File Server Capacity Planning

hi all,

i assign replace or upgrade file server used 300 users, 24/7, important documents.

current server specs:

windows 2008 sp1

dual core

2 gb ram

2 disks raid 0

i have few options in mind ask feedback guys.

option 1: using nas scsi support, mount existing server using iscsi initiator

option 2: straight replacement using nas qnap proper raid type

option 3: upgrade components, processor, ram , raid 10 or 5 , upgrade os windows storage

option 4: clustering

option 5: virtualize if available

hi all,

i assign replace or upgrade file server used 300 users, 24/7, important documents.

current server specs:

windows 2008 sp1

dual core

2 gb ram

2 disks raid 0

i have few options in mind ask feedback guys.

option 1: using nas scsi support, mount existing server using iscsi initiator

option 2: straight replacement using nas qnap proper raid type

option 3: upgrade components, processor, ram , raid 10 or 5 , upgrade os windows storage

option 4: clustering

option 5: virtualize if available

combination of 4 , 5. go pair of physical boxes running windows server 2012 r2 each, enable hyper-v role , configure guest vm cluster (shared vhdx placed on csv way go) between pair of windows server 2012 r2 vms (with proper licensing should not run out of licensed vms time soon) exposing continuously available smb3 shares. see few links should helpful:

using guest clustering high availability

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn440540.aspx

deploy guest cluster using shared virtual hard disk

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn265980.aspx

smb transparent failover – making file shares continuously available

http://blogs.technet.com/b/clausjor/archive/2012/06/07/smb-transparent-failover-making-file-shares-continuously-available.aspx

step-by-step: scale-out file shares , continuously available file services

http://blogs.technet.com/b/canitpro/archive/2013/12/11/scale-out-file-shares-and-continuously-available-file-services.aspx

(make sure realize don't configure sofs generic workload)

qnap not bad device backups (i prefer netgear , synology better value money , have wider community adoption , support) not use vm storage. see:

qnap opinion

http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/236722-qnap-opinion

also cannot use windows storage server it's oem product (and has numerous limitations inability domain controller, number of vms can run in top version etc). see:

windows storage server overview

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj643303.aspx

hope helped :)

 

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starwind vsan [virtual san] clusters hyper-v without sas, fibre channel, smb 3.0 or iscsi, uses ethernet mirror internally mounted sata disks between hosts.

Windows Server  >  File Services and Storage