SCVMM 2012 SP1 Network Virtualization diagram

Normally, I wouldn’t directly forward a link.

but this is too good to pass.

Here it is. 

 

 

Storage configuration of SCVMM 2012 SP1 with Windows 2012 File Server (Part 2)

From my last Post, we have discussed about what we need to achieve in the Lab.  I’m pasting the diagram here again so we can use that as reference. For more details, you can click last post to get it.

 

What a Windows 2012 file server can do?

 

A Windows 2012 File server can provide storage via SMB 3.0 Share and iSCSI. If you are looking for how to do SMB 3.0 share, please follow this link. Windows 2012 also provide native version of iSCSI feature which includes a iSCSI Server end and iSCSI initiator (client end). It’s all free.

With SCVMM 2012 SP1, the installation CD even comes with a SMI-S provider driver which you can install on Windows 2012 so VMM can import Windows 2012 File server into Library as iSCSI array rather than SMB Share.

Import Win2012 File Server via SMB share

 

I have mentioned this before. VMM can import a File Server via only one method. For example, if you have import this File server via SMB Share, you won’t be able to import this File server via iSCSI. You must remove the server from Library and import again.

Here is the procedure to import a Win2012 File Server into VMM.

Before you do anything, you need to add your VMM service account (For example, svc_vmm) into local administrator group on Win2012 File server.

Notice:

You can’t add a Active Directory Group into local administrator group and you must user individual user instead. Otherwise, it won’t work.

Like following:

After you have done that, open VMM console and choose Fabric,

Clearly, you have 3 options here. Let’s choose Windows based File (SMB Share).

Provide server’s FQDN

Now, what it does is to push/install VMM agent on File server with credential of account you choose before, that service account must have load admin rights on File server.

Now, remember those are SMB shares.

Notice:

the storage provider type is Native Windows WMI? That’s how VMM get all information by executing WMI remotely. But that native window WMI doesn’t support iSCSI.

 

If you click file Servers, you will see it.

Let’s check a Hyper-v Host properties

 

Import Win2012 File Server via iSCSI Protocol

 

With SMB Share, you can’t create storage pool from VMM, nor Logical Unit which sort of defeat purpose of VMM. At the end of the day, it is a Virtual Machine Manager. What happen if it can’t allocate resource inside of VMM with multiple tenants scenario?

With Windows File Server, you don’t need to download StarWind FreeNas or any other third party SAN/NAS tool, you can just build a iSCSI box base on Native Windows.

First of all, we need to install iSCSI features on Windows File server.

Now, the next thing we need to install is SMI-S provider on Windows file Server. SMI-S will allow us to connect VMM with iSCSI.

so From VMM installation folder, you will find this file.

copy that file to File server. You need to check whether the stability patch has been installed already on File server. KB2770917

Now, you can install this SMI-S provider.

Notice:

You MUST reboot File server after installation otherwise, you will ran into some strange issues.

Don’t forget to reboot.

 

On the client end, Testhyp01 and Testhyp02, you can do following.

Install iSCSI Initiator

Run this iSCSI initiator

just type the IP of File server and click quick connect. It may not work for iSCSI, but at least, it creates an iSCSI initiator.

Install Multipath I/O

 

If you have already import File server, remember to remove it first.

Then, you can add storage again

This time, we choose SMI-S provider

after a scan

 

Now, you are able to see all drives on File server.

 

If you don’t have any classification, you will get this. Then, you can build classification. Classification is just resource tag which you use it to label different storage resource. I use Gold and Silver here.

 

 

 

Allocate storage resource in SCVMM 2012 SP1

 

When you allocate your storage resource in VMM, you should do it from Host Group folder level.

Notice:

Only iSCSI or SAN can be allocated to Host group. SMB share can only be allocated via host cluster level.

You can allocate Storage Pool

Create logical Unit base on your new storage pool,

On Host Cluster level

Convert this Available Storage to CSV

You can convert CSV back to available storage but only it has no VMs sitting on that.

 

The end

Storage configuration of SCVMM 2012 SP1 with Windows 2012 File Server (Part 1)

Now, in this post. I’m going to talk about Storage in SCVMM 2012 SP1 and also how to build a Windows 2012 File server to connect with SCVMM.

One thing I’m very sure about Microsoft is they must love Onions. Because a SCVMM 2012 combining with Windows File server 2012 is like a huge onion which has many layers.

With embedded VHD technology, Microsoft deployed one layer after another layer of VHD which makes me worried because VHD can be corrupted. What would happen if one of VHD layers corrupted and you will loss all data on top of this layer? Or shall we wait for Windows 2012 R2 which may use VHDX instead of VHD?

Anyway, with no further ado, let’s cut Onion open.

Following is the diagram of File storage I used in my lab.

Let me walk you through with this diagram first so you will have better understand instead of lossing yourself in a million picture of wizard.

Layer 1(Physical Disks):

Target: File Server

Let’s start with physical disk layer on physical Host.

Windows 2012 File server has 3 physical disk. 2 x RAID 1 for 0S which only 70GB. 1 900GB disk with Raid 0.

Let’s see a screenshot from File server

 

Layer 2 (Storage Pool):

Target: File Server

With Windows File server 2012, You can build a storage pool which we call it VMMlib01

 

Layer 3(Virtual Disks):

Target: File Server

Now, we build a virtual Disk on top of Storage Pool.

Since this is my File server, I have built number of Virtual disks (the virtual disk concept equals normal physical disk back in Win2k8). I have built 2 quorum disks size are 1GB for VMM cluster, and Hyper-v cluster.

VHD50, Virtual Disk 01 and VHD200 are my test virtual disks to store VMs.

for test purpose, I have setup both Fixed and thin disks.

 

Layer 4 (Volumes):

Target: File Server

Same thing as volume in old OS. You will give drive label to each volume.

I have create each volume for each virtual disk. Those disks will be shared via iSCSI.

Layer 5(Storage Pool):

Target: VMM server

In the VMM, there are multiple ways to import storage into VMM library. With same target host (like File server here), only one way of connection will be accepted.

For example, if I choose to use SMB share to connect to File server, then I can’t use iSCSI to connect in VMM.

You can choose to use simple SMB 3.0 share, but then you will loss lots of storage function.

If you choose using FC/iSCSI as storage, you will be able to define your storage as different classification. You may want to put fast storage pools into gold classification and slow storage to Silver or Brown.

The storage Pool you will find here is same thing as volume from File Server.

 

 

 

Layer 6 (Logical Unit)

Target: VMM Server

This logical Unit is created base on Storage Pool in VMM server. You can choose use some part of space to assign to Host group (Not cluster) and reserve some logical Units for future.

Layer 7 (Clustered Share Volume)

Target: VMM Server –> Hyper-v Cluster

Believe it or not, once you assign Logical Unit to Host group and it doesn’t mean your hyper-v Cluster is going to use it. From Cluster point of View, it just got available space.

You need to convert it to Cluster shared Volume

 

 

Now, if you switch to Hyper-v cluster, you will see your shared volume is there.

 

 

To be continued …..

Can not deploy VM to Cluster Shared Volume

Well, this is very stupid thing for me who is working with Vmware product for years.

As you all know, I have a Hyper-v Cluster (2 nodes) which I connect with iSCSI storage (Windows file Server 2012). I have built CSV share and allocate to cluster via SCVMM 2012. But when I tried to clone (yes, clone, not even deploy),

I ran into following error.

I checked everything up and down, cluster configuration, destroy LUN, format LUN , etc. Finally, I found this resolve this issue.

 

Why the Microsoft just setup as default?

Anyway, that resolves my issue. Hope this post can help you.

Can not create VM template from SCVMM 2012 SP1

Cause:

This issue has same cause as you can’t shutdown VM from VMM console.

 

 

Well, don’t worry about file format (VMM 2012 SP1 supposes both VHD/VHDX, don’t worry about location of your VM, it can be on local disks of Hyper-v or Share storage, it has something to do with virtual Guest Services, or you can call it “Integrated Service” from Hyper-v.

 

If you go to Hyper-v, and try to install Integrated Service on that VM, system will tell you you are on latest version already.

So what to do?

Solution:

 

Just click “Refresh” from VMM Console

 

This is clearly a bug of VMM which import VMs into VMM but not checking integrate service properly!

Build SCVMM 2012 SP1 Cluster on virtual Machine, Virtual Cluster on Hyper-V 2012 Part 2

This is Part 2 of installing SCVMM 2012 SP1 on virtual cluster and on Hyper-v Cluster hosts.

Part 1 can be found from here

Let’s review what we have installed.

We have installed File server which provides Quorum disks. We have created AD components and two VMM virtual servers.

We have installed Failover features on VMM servers and all other prerequisites.

Let’s start the Part 2 with Create a Cluster on VMM servers.

Start Failover manager and Validate a cluster first (if you don’t do this step, the creation wizard will also do it)

 

Now, with any clusters, a heartbeat network is required. Since our VMMs will sit on same Hyper-v Host, so what I need is to build a new Virtual Switch called Heartbeat.

Notice:

If you want to join these two Hyper-v hosts in the future, you must have EXACTLY same virtual network settings on both Hyper-v hosts. Therefore, a internal switch or private switch is NO NO for cluster. You have to build External switches with same name on both Hyper-v Hosts.

 

Once this is done, add a new virtual Nic on VMM and connect to heartbeat switch.

 

Configure Heartbeat IP on both VMMs

 

 

You also make sure you have create DNS A records for this cluster and also VMM app cluster.

 

 

 

With Windows 2012 Cluster, we can actually use share folder as quorum.

 

 

 

 

Install VMM 2012 SP1

Well, most jobs are done. Here is the final installation.

 

System automatically detects you are on cluster. so click Yes.

 

 

 

 

Yes, it’s installed on C drive.

 

Oops, I didn’t setup enough start up memory on this VMM vm.

I went back and made adjustment.

Be aware to make sure svc_vmmadmin has rights to create DB on your SQL database server.

Make sure VMMCLU01 exists in your DNS server.

The location of AD can be found via ADSI EDIT. Just found the OU like this

 

 

DOn’t do that now, you are on cluster.

 

Now, do the same thing on the other VMM VM. Most critical settings are already setup.

 

Once the wizard go through, you installed VMM on cluster successfully.

 

 

This is the end of this post. There will be other posts soon talking about how to configure VMM 2012 SP1.