ZFS is a file system that has changed storage system rules as we currently know them and continues to do so. It is with no doubt the best architecture to date and now you can use it for your VMware stores.
Previously I had explored using it for a VMware store but ran into many issues which were real show stoppers. Like the VPD page response issue which made VMware see only one usable iSCSI store. But things are soon to be very different when Sun releases the snv_93 or above to all. I am currently using the unreleased snv_93 iscsitgt code and it works with VMware in all the ways you would want. Many thanks to the Sun engineers for adding NAA support on the iSCSI target service. With that being said let me divulge the details and behaviors of the first successful X4500 ZFS iSCSI VMware implementation in the real world.
Lets look at the Architectural view first.
The architecture uses a best practice approach consisting of completely separated physical networks for the iSCSI storage data plane. All components have redundant power and network connectivity. The iSCSI storage backplane is configured with an aggregate and is VLAN’d off from the server management network. Within the physical HP 2900’s an inter-switch ISL connection is defined but is not critical. This allows for more available data paths if additional interfaces were assigned on the ESX host side.
Read further (laspina.ca)
