Thank you sir!
I was just trying to make it simple at the possibility of less overhead to achieve better throughput on 1GBe network.
Any reason why Windows doesnt see the growth in the disk when I expand it at hypervisor level? Will this still happen when moving to NFS Storage Repository?
Looking into some opinions here... Trying to get a customer of mine AWAY from dropbox, as they're essentially using it as distributed file system between their office locations.
They're building out a new office location which I'm taking care of the network setup and wifi and servers.
Recently went 100% MAC's as their locations (Real Estate).
The idea:
Setup 2015 Mac Mini (8GB, 256GB SSD). and run OSX Server.
Open Directory
All shares, etc.. the works..
Plan was to use Synology DiskStation 5-bay unit. 4-Disk RAID-10 array, 1-hot spare.
Volume1 - to pull down ALL their existing Dropbox data
Volume2 -- be large iSCSI LUN
Map iSCSI LUN to Mac Mini Server. (GlobalSAN iSCSI initiator)
use BOTH Thunderbolt connectors using TB to 1GBE adaptor. Directly connect to Synology NAS (LACP Bond) using IP address. So bypasses switch
Then NIC Card in Mac Mini connect to regular network using regular Data network subnet.
Create all data storage on the attached iSCSI Drive.
Use a regular dropbox or Google Drive account & install on the Mac Mini server. This would then point to the iSCSI Local drive and re-publish the data to dropbox or google drive
NOTE: This would be so another remote office or if needed, a windows client or Linux client access the company files via a dropbox or google drive account.
Right now they have ALL workstations running dropbox.... Dropbox kills CPU & Disk I/O and disk space.
NOTE:
Even if I move the ENTIRE disk (from ISCSI LUN) to the new NFS Storage repository. I would still need to EXPAND the disk associated with the Windows Server. This new disk would be on the new NFS Storage Repository.
However, I've had issues with Windows Server. Every time I've expanded the disk within Citrix Xen Server.... Windows server see's the new growth as a separate drive and I have to use software to merge the partition sizes together.
So what is conscious here?
Would it be better for me to pass my iSCSI LUN directly to Windows Server and use the Windows iSCSI initiator? Or is it just bad... And would be better leaving Xen Server handle the entire ISCSI LUN?
As right now, I have total of two(2) iSCSI LUN's attached to Citrix Xen Server and the node.
One LUN #1, I have a disk I created which is attached to my Windows Server 2008 R2 Domain Controller. This disk is nearly 1TB in size and almost full.
I've been wanting to Attach a new storage Repository (NFS) to Citrix Xen Server... And then MIGRATE the ENTIRE 1TB disk to this NFS volume as it would be much larger and easier to manage the raw disk file.
However, then I thought.... it would be WAY easier to just attach an iSCSI volume directly to Windows using the Initiator. Then I can simply Grow the iSCSI LUN through my Synology NAS and be done...
Just realized my thread was split. Going to read everyone's replies.
Hello,
Unsure if anyone can help with this. I'm having an issue with grandstream phones and the PC port.
I have my network setup for LLDP, to automatically pass the voice VLAN to the phones upon boot-up (configured in router via DHCP). However, it appears that when I connect a computer to the PC-Port on the phone. The computer does not obtain an IP address. Almost as if the LAN & PC Port end up sharing the same voice VLAN. (Voice vlan is tagged).
If I reboot the phone, the computer gets an IP. but soon as the phone finishes booting and switches to the voice vlan, computer connected to PC port loses connectivity.
Phone works just fine though, It will boot-up and automatically switch to the Voice VLAN and have connectivity. But apparently locking out the PC Port (untagged data network)
Anyone have similar issue?
Router: MikroTIK
Switches: Cisco SG300's
If I can get all our employee's to switch to OWA, this would be big savings in network storage (due to OST file growth). Also cost on Office subscription / purchase price as OWA is already there at no added cost.
OWA for Office365 has improved ALOT over the 2+ years. I was never a fan.. But I am now
Now, in regards to Office 2013 on desktops. PUKE. I hate the move they did from 2010. I find 2010 Office as the best in contrast to 2013 Office.. Otherwise, I nearly use OWA 100% for my email needs.
So you suggest the HC Scale products them as direct replacement model as to what I currently have going on? Skip the 1U/2U servers and NAS storage?
@scottalanmiller said:
@ntoxicator said:
Just comes down to issue of migrating a user to a new desktop computer. Management does not understand the issues. Tell me 'Just make it work, fast, and a gun to my head'. So alot of times employee's or an entire group of employee's will be shifted from one part of the office to another.
Then you tell them "if you want it to work you use OWA". Don't let them make technical decisions without accepting the responsibility. If they want Outlook at any cost, fine, but make it clear you had nothing to do with the decision or consequences. If they want something that works, present an option and let them decide not to do it.
You're 100% right. This has been an issue for me. As I try and make a plan and lay things out and always get shot down. So the current setup is due to earlier budget constraints, not planning for future growth and other variables. As our CEO has prior IT knowledge and IT background prior to this company. So essentially, likes to make end-game decisions. Which cripples everything.
I've been looking for other IT Job Opportunities
NOTE:
When I drill into the ISCSI LUN on Xen Server
I select the DISK and click "MOVE"
"Upgrade XenServer to enable VDI Live migration. This feature enables you to migrate multiple running VDI's on shared storage between SR's"
I will try again when I power down this virtual machine and see if it gives me a disk move options. That way could move the entire disk to a different storage repository (NFS Share this time). Then from there, expand that disk size.
But in the past. When I expand the disk seize of the volume attached. Windows does not see it as a larger disk... Windows see's the additional storage space as a seperate drive. I've had to merge these drives together.
Tell me what route you would go them? I suppose Im out of touch
yes. I've read that microsoft advises against PST and OST files being on roaming profile (AppData). I can do away with this
Just comes down to issue of migrating a user to a new desktop computer. Management does not understand the issues. Tell me 'Just make it work, fast, and a gun to my head'. So alot of times employee's or an entire group of employee's will be shifted from one part of the office to another.
So either, move entire workstation + desk phone. Or just move their IP phone and they sit at another computer and login and all set.
Yes.. .OWA would fix that. We use Office365 hosted exchange, So OWA is already there
But what would you do for Hypervisor and storage needs? In this case. As I know the Synology does has limitations. HPStorage Works? What other storage devices? FreeNAS with ZFS.. Hell no (in my head)
As will need Domain Controller, & Multiple Terminal Servers. Also have a few linux VM's doing some intranet web hosting.
Further complicate the issue and to understand
the disk I want to migrate to another storage repo (NFS share instead of iSCSI). This is the "DATA" drive attached to the primary domain controller. Which again has all the shares. Also all the user profiles and folder redirect
Without this being back-online. Users cannot login to the domain.
Uncertain if the transfer would completely in a timely manner over a Friday evening to Sunday evening.
My concern was the entire volume assigned to the Windows 2008 Server VM (within Xen Server). Be lost or corrupted entirely.
I would like to just move this one attached disk to a entirely new NFS Volume on the newer Synology NAS
Then I could have seperate NFS Volume that only stores the virtual machine disk images. From there, migrate the OS Disk
I think home folders would create entire new issue. I'm just not familiar and experience with it. Always done roaming profiles & folder redirection.
I know I push OWA here as much as possible. Users are not the brightest and often complain 'we dont like the webmail'
Already paying Office365 hosted Exchange.
@coliver said:
Move that file around!
Right, I can have xenmotion move the disk to another Storage repository attached to hypervisor. But 2TB of data over 1Gbe network between server & NAS will take some time. I'm worried about the transfer/migration failing and then data being lost.
I understand and i see that as issue moving forward
Just every employee uses outlook. Its very common to have employee's shifted from one workstation to another. So having data saved locally on a workstation here is a nope.
Busy man!!! 
Good stuff.
You're right on about your concerns about growth and up-scaling . I really like what Scale has to offer.
As yes, I would be limited to Synology Rackstation NAS... As RAID-10 array i CANNOT add more disks for additional storage. So that means I cannot grow the volumes any larger than the current 'shelf'
Tell Chris Dill hello (If in Texas?)
Yeah before 2X was over-sea's... but Parallels bought them out.