Sandbox time!

Ok - after reviewing the technet articles, online webcasts, various blogs - which I've now linked - I can to see a small "issue" with many of the MS hosted blogs and videos. ISCSI. Huh ...you ask but that's supported!! .... Well if you watch the blogs one thing struck me - they have the iscsi storage already setup - but don't actually explain how to set it up, apart from saying use the MS Windows 2008 Storage Server, because it has the correct ISCSI version - however its not available to the unwashed masses (that's you and me btw).

So I did a bit of digging and it looks like a Open source Linux Based tool may provide what we need - and a post on servercare explains further. For those of who are not familar with Linux - fear not - FreeNAS is a snap to install. Just get VM Workstation - eval copy available in this credit crushed times - and load up the FreeNAS nightly alpha iso. I'll try an find a weblink for the setup - but if your familar with ISCSI its not hard to build out want you need. The web interface is pretty good and will tell you what to do next. If I get time I'll do a guide.

One last gripe was that MS don't suppose HYPERV R2 clusters with NAS. Oh well, looks like the test lab won't get MS support!!

To build out a test lab I have 2 HP Proliant ML110 G5's -nice bit of kit if you can get approval by the CFO (AKA the wife). I also have 1 high spec PC which runs VM workstation, and an old gaming rig which could be used for FreeNAS - all connected by a Netgear hub.

The aim of the test lab? Firstly to test the R2 software version (AD recycle bin anyone!) and secondly to test the Live migration features coming in Windows 2008 Server R2 Hyper V. Use this link on HyperVoria to review the new features coming with R2.

So with that in mind what do we need? For me its

2 ML110 as Windows 2008 server R2 with Hyper V installed
1 VM FreeNAS server configured with ISCSI formated with ZFS
1 VM 2008 wINDOWS R2 DC with MSSCVM R2

You also need a dedicated NIC card for the ISCSI traffic - as my ML110's only have 1 nic it was a quick trip to ebuyer for some cheap (but hopefully supported) Intel 1000 GT nics. Once they arrive I'll let you know if they work, the cards are designed for desktops but they are based upon the e1000 driver so fingers crossed!

So while I wait, I'll do some design work, and post how I intend on setting up my cluster.

I'll also review the Citrix Essentials for HyperV on my cluster, which has just been made as free download. Initial thoughts are - nice - but how long will MS let Citrix play with their "new" toy before they close the door and develop this for themselves? Anyway I'll post my thoughts after I see it in action.