run software to manage and service operating system environments on the licensed server.

                        Key point here is - LICENSED server. Hyper-V Server isn't licensed, so you have to buy CAL for every single instance (physical or virtual) accessing it from "outside". That's it 😉

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • KOOLERK
                          KOOLER Vendor @JaredBusch
                          last edited by

                          @JaredBusch said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                          @KOOLER Alright, I read it all again, and I see it is on Hyper-V Server 2012 R2.

                          So what licensing would be involved. Server 2012 User CALS only?
                          That is cheap and simple.

                          Yes. Or 2016 for the same price.

                          P.S. I've changed wording for my post - too rude IMHO, you might want to edit your quoted one.

                          bigbearB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • bigbearB
                            bigbear @KOOLER
                            last edited by

                            @KOOLER originally we were talking about Hyper-V free but @scottalanmiller indicated it requires a CAL for whatever that SAN product is

                            Which I guess runs on Windows server???

                            The linked article in OP says hyper-v free

                            DustinB3403D scottalanmillerS 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • DustinB3403D
                              DustinB3403 @bigbear
                              last edited by

                              @bigbear said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                              @KOOLER originally we were talking about Hyper-V free but @scottalanmiller indicated it requires a CAL for whatever that SAN product is

                              Which I guess runs on Windows server???

                              The linked article in OP says hyper-v free

                              Hyperv is free, this doesn't mean that you may legally be required to user Microsoft Server to perform the job at hand.

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • JaredBuschJ
                                JaredBusch
                                last edited by

                                All I want is a clarification on what licenses are supposedly required here.

                                That you can do something on a Microsoft OS (Hyper-V in this case) means nothing. Microsoft has never been about locked down compliance.

                                If it requires a Server 2012 R2 license and then CALS, it is simply Server 2012R2 + Hyper-V roles, even if you only installed Hyper-V Server 2012 R2.

                                If it somehow only requires user CALS, then great.

                                KOOLERK 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                • scottalanmillerS
                                  scottalanmiller @bigbear
                                  last edited by

                                  @bigbear said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                                  @KOOLER originally we were talking about Hyper-V free but @scottalanmiller indicated it requires a CAL for whatever that SAN product is

                                  Which I guess runs on Windows server???

                                  The linked article in OP says hyper-v free

                                  I didn't mention CALs. Was someone else.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • KOOLERK
                                    KOOLER Vendor @JaredBusch
                                    last edited by

                                    @JaredBusch said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                                    All I want is a clarification on what licenses are supposedly required here.

                                    That you can do something on a Microsoft OS (Hyper-V in this case) means nothing. Microsoft has never been about locked down compliance.

                                    If it requires a Server 2012 R2 license and then CALS, it is simply Server 2012R2 + Hyper-V roles, even if you only installed Hyper-V Server 2012 R2.

                                    If it somehow only requires user CALS, then great.

                                    Nah, you don't need anything except CALs.

                                    ObsolesceO wirestyle22W 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • ObsolesceO
                                      Obsolesce @KOOLER
                                      last edited by

                                      @KOOLER said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                                      @JaredBusch said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                                      All I want is a clarification on what licenses are supposedly required here.

                                      That you can do something on a Microsoft OS (Hyper-V in this case) means nothing. Microsoft has never been about locked down compliance.

                                      If it requires a Server 2012 R2 license and then CALS, it is simply Server 2012R2 + Hyper-V roles, even if you only installed Hyper-V Server 2012 R2.

                                      If it somehow only requires user CALS, then great.

                                      Nah, you don't need anything except CALs.

                                      That doesn't make sense to me... that you can clearly violate the license terms and the whole point of Hyper-V Server as long as you have CALs?

                                      bigbearB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                      • bigbearB
                                        bigbear @Obsolesce
                                        last edited by

                                        @Tim_G said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                                        @KOOLER said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                                        @JaredBusch said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                                        All I want is a clarification on what licenses are supposedly required here.

                                        That you can do something on a Microsoft OS (Hyper-V in this case) means nothing. Microsoft has never been about locked down compliance.

                                        If it requires a Server 2012 R2 license and then CALS, it is simply Server 2012R2 + Hyper-V roles, even if you only installed Hyper-V Server 2012 R2.

                                        If it somehow only requires user CALS, then great.

                                        Nah, you don't need anything except CALs.

                                        That doesn't make sense to me... that you can clearly violate the license terms and the whole point of Hyper-V Server as long as you have CALs?

                                        What licenses would you resolve it with?

                                        scottalanmillerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                        • wirestyle22W
                                          wirestyle22 @KOOLER
                                          last edited by

                                          @KOOLER said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                                          @JaredBusch said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                                          All I want is a clarification on what licenses are supposedly required here.

                                          That you can do something on a Microsoft OS (Hyper-V in this case) means nothing. Microsoft has never been about locked down compliance.

                                          If it requires a Server 2012 R2 license and then CALS, it is simply Server 2012R2 + Hyper-V roles, even if you only installed Hyper-V Server 2012 R2.

                                          If it somehow only requires user CALS, then great.

                                          Nah, you don't need anything except CALs.

                                          I'm confused. As far as I know it @JaredBusch is correct.

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • scottalanmillerS
                                            scottalanmiller @bigbear
                                            last edited by

                                            @bigbear said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                                            @Tim_G said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                                            @KOOLER said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                                            @JaredBusch said in Kooler on DFS-R Issues:

                                            All I want is a clarification on what licenses are supposedly required here.

                                            That you can do something on a Microsoft OS (Hyper-V in this case) means nothing. Microsoft has never been about locked down compliance.

                                            If it requires a Server 2012 R2 license and then CALS, it is simply Server 2012R2 + Hyper-V roles, even if you only installed Hyper-V Server 2012 R2.

                                            If it somehow only requires user CALS, then great.

                                            Nah, you don't need anything except CALs.

                                            That doesn't make sense to me... that you can clearly violate the license terms and the whole point of Hyper-V Server as long as you have CALs?

                                            What licenses would you resolve it with?

                                            Windows Server Standard or Datacenter. To use "Windows features" of Hyper-V in a non-Hyper-V support role requires normal Windows licensing. It's a Windows VM that you are using. The exemption from licensing is only for very specific Hyper-V management functions. Otherwise you must license as normal.

                                            You'd still need CALs too of course. But additionally. Not instead of a server license.

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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