Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft ...
Transcript of Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft ...
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Infortrend, ESVA, EonStor, EonNAS, and EonPath are trademarks or registered trademarks of Infortrend. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. Content provided as is, without express or implied warranties of any kind
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering Application Note
Abstract:
These application notes offer a detailed step-by-step guideline to configuring
EonNAS systems for use with Windows Server 2012 failover clustering.
Designed for high availability, EonNAS systems support clustered failover
backup, which provides a physical or virtual defense against data loss by
quickly recovering a failed storage node by using other nodes in the cluster.
EonNAS systems make this process user-friendly, as shown in these notes.
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage
systems with Microsoft Windows Server
2012 failover clustering
Application notes
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 2 / 40
Contents
Infortrend EonNAS 3000 series .................................................................................................... 3
Windows Server 2012 .................................................................................................................... 3
Using CIFS on EonNAS ................................................................................................................. 4
EonNAS configuration for CIFS (folder sharing) ................................................................ 4
Windows Server 2012 shared folder configuration ............................................................ 6
Using NFS on EonNAS .................................................................................................................. 8
EonNAS configuration for NFS .......................................................................................... 8
Windows Server 2012 configuration for NFS ................................................................... 10
Using iSCSI target on EonNAS ................................................................................................... 11
Preparation ...................................................................................................................... 11
EonNAS configuration for iSCSI (Block Storage Device) ................................................. 12
Windows Server 2012 iSCSI initiator configuration .......................................................... 16
iSCSI disk initialization on Windows Server 2012 ............................................................ 22
Windows Server 2012 failover cluster ........................................................................................ 24
Validate failover cluster .................................................................................................... 24
Create a cluster ............................................................................................................... 29
Failover scenario ......................................................................................................................... 33
Build a file server ............................................................................................................. 33
Failover cluster test .......................................................................................................... 37
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 40
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 3 / 40
Infortrend EonNAS 3000 Series
Mid-range to high performance NAS solutions for organizations and enterprises of all sizes, with a
focus on SMBs and individual or SOHO users. The EonNAS 3000 series delivers unified storage,
consolidating file and block-based app server duties. It employs the ZFS file system to boost data
integrity and enable features such as remote replication/access, unlimited snapshot, secure pool
mirror, and efficient deduplication. All EonNAS 3000 products are compatible with Windows Server,
VMware, and Citrix, and are very user-friendly. They ensure high availability through redundant
hardware components, including dual controllers and power supplies. In addition to better reliability,
their modular build promotes faster and simpler maintenance and upgrades. Usability is improved
via Global Namespace support, which brings streamlined yet intricate management, while for
scalability the future-proof EonNAS 3000 series can grow to 256 drives via JBOD.
Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 is a highly scalable and flexible operating system designed for
businesses and service providers that depend on networked storage and cloud functionality. One of
the key revised features for the 2012 version is failover clustering, which supports easier
management and greater scalability for large-scope application running. A failover cluster protects
against data loss by ensuring server workload redundancy. If part of the cluster fails, the other
nodes kick in to ensure service continuity. In Windows Server 2012, failover clustering can scale to
64 nodes with as many as 8,000 virtual machines per node. Additionally, the function has a
user-friendly GUI to help with settings and detailed configuration.
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 4 / 40
Using CIFS on EonNAS
The Common Internet File System, or CIFS, is a standardized architecture used by Windows
Server 2012 to enable data sharing and failover clustering. EonNAS systems can be configured to
work with CIFS in order to create shared folders, which can then be connected to from a wide range
of clients using Windows Server 2012.
EonNAS configuration for CIFS (folder sharing)
Step 1: click Explorer, followed by Create Folder
Step 2: enter a Folder Name
Step 3: click Share
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 5 / 40
Step 4: select CIFS/FTP
Following this simple process, customers can easily connect to CIFS shared folders using Windows
Server 2012.
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 6 / 40
Windows Server 2012 shared folder configuration
Step 1: right click Computer and select Map network drive
Step 2: enter a folder path
Step 3: input your EonNAS user name and password
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 7 / 40
Once these three steps are done via Windows Server 2012, you can mount networked drives.
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 8 / 40
Using NFS on EonNAS
EonNAS systems can also be configured to use the Network File System architecture, or NFS, to
create shared folders. If you prefer this approach, simply carry out the following quick configuration
process to connect to NFS shared folders via Windows Server 2012.
EonNAS configuration for NFS
Step 1: click Explorer, then Create Folder
Step 2: enter a folder name
Step 3: click Share
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 9 / 40
Step 4: select NFS
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 10 / 40
Windows Server 2012 configuration for NFS
Step 1: install the Client for NFS feature
Step 2: type mount command “mount 10.10.10.10:/Pool-1/nfs G:”
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 11 / 40
Using iSCSI target on EonNAS
The iSCSI target service enables EonNAS systems to be seamlessly integrated into existing iSCSI
networks without having to go through complicated configuration. iSCSI-delivered data is then
directly carried over the network from hosts to EonNAS systems, allowing them to become part of
the iSCSI environment. This is very useful when extending existing network storage capacity or
adding a backup solution.
The host computer takes the role of initiator, as it initiates the data connection to your EonNAS
system, which becomes the target. Follow these steps to configure the iSCSI target feature on your
EonNAS system.
Preparation
Environment preparation
The following devices should be connected to the same network:
A host computer with Windows Server 2012 (initiator)
An EonNAS system (target) with at least one virtual pool
Open the iSCSI Initiator Properties window. Copy the Initiator Node Name in the General tab.
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 12 / 40
EonNAS configuration for iSCSI (Block Storage Device)
Step 1: configuring EonNAS iSCSI target settings
A. In the EonNAS web-based UI, go to Configuration > Service > Share. Highlight the iSCSI target
service and make sure the status is Online (click to toggle between Offline and Online)
B. Click Edit. The iSCSI initiator settings window appears. Click Add
C. Enter the Initiator Node Name of the host computer into the Initiator IQN field. In the Initiator
Alias field, enter an alias of your choice
D. If you want to add password protection, check CHAP Access (Change Handshake
Authentication Protocol) and enter a username (CHAP Name) and password (CHAP Secret).
Click OK to continue
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 13 / 40
Note: password (secret) must be 12-16 characters long
E. The initiator should now appear in the list
Step 2: creating an iSCSI target
A. In the EonNAS web-based UI, go to Explorer and click Create iSCSI
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 14 / 40
B. Fill in Volume Name, Size, and other information as relevant
Configuring iSCSI target parameters:
Volume Name: specifies the volume name. Names cannot include spaces
Size: sets the maximum disk capacity allocated for the volume. The default minimum amount
(0GB) actually means unlimited size
Thin Provisioning/Reserved: allows the system to allocate actual storage capacity as needed.
Thin provisioned size determines theoretical capacity, while reserved size determines physical
capacity available by default. Make sure the reserved size does not exceed the thin
provisioned size
Deduplication: reduces data size by eliminating identical copies. One set of original data will
be saved with references to other copies
Compression: reduces volume size by compressing data using LZJB, a lossless data
compression algorithm
CHAP/Accessed by All Initiators: if you want to add password protection, check CHAP
Access and enter a username (CHAP Name) and password (CHAP Secret) of your choice.
Select Accessed by All Initiators if password protection is not required
C. Check the iSCSI initiator list, which shows up automatically
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 15 / 40
D. Make sure the IQN initiator is highlighted in the IQN list (left column) and use the icon to
add it to the IQN members list (right column). Click Next
E. A summary of configurations pops up for confirmation. Click OK
Note: if no initiator is selected, all users can access this target. In this case, CHAP settings are not
available
F. The new iSCSI target volume appears in the Explorer menu
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 16 / 40
Windows Server 2012 iSCSI initiator configuration
Step 1: launch the Microsoft iSCSI service
In the Start menu, select Administrative Tools and click iSCSI Initiator
Step 2: connect iSCSI targets
A. In the iSCSI Initiator Properties dialog box, enter the IP address of the EonNAS iSCSI target and
click Quick Connect
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 17 / 40
B. In the Quick Connect window, click done. The target connects automatically
C. Repeat the process until all targets are added
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 18 / 40
Note: if you trunk multiple host ports on Infortrend storage systems into a group, you only need to
add the IP address of the trunked group
Step 3: configure MCS (Multiple Connections per Session)
Figure 1: MCS.
MCS technology increases system performance and availability by combining multiple
initiator-target connections into a single TCP/IP session. To utilize it, you need to carry out the
corresponding settings on Infortrend storage systems and the IP switch in your environment. For
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 19 / 40
configuring Infortrend storage, please refer to your SANWatch user manual. For configuring the IP
switch, please refer to its respective user manual. For Microsoft initiator MCS configuration, follow
the steps below.
A. Select a connected target and then click Properties
B. In the Properties window, click MCS
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 20 / 40
C. In the pop-up window, choose the desired MCS policy and add more connections. After
configuration is done, click OK
D. In the Properties window, you can see the Connection count increase to reflect the changes you
made
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 21 / 40
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 22 / 40
iSCSI disk initialization on Windows Server 2012
Step 1: bring the disk online
In Server Manager, the newly-added disk is shown as Offline. Right-click on the disk and select the
Bring Online option
Step 2: launch the New Simple Volume wizard
A. After the disk is brought online, right-click on it and select New Simple Volume
B. The New Simple Volume Wizard launches
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 23 / 40
Step 3: complete the New Simple Volume wizard
Follow the directions in the wizard to choose volume size, assign drive letter, and format the volume
using NTFS. After completing the wizard, disk capacity becomes usable to the host. Repeat the
process to make all disks usable.
NOTE: system drive letters in all nodes must be the same
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 24 / 40
Windows Server 2012 failover cluster
Validate failover cluster
Complete the following steps on both the N1 clustered server and N2 clustered server
Step 1: open the Server Manager Dashboard and click Add roles and features
Step 2: Choose Role-based or feature-based installation
Step 3: select the server on which you wish to enable the failover cluster feature
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 25 / 40
Step 4: skip the Server Roles page
Step 5: on the Features page select Failover Clustering then click Next to confirm the
installation
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 26 / 40
Step 6: click Validation Configuration
Step 7: the Validate a Configuration Wizard starts
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 27 / 40
Step 8: follow these directions to specify the two servers you would like to configure as a
cluster
Step 9: select Run all tests and click Next
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 28 / 40
Step 10: after validation is done, view the report to make sure your configuration is suitable
for clustering
Note: turn off firewalls on both N1 and N2
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 29 / 40
Create a cluster
Figure 2: cluster topology
EonNAS 3000 systems offer high availability with optional redundant controllers that ensure quick
recovery and failover. On the hardware level, they help shorten or even eliminate operational
downtime even if one controller is disabled due to maintenance or technical fault. Failover
clustering complements this redundant hardware design, adding a software layer that protects your
data against possible loss, with seamless integration with Windows Server 2012. In the following
example we demonstrate how to create a cluster in order to provide high availability for multiple
applications.
Note: each clustered server is able to access iSCSI targets
Step 1: in the center pane of the Failover Cluster Manager, click Create a Cluster under
Management. This starts the Create Cluster Wizard
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 30 / 40
Step 2: select the two servers you would like to configure as a cluster. Input a Cluster Name
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 31 / 40
Why is quorum necessary?
When network problems occur, they can interfere with communication between cluster nodes. A
small set of nodes might be able to communicate together across a functioning part of a network,
but might not be able to communicate with a different set of nodes in another part of the network.
This can cause serious issues. In this “split” situation, at least one of the sets of nodes must stop
running as a cluster.
To prevent the issues that are caused by a split in the cluster, the cluster software requires that any
set of nodes running as a cluster must use a voting algorithm to determine whether, at a given time,
that set has quorum. Because a given cluster has a specific set of nodes and a specific quorum
configuration, the cluster will know how many “votes” constitute a majority (that is, a quorum). If the
number drops below the majority, the cluster stops running. Nodes will still listen for the presence of
other nodes, in case another node appears again on the network, but the nodes will not begin to
function as a cluster until the quorum exists again.
For example, in a five-node cluster that is using a node majority, consider what will happen if nodes
1, 2, and 3 can communicate with each other but not with nodes 4 and 5. Nodes 1, 2, and 3
constitute a majority, and they continue running as a cluster. Nodes 4 and 5 are a minority and stop
running as a cluster, which prevents the problems of a “split” situation. If node 3 loses
communication with other nodes, all nodes stop running as a cluster. However, all functioning
nodes will continue to listen for communication, so that when the network begins working again, the
cluster can form and begin to run.
Quoted source:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc770620(v=ws.10).aspx#BKMK_requirements
Step 3: cluster successfully created. The system automatically assigns the first available
disk to the host as the quorum disk
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 32 / 40
Step 4: add disks to the cluster. In Server Manager, click Storage under Features > Failover
Cluster Manager > (the cluster you created). In the right-hand Actions pane, click Add Disk
Step 5: in the Add Disks to a Cluster window, choose the disks you would like to add from
the list and click OK
The disks will be added as available storage to the cluster
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 33 / 40
Failover scenario
Figure 3: host failover scenario
In order to demonstrate that clustering on EonNAS systems provides additional high availability
protection by facilitating failover between nodes, we create a file server role on the N1 clustered
server. Then, we shut down N1 to see if the file server keeps servicing clients from the N2 clustered
server.
Build a file server
Step 1: open the Failover Cluster Manager > right-click Role > Configure Role
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 34 / 40
Step 2: select File Server
Step 3: select File Server Type and choose File Server for general use
Step 4: set user access point
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 35 / 40
Step 5: select storage
Step 6: confirm settings
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 36 / 40
Step 7: once settings are complete, you can find the FS file server in the Failover Cluster
Manager
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 37 / 40
Failover cluster test
Step 1: ping FS
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 38 / 40
Step 2: FS is located on N1 now
Step 3: shut down N1
Step 4: although one request timed out, clients can still receive echo packages from FS
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 39 / 40
Using Infortrend EonNAS storage systems with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 failover clustering
Copyright © 2013 Infortrend Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 40 / 40
Conclusion
Combined with the high availability design of EonNAS 3000 series storage systems, the failover
clustering features of Windows Server 2012 contribute to strong backup and recovery capabilities
that ensure your operations go on uninterrupted. Clustering allows nearly any workload to be
protected with failover response, and the high degree of compatibility ensured by EonNAS systems
translates into some of the quickest failover times in the industry. Also, as shown in this guide, the
setup process is simple and user-friendly, and does not require any overly elaborate technical
skills – making it accessible to more team members.